Page 62 of Heart of a Witch
I let out a small smile. “That’s probably where she got her inspiration to make perfumes from.”
Cas chimed in. “Do you remember when she made her first perfume?”
I recalled the small explosion in the fireplace. She had been twelve. We all laughed, carrying her memories until the sky lightened to pinks and morning greeted our tired, blotched faces.
I wiped the last of my tears, sniffling into the back of my sleeve when I was done. “Who’s hungry?”
Cas patted my back as I sat up. “What do you want to eat?”
“I can cook,” I said.
Alex laughed, then sniffed loudly. “What and now you can cook? Gods save us.”
“I can make egg fritters,” Cas said, standing. “With haddock.”
Alex rubbed her stomach. “I’m not going into school today.”
I squeezed her hand. “I don’t think any of us should do anything today.”
Cas nodded in agreement, then left my room and headed for the kitchen. Alex waited until he was gone before she spoke. “What about Elijah?”
I shrugged. “We can take a day off.”
She looked at the bed. “Can I be honest with you?”
I yawned. “Always.”
She shuffled uncomfortably. “I don’t want to drag Corbin into this. He’s not the same as his father or brother.”
“I thought you didn’t like him.” I arched an eyebrow.
“I don’t not like him.”
“Mmhmm.”
“He’s not an awful person, that’s all.”
“Just be careful, Alex. Please.” For a second, I heard myself, as if I were reciting the same thing I’d said to Ember. Everyone had gone at me for being controlling, and even if my advice could have saved her in the end, it was the same control that had created a rift between us. Had we not argued because of it? “He’s human.”
“I know.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“I trust you,” I said slowly, realizing I should have said the same thing to Ember before she’d die. Even if her mistakes had cost her greatly, maybe she wouldn’t have gone so hard against me if I’d loosened up a little.
Something changed in her gaze. “That means a lot to hear.”
“I wasn’t going to have Corbin involved. He’s just a kid.”
She nodded slowly, hesitating. “What about Elijah?”
“We both know he’s a part of the plan.”
“So you really don’t care for him?”
I made a face. “No.”
“He is planning on being a hunter too, so he’s just as bad as his father.”
My lips parted, and before I could explain what he’d told me, how he didn’t want to become one, Cas reentered the room. “One of you make the tea, please. Maybe you can set the table, Tori?”
