Page 44 of Spellbound & Speechless
“I won’t. I’ll call again this week.”
“I can fly down if you need backup.”
“No, Ma. You stay right there. You’re too old to be chasing corrupt witches.”
“I am notold?—”
“I’m joking. Relax.”
She huffs. “Are you taking care of yourself over there? Sleeping? Eating?”
“Better than I have in years. I have a kitchen witch on my side.”
“That’s… nice.” The line goes silent. “There’s something else. What aren’t you telling me?”
How the hell does she know? I look around, half expecting her to pop out of the woods. “Come on, Ma. What are you talking about?”
There’s no way my mother can know what’s going on. We’re having a perfectly normal conversation. Pleasant, even.
“There’s something more,” she says. “You sound different.”
Oh, she definitely knows. “I wouldn’t keep anything important from you.”
“Don’t lie to me. I’ll always know.”
Those are the exact words she used when I was a child caught in a lie. Shit.
“Fine.” I bite the inside of my cheek and consider my options. Keep lying to my mother, or upset her. Either way, I’m fucked. “If I sound different, it’s because… I met a mate. One of the witches.”
There’s silence on the other line, and she eventually says, “You know what you have to do.”
I close my eyes. “I know.”
“Nothing good can come of this. It’s not worth it.”
She’s repeating what I’ve been telling myself for days. This is exactly what I was afraid of.
I nod, even though she can’t see me. “Ma. I know.”
“Witches are fragile.”
Fragile? I scoff. “Not her. I’ve already seen her live through these attacks. She’s not as soft as she seems.”
“Softer than you. Softer than your father.” Silence, and then she speaks again. “Protect your heart. That’s all I want from you. Stay alive.”
My jaw clenches. “I’m trying.”
“You may not be able to keepheralive. Don’t forget that.”
This is what I needed to hear—it’s the reason I called my mom—but I don’t want to listen to it anymore. The last thing I want is reminders of how much danger my mate is in.
I sniff. “I could never forget it. You know me. I know better. I won’t get attached.”
To her or anyone else.
Chapter 16
Aspen
