Page 26 of Pure Magic
Kaden and Sylvia laugh. Sara Beth smiles, and her warmth washes over me.
Kaden places his empty teacup in the saucer and stands. “I wonder if you might take a walk with me, Adam. I’d like to speak with you, and I won’t be in Windsor long.”
The hair on the back of my neck stands up. What can he want? Whatever it is, I’m not going to like it. I nod. Turning to Sara Beth, I ask, “Can I get anything for tonight while I’m out?”
“We have it well in hand. I’ve asked your brother to join us for the Sabbath.”
The thought of Kaden above stairs here sends rage through me. “I see.”
“We have a large crowd tonight. We’ll celebrate down here. After dinner, we usually invite the neighborhood to join us. It should be fun.” She sends that calm through me again.
“I’ll be back in time to help with preparations.” I walk into the alley with Kaden right behind me.
With a wave to the baker’s wife patting flour from her apron, I turn down the street. “What is it you want?”
“Brother, you are too harsh. I want to see you. It has been a long time.” The sincerity in his voice just makes me trust him less.
Stopping, I face him. “You and I both know there is no length of time that will put enough distance between us, Kaden. What do you want?”
“Nothing.” He spreads his arms like a knight proving he’s unarmed. “It’s been seven years since we caught up with you that one time. Don’t you think a man can change after being on his own for so long?”
“And you are on your own?” I seriously doubt he is.
“Ariana is not with me. She left me six months after we last saw you. She tricked me, Adam. I’d never have done those things on my own. She bespelled me.” Remorse shadows his eyes.
While I want to believe him, I know better. “Where is Ariana now?”
He shrugs. “I have no idea. She might be dead or found employment in a whorehouse for all I know.”
Even knowing that my sister is pure evil, I cringe at the idea of her prostituting herself. Brushing those stupid thoughts aside, I ask, “How did you find me?”
“You are easy to find, Adam. You leave a trail of magic tricks behind you. I noticed several years ago that people would speak of a Scot who performed in the square. I followed the trail, and finally you stayed in a place long enough for me to catch up.” He grins.
Walking on, I’m kicking myself for being found, perhaps endangering this coven.
Goddess’s whisper echoes in my head. Goddess wills our paths merge. If evil be known, it will be known, but apart there will be no peace.
“Kaden, I don’t want you here. I don’t want you in my life. You poison everything and everyone around you. Tell me what you want, so I can tell you no, and you can leave Windsor.” We reach the river and stop.
Hands on his hips, he shakes his head. “Brother, you will have to accept that I have changed. I will prove myself to you. Ariana tricked us, but me worst of all. She forced me to do things I will always regret. I’ve lived with those things for all these years. I want my only family to accept me again. That’s why I’m here.”
“No. Now go.” I turn and walk back to the coven house.
It never had any hope of working. Kaden isn’t the kind of person to accept another’s decision if it doesn’t match what he wants. Maybe if he’d left Windsor and said nothing more, there would be a speck of hope that he’d changed. But he’s following a safe distance behind me, just as I knew he would. Whatever it is he wants will come out eventually.
When I reach the house, I say hello to June and Trina, who stare from the long table they’re setting. “My brother will return here shortly. Don’t let him upstairs.”
Wide-eyed, June nods.
Ignoring whoever is in the dining room, I jog upstairs, go to my bedroom and close the door. I need to settle my emotions. I can’t let him get to me. Protecting this house has to be my first priority.
I know Sara Beth is outside my door before she knocks. “Come in.”
Stepping inside, she watches me, then closes the door behind her. “How can I help?”
“I thought you’d want to know why I didn’t tell you I was a twin.”
She sits on the chair by my desk. “I have many questions, Adam. You keep many secrets, and I’ve known that since you came to us. I still would like to help.”
