Page 81 of Cruel Moon
“They found out somehow.” He pushes the book toward me. “Reid deserves to know he has sisters. And what happened to his mother. But…” He hesitates. “I wanted to check with you first. After everything Bridget’s been through…”
“I appreciate that. But I imagine Bridget will be thrilled to meet him.”
“Good. And Brianna’s already decided to come back to Colorado with you both,” Lawrence continues, leaning back in the creaking chair. “She wants nothing to do with this place anymore. Can’t blame her.”
“And the other witches?”
“Most of the younger ones are staying. Some asked to relocate to Colorado with Lila and Rachel—too many bad memories here.” He scrubs a hand over his face. “It’ll take time to sort everything out, but Finn’s got the Gallagher jet lined up for tomorrow morning. Rachel said she’d come by with Brianna around nine to pick you up.”
I nod, my thoughts already racing ahead to how to tell Bridget. The bond pulses steady between us, but I can feel exhaustion in her sleep. That knife went so deep. “She’s healing,” I say, answering Lawrence’s unspoken question. “The mate bond is taking care of it, but she’ll be tender for a few days.”
“And mentally?”
“Strong.” Pride fills my chest. “Stronger than they ever knew.”
Jenny swings by with fresh coffee, but I wave her off. Need to get back upstairs. Need to be there when Bridget wakes up.
“I’ll let Reid know to look for y’all later tomorrow,” Lawrence says, standing. The chair scrapes against the old flooring. “Unless you think I should wait?”
I shake my head. “No. They’ve all lost enough time already.” I take the book, tucking it under my arm.
“Good. Good.” He shakes my hand. “Take care of yourself. I’ll see you soon. I’m sure we’ll be back and forth between here and White Fork, especially since I will have a grandchild soon.”
I flash him a smile. “Thank you, Lawrence. For everything.”
“Very welcome.”
I halt midstep and he stills. “What about theMathairsthat escaped?” I ask.
“It will be a while before they come poking in our business again. We dealt them a punishing and embarrassing blow.”
I nod. “Good.” I’m not sure I fully believe him, but that’s all we’ve got for now.
He waves and I walk toward the front of the café area. I pause at the counter to order some sandwiches and stuff sent up. No way I’m leaving this room again tonight. The bed-and-breakfast might be frilly as hell, but at least the service is good. Then I take the stairs two at a time back to the room.
Bridget stirs as I enter, her eyes fluttering open. The late afternoon sun catches the emerald glow, making my breath catch. Every time I see her alive, safe, it hits me all over again how close I came to losing her.
“Hey,” she murmurs, reaching for me. I’m beside her in two strides, the leather book temporarily forgotten as I pull her close. Her scent wraps around me. “What were you doing?”
“Meeting with Lawrence.” I press a kiss to her hair. “He found something. About your family.”
She tenses slightly but doesn’t pull away. “TheMathairs?”
“No.” I reach for the book, settling back against the headboard with her tucked against my side. “Your mother, she…” I hesitate, then decide to just say it. “Saved your brother.”
“What?” She jerks upright, then winces at the movement. I steady her with a hand on her hip. “Bast, Elsa said they drowned—”
“They didn’t.” The words tangle as I try to explain. “You have a twin brother. TheMathairs’records he found say he was drowned at birth, but Lawrence recognized the birthmark they documented.” I open the book, showing her the careful script. “He’s alive, Bridget. He’s in White Fork.”
Her fingers trace the writing, shaking slightly. “A brother?” Her voice cracks. “All this time… I had a brother?”
“Your mother got him out somehow.” I tighten my arm around her as tears spill down her cheeks. “His name is Reid Marshall. He’s a male witch in Lawrence’s coven.”
A knock at the door makes us both tense, but it’s just the sandwiches I ordered. I grab them quickly, not wanting to leave her side for longer than necessary.
“They killed her for it, didn’t they?” Bridget asks when I return. Her voice is hollow. “My mother. That’s what really happened. Not a training accident.”
“Yeah.” No point sugarcoating it. “Lawrence says she was too skilled for that story to be true.”
