Page 14 of Heart of a Witch
He closed his eyes, tightening his lips as a grimace pulled the corners down. “What have I done?”
“Perhaps be careful who you bed in future,” I snapped.
“You can’t be a little nicer? I just found out my lover is dead.” He shook his head. “Never mind, I forgot who I was talking to.”
“A one-night partner, you said.” I was seething. “Don’t act like the victim here. If you want babying, go find our mother, or better yet, wait for Ember to return, and you can both share in the depression together at your awful romantic choices. Do you know where she is, by any chance?”
“Yes, I do.”
“You didn’t think to tell me earlier?”
“She came back while you were out. I told her to leave before your neurotic ass got home.”
“Now who’s not being nice?” I placed my hand on my hip. “Are you going to tell me where she is?”
“So you can judge us both even more? No fucking way.”
“Cas,” I said in warning. “I saw the hunter. He was heading for The Black Card. No doubt checking it out. If you know where she is, you need to tell me.”
He hesitated, then rolled his eyes. “You don’t need to worry about the hunter. The Black Card has the best security and magic defenses.”
“I couldn’t care less about that club or the people in it, as long as Ember isn’t there.”
He rolled back his shoulders. “Fine. They went to the kissing tree.”
Great. They were in the forest at the ridiculous spot with the tree carved with hundreds of initials of teenage couples who’d no doubt broken up shortly after carving them. She must really be smitten to go there with him. We both used to laugh at people who went there to avoid a scandal. It was improper for a girl to be alone with a boy. Normally I hated society, but at that moment, I wished Ember would adhere to their rules.
“Leave her be.”
I snapped out of my thoughts. “She’s with Chester, the son of those heathens.”
“She’s away from the club and the hunter. That’s what’s important.” He angled his head. “Besides, he’s a kid, like Ember. He isn’t involved in whatever his parents are doing. He barely even goes into the back with them. Trust me, she’s safe.”
“Don’t blame me for not taking your word for it.”
He grabbed my arm when I took a step toward the front door. “She’ll hate you for it. Stop, sister. Let her make mistakes and live a little.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“He’s just a boy.”
“He’s a Blackwood.”
He squared his stance. “You’ve always been protective of her. I get it. We all do, but there’s a time when it turns into just being controlling. Don’t be that person. It’s not a good look on you.”
I swallowed his poisoned words, my mouth twisting. “I’m only doing what’s best for her.”
“You’re not the judge of what’s best for her or any of us.”
I pulled my wrist from his grip, biting the inside of my lip as I took a step back. She’d told me as much last night. “When she gets back from the forest, you tell her about the club and the hunter. I don’t want either of you going back there.”
“One.” He put a finger in the air. “You’re not my boss, but… right now itmightbe best if she doesn’t go there,” he admitted. “I’ll make sure she knows. You should get some sleep. You look tired as shit.”
“Thanks,” I said, then moved past him. “Give her the necklace too. It’ll conceal her magic. Don’t forget, Cas. I’ll still put those snakes in your bed.”
I heard him murmur “I don’t doubt it” as he walked away, and I headed up the stairs. I was exhausted. The ritual had drained me, and with the string of sleepless nights and broken sleep, I could almost hear my bed calling to me.
I dropped a couple of dead mice into Ebony and Buttercup’s cage before heading to bed.
