Page 46 of These Witches Don't Burn
Dad sets a cup of tea in front of my grandmother, who takes a deep breath and waves a hand over the tea, cooling it to the perfect temperature. She takes a sip and then settles her all-seeing gaze upon me. “I still sense no Blood Magic, but I agree that something is amiss. Let me handle this, Hannah. Have patience.”
“Are you sure? Who else would be after our coven?” I look to my parents for backup but find none.
“I’m withholding judgment until I learn more.” Lady Ariana turns her attention to my ex. “Pack a bag, Veronica. I won’t have you staying alone until the intruder is caught.”
Veronica scurries away, and Lady Ariana makes a grand flourish with her hands, spinning an air message before her. She speaks, so soft I cannot hear, and releases the magic. I glance to my parents, but no one says anything. I have so many questions, so many worries, but I’m afraid to mention any of them.
On the plus side, I’m fairly certain I’m not grounded anymore. At the very least, I doubt my parents will make me wear the binding charm while there’s a confirmedintrudertargeting Elementals.
A few minutes later, Lady Ariana is finishing the last of her tea when she tilts her head ever so slightly. She nods, and Veronica steps back into the room, pulling a small suitcase.
“Veronica, your parents are booking the first flight back in the morning.” Lady Ariana stands and hands Dad her teacup. “You’ll stay with Hannah until your family returns.”
Veronica’s eyes grow wide, and she glances from me to our high priestess. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Even though I’m thinking the same thing, I know it’s the absolute wrong thing to ask.
“Of course I’m sure. Be grateful I’m letting you drive yourself.” Lady Ariana turns and glides out of the room. The rest of us are still frozen in the dining room when the front door slams shut.
When we make it back to my house, Mom tries to lighten the mood by ordering pizza. My overstretched magic leaves me simultaneously ravenous and nauseated, so dinner is a precarious venture. Veronica excuses herself early, leaving me with my parents, who don’t seem to know what to do with me.
Mom keeps trying to speak, but she swallows her words before they come out. It’s like she wants to yell at me for being reckless, for removing my binding charm without permission, and yet she’s obviously relieved I’m okay.
For his part, Dad tries to crack jokes and talk about the ridiculous case he’s working on—as much as he’s able to without violating confidentiality laws—but eventually he gives up and retires to his office to work on said case.
I help Mom clean up and head to my room, but I change my mind at the last second, knocking on the guest room door.
“Yeah?” Veronica’s voice is soft. She sniffles once. Twice.
“Do you need anything?” I crack open the door and wait another second for her to compose herself before I come in.
It’s weird to see her like this, in this room. Veronica has spent the night at my house countless times before, but she’s never slept in the guest room. When we were little, we’d set up sleeping bags and little pop-up tents in the living room. As preteens, we’d camp out in my room and slip off our binding rings—the normal pre-initiation ones, rings without the anti-tampering spell that burned my finger—practicing harmless bits of magic I’m sure my parents knew about but never mentioned. Even after we started dating, Veronica never slept in here. My parents sent us back to the living room, sleeping on air mattresses as far away from each other as possible in a room without doors.
She shouldn’t be in here. This room is for strangers. Distant relatives. Veronica isn’t either of those things.
Veronica exhales a sharp sigh and wipes at her face. “What the hell is going on, Hannah?”
“I wish I knew.” I sink onto the bed beside her. “If this is about New York, why is the Blood Witch going to such lengths to hide their identity? Why set Nolan’s house on fire? Why not come for us directly?”
The bed compresses as she leans her shoulder against mine. “Maybe the fear is half the fun.” A bitter laugh catches in her throat. “She’s playing with us. She has us running scared until she swoops in for the kill.” Veronica shudders. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be so morbid.”
“But why us? If it is her, and she’s after revenge for whathappened in New York, why not go after the Caster Witches who started this whole thing?” My hand goes to my throat, and the smell of burning flesh fills my nose. “They’re the ones who tried to strip away her magic. We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Memories drag me under like the tide. I’m back in the cramped apartment in New York, forced to guard a bound and bleeding Blood Witch. The Casters caught her after she ambushed me in the park, and Veronica agreed to help them finish their potion. Even though I wanted nothing to do with their plans, when the Blood Witch got free, she still blamed me. Hit me hard enough to steal my blood and force me to my knees. And when the Casters realized she had escaped, they came after me, too.
I shudder. Veronicastillhasn’t apologized for the part she played in that nightmare.
“Maybe you’re right. Maybe this has nothing to do with New York.” Veronica pulls her knees to her chest and wraps her arms around her legs, her whole body shivering. “But whoever that guy was, wherever he came from, he has my blood, Hannah. You know what that means.”
My muscles tense. Veronica and I haven’t seen eye-to-eye since that weekend, but I wouldn’t wish the pain of Blood Magic on anyone. “You’ll be safe here. My parents won’t let anything happen to you.” I reach for her hand, and she squeezes back. “I’m sorry I took so long to answer the phone.”
At that, Veronica pulls away. “What were you doing anyway?”
I was on a date...But I can’t say that. I won’t make her night any worse. “I was at the Cauldron. I’m not supposed to answer my phone at work.”
Veronica shifts until she’s facing me. Her eyes bore into mine. “Would you have answered faster if you weren’t at work?”
“Veronica.”
