Page 10 of Witch's Betrayal
4
DEJA
"What are you doing here?" I demanded.
"Teaching the newest coven member about shadow work. I hear she's supposed to be incredibly powerful but untrained." He tilted his head. "Unfortunately, she's also a rotten bitch."
"I thought you were supposed to be out of the country."
He shrugged. "Plans changed and my coven needed me. Although I can think of much better ways to waste my time than with an ungrateful brat."
I fumed from the porch, my fists clenched at my sides. I had only met him once before, at the full moon party at this same house, and barely talked to him even then. But I learned enough to know that he hunted the species of the men I loved. If that wasn't enough for me to hate him, he was also an arrogant asshole.
I went home from the party and told Raum and Sal right away. They didn't seem worried and even supported me in joining the coven. I did so under the impression that Seth would be away for the most part, doing his demon hunting in remote parts of the world. If he came around I could easily avoid him, while learning from the rest of my new family.
Turning around, I abruptly opened the screen door and re-entered the house, Seth's annoyed scoffs echoing in the yard as I did so.
Laurel and John looked up at me, firelight flickering on their faces.
"Need something, dear? Seth should have any supplies that you need."
"Um." I hooked my fingers in my belt loops, suddenly feeling acutely aware of being the brat he'd just called me. "Is there any way someone else could teach me?"
They both blinked, taken aback by my question.
"I'm really sorry, I just don't know Seth very well," I stammered. "And I don't think our personalities are a good fit."
"Well, no better way to find out than to learn from him, right?"
The rhetorical question came from Laurel, who was clearly the bulldog in the room. Her tone indicated that she wouldn't back down without a fight.
"Seth is one of the best when it comes to shadow magic. Not just in our coven but in the country," she continued, rising to her feet. "I understand he's blunt and a bit rough around the edges but there is truly no better teacher for you, Deja. To control your power you need someone who works in the shadows every day. That's what he does as a demon hunter."
I ground my teeth, realizing my mistake. I could blow my cover if I made a show of refusing to be around him. No matter how much I wanted to punch his smug face, I had to act like the rest of my fellow witches. Like demons were meant to be wiped off the face of the earth, even if I knew better.
"Infiltrate the enemy," the guys had told me. "It's what your best at."
Well, it had been nearly a thousand years since I had any practice. So while trying to sort through all the memories in my head, I was a little rusty.
"I'm sorry," I said, forcing my jaw to relax in a smile. "You're totally right. I think I'm just nervous."
Laurel returned my smile, though her eyes remained sharply on me.
"I understand, dear. No one likes being the new girl. Trust me, it does get easier." She lifted her eyebrows. "Now enjoy the lesson and let us know if you need anything."
With a curt nod, I turned back to the door. Seth looked at me with a bored expression, his long arms and legs draped over the lawn chair. He said nothing but watched me as I approached.
I took a deep breath and stopped right in front of him.
"I owe you an apology," I said, the words reluctant to leave my throat.
"Do you, now?" His tone remained bored but his grey eyes flashed with amusement. He enjoyed seeing me taken down a peg and I hated that he enjoyed it.
"Yes," I said through clenched teeth. "I was rude to you just now and also at the full moon party. There's no excuse for that." I stuck out my hand. "Whether we're friends or not, you're a part of my extended family now. So can we call a truce and at least be civil?"
His eyes flickered from my face to my hand and the barest hint of a smile touched his lips. It reminded me of Raum's smirk.
"I'm waiting," he said, a challenge in his voice.
