Page 69 of Witch Unexpected
If he was here, then he was unable to show himself.
“Jasper, if you’re here, give me some kind of sign.”
The silence was thick and pressing. Not a hint of an unexplained breeze, not a whisper of a breath in my ear.
“Jasper’s not here.” Wren scampered into the room and hopped onto the bed. “Jasper was for a little while, but then Jasper faded away.”
Shit. “Is he… Was he okay?”
Wren frowned. “Jasper looked…sad.”
My chest grew tight. “Did he say anything?”
“Oh yes, Cora. Jasper left a message. Jasper said,tell Cora she’s a fool. That amulet will be the end of us both.” Wren scrunched up his face. “He said,she fucking needs me, and it’s about time she accepts that.”
Annoyance flared to life, firstly for the fact that Jasper had made sweet Wren use the F word, and secondly, because… What the fuck? I didn’t need him.Heneededme.
But he saved your life.
Because he needed me.
And you needed him to save your life.
Argh. Shut up, annoying voice of reason. I took a deep breath. “If you see him again, tell him we need to talk.”
Wren nodded. “What will Cora do?” His gaze dropped to my amulet. “Wren is wondering if Jasper is right.”
Yeah, me too. “Once I’m officially the anchor, I’ll have access to more power. I’ll be able to take care of myself again.”
Wren stared at me for a long beat with his huge hazel eyes. “Wren doesn’t want Cora to die.” His bottom lip trembled. “Wren doesn’t want a new master.”
Oh fuck, were we back to this again? I climbed up onto the bed beside him and lifted him onto my lap.
“Okay, let me say one more time. I’m not your master. I don’t own you. You’re not a possession.”
He blinked slowly. “But—”
“No buts. You’re free to do what you want. Come and go as you please. It doesn’t matter. I’ll still be here for you. Okay?”
Wren tucked in his chin. “Cora not understand…”
But I did. “I get it. That creepy asshole, Merkle, fucked with your head. He made you believe all this master crap. But it’s not true.” I hugged him to me. “You’re safe now. Okay?”
“Okay.”
I snuggled back into the puffy pillows and closed my eyes. “You want to take a nap?”
But Wren was already snoring softly.
* * *
Thanks to Wrenand his excellent sense of direction, I made it to the dining room by ten past seven without getting lost to find Bramble waiting outside.
She was dressed all in black, sporting some pretty kick-ass boots, the kind that could kick the shit out of someone and look hot while doing it. I liked my footwear comfy, sexy, and functional, so yeah, there was a little boot envy right now. Her purple hair was pulled up in a messy bun, softening the overall assassin look that the daggers sitting snug at her hips gave her.
She was holding a spare holster, which she held out to me as I approached. “I got you a gift.”
“For me?” I faux-simpered. “You shouldn’t have.”
