Page 83 of Heart of a Witch
“I saw,” he said slowly. “But then I saw you, and you collapsed to your knees, and the look on your face… I was worried you were going to burn the town to the ground, and Ember was already dead. I knew I had to get you out of there first.”
“I never asked if you saw her die,” I admitted, feeling a twinge of regret. I wondered if it haunted his dreams too.
“I just lost one sister; I couldn’t lose you too. It’s what kept me going and getting us back to our family. Our lives can’t end with one of us. We still had Mother and Alex.”
I swallowed thickly. “I never thanked you for protecting me that day.”
“You may be a pain in my ass, but you’re still my little sister, and I do… love you.”
I made a face and then smiled. “I guess I love you too.”
He chuckled. “Oh, the hindrance.”
“Exactly.”
His smile fell into a frown as he gripped his teacup. “Also, I screwed up with Ember. I encouraged her to get that job, and I didn’t listen to you. I couldn’t mess up things with the rest of you. She’s dead because of me—”
“Cas, no, that’s not true.”
He scratched the side of his neck. “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought it.”
I had, a couple of times, but I’d never let those thoughts sink in. Because the truth was that if I thought into it too deeply, I realized we were all to blame in some way. “Damian killed her. It’s his fault. She was an adult, as much as I hate to admit it. She made her own choices, and her actions were her own. None of us could have known what would happen as a result of them.”
“I’ll try telling myself that tonight.”
“You haven’t been sleeping well?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Terribly, but we all have. You haven’t noticed?”
I looked at the floor. I’d been so focused on our revenge and myself that I hadn’t. “It looks like I’m the bad sibling.”
“We’re all trying our best.” He ran his hand through his dark hair. “I’m going to lie down. I need to be up early to redress Corbin’s wounds and make more ointment, then go to the shop.”
I grabbed his hand before he walked out, and I pulled him into a tight hug, resting my head against his shoulder. “You’re a great apothecary, brother, and an even better person. I don’t always say it, but you’re doing a good job with the business and looking after everyone.”
He patted my back, then squeezed me tighter before stepping back. “If you’re being nice to try to get out of your next shift, forget it.” He winked and left the room. As soon as he was gone, I drank my tea and headed upstairs. Elijah was asleep on my bed. I reached into my babies’ cage and pulled out Ebony.
“Hey, baby.” She curled around my fingers, and Buttercup looked up at me. “I’m still mad at you,” I whispered to the cage, and Buttercup curled up. I rolled my eyes and pulled her out too. She hissed at first but slithered up my arm and settled around my shoulders.
I suddenly felt the urge to play a song. My heart was full, and I had no outlet for the emotions tightening inside of me. My violin, which Cas had kindly bought me to replace the one I’d left at our old house, was downstairs, and there was an old piano in the living room, but some of the keys were broken.
A bath might be better instead. I put the snakes back into their cage, replaced their water, and undressed.
“Love,” Elijah said softly, making me jump. I turned, holding my bundled dress against my front.
“You could have let me know you were awake.”
“You were so happy, petting your babies, was it?” He suppressed a smirk. “Don’t worry, as long as they’re in their cage, I’m not worried.”
“If you wait for them to come to you next time, they might take to you. More likely, Ebony will. Buttercup never lets anyone other than me and Eva hold her.”And Ember, I thought. “Not even Ambrose can touch her. Why do you think he made the ointment against her bite?”
“Makes sense.” He sat upright, maneuvering his legs over the side of the queen-size bed. “Your room is… interesting,” he said, looking around. I’d barely done anything to it.
“I haven’t made it my own yet,” I admitted, although I doubted I ever would. Redforest wasn’t my home, and even if we could stay after Damian’s downfall, I doubted I’d want to.
“I was going to say, there’s a lack of black.”
“There’s enough in my heart.”
