Page 28 of Heart of a Witch
They looked at Corbin and left.
I grabbed Corbin’s shoulders, shaking him gently. His head flopped back as he incoherently mumbled something. It was going to take hours for him to be okay enough to walk.
“Stay here,” I ordered, as if he could even move if he’d wanted to. I noticed his pockets were inside out. “They took your dramair, you fool.” No wonder he was the only one hopped up on opium. They’d taken his money. Those bastards. I stormed out of the alley, then up the other.
I evaluated the area. If I had a carriage pull up directly outside the alley, no one would see if we were quick. I wanted to bet he’d seen a letter last night, alerting the household of my father’s return. He was already trying to black out the thought of our father, but if Corbin was seen like this, I wasn’t sure I could protect him from our father’s wrath—not even if I fought like I had before, which had only made it worse.
The memory swirled unwantedly into my mind. Father had had Corbin shirtless, screaming, and buckled over a chair, with ten lashes. When blood surfaced and chunks of skin attached to the whip, I’d lost it.
I recalled the bruise on Father’s temple, purpling toward his eye, and the spatter of blood covering my knuckles after I’d hit him. Corbin had sat gasping in the corner of the room as he held the whip in one hand.
That day had stopped future punishments, but it had also cost us the most.
Ten
Victoria
“He likes you.” Alex grinned. “You played it well.”
I scratched the back of my neck. “I was unprepared. I’d planned to meet him on my own terms, but no matter.”
“Cas will be pleased you’ve already found a way in.”
“He only invited me to a club. He’s undoubtedly extended such an invitation to countless women.”
“Will you be going?”
I laughed. “No. If I don’t go, he’ll spend the evening looking for me; therefore, I’ll be on his mind. The more I remain an idea to him, the more he’ll want me. That’s how I get him.”
“Are you sure you can do this? I mean, you don’t have much experience in… seduction.”
“Alex!” I scowled. “You’re not supposed to even know that word.”
She laughed, flicking back her black ponytail. “Fine. How do you plan towinhim over?”
“I’m…” I paused, licking my lips. “Going to use my intuition.”
“Oh, gods.”
I arched an eyebrow at her. “Anyway, we still need to go get your uniform. Are you sure you’re happy to finish your schooling here?”
She nodded, a little too eagerly. “Yes.”
“I need to get used to calling you Eva. I hesitated in front of Elijah when introducing you. It can’t happen again.”
“You’re too hard on yourself. Wait until Cas hears how you already met one of the Shaws.”
“I’m just glad he’s finally coming, after being delayed.” I couldn’t help but scowl. “As usual, he had a hard time saying good-bye to our mother.”
She rolled her eyes. “You miss her too. Don’t pretend.”
I spotted the uniform shop for the academy. “I see it.” I pointed, changing the topic. “I also spot our brother.”
He laughed a little too loudly, deep in conversation with some woman holding a parasol against the sunlight.
We approached her, and Alex cleared her throat. “Brother.”
He smiled broadly. “Ah, Eva, Victoria.” There was something pointed in his eyes. “Maria, these are my sisters. Sisters, this is Maria. She’s the wife of the priest Father Montague. I was telling Maria how devoted we are to the faith.”
