Page 33 of Witch Unexpected
Bador released me, his gaze flicking over my shoulder. My nape prickled, telling me we had company.
I turned to find a woman standing on the threshold to the balcony. Small, plump, and matronly, she gave off homecooked meals and quilting vibes. She smiled, and her rosy cheeks lifted. I wanted to hug her.
“Cora Dawn, welcome,” she said.
Even her voice was sweet. My residual nerves vanished. I mean, what the fuck had I been worried about?
“Hi. Thank you so much for having me.” And I meant it. I mean, I was here, and it was an honor, and… Wait a fucking minute?
I shook my head to clear it and frowned at the woman. “Quit it. Now.”
She looked confused. “Quit what, child?”
“The mojo blast, theyou love me and want to do my biddingvibes.” I took a step toward her, ignoring the need to give her huggles. “I don’t like being manipulated. In fact, some would say I take serious offense to it.”
She continued to blast me with the sweet stuff for a moment, and fuck, it was hard to resist, but I dug my fingernails into my palms and glared her down.
Finally, she took a breath and nodded. The pressure to kiss her feet subsided, and I was free.
Damn, she was strong.
“You have skills,” she said.
“You have no idea.”
“And you’re a tulpa, created under the sign of Ophiuchus.”
“That’s right.”
“Not born.”
“Look, are we having an interview or something? I was under the impression you needed an anchor, and I was the only potential left. Does it matter how I came to be?”
She frowned slightly. “No. No, I suppose it doesn’t. The cosmos works in mysterious ways.”
“Anna,” Bador said from behind me. “Do you wish me to stay?”
“No, Bador, you may go. I’ll take good care of our guest.” She beamed at him, and I looked over my shoulder to find him staring at her as if she’d pulled that stick Bramble had been talking about out of his ass.
Okay, so it was obvious not everyone was able to resist Anna’s mojo.
Bador launched himself into the air and was gone.
I turned back to Anna. “You know, I’m always wary about witches like you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Witches who feel the need to manipulate their peers.” I stepped closer, hugging Wren to me. “Witches who have tomakepeople like them.”
She smiled thinly. “My ability isn’t always voluntary, and the more I curb it, the stronger it gets, so, from time to time, I let it out. The first meeting with our only living potential seemed like an opportune time to expel some of that power.”
Fair enough. “Well, it doesn’t work on me.”
“I see that.” Her attention dropped to Wren, and her eyes narrowed. “What is that?”
“What? I think you mean who. This is Wren.”
“I think you know what I mean, Miss Dawn.”
