Page 97 of Shackled to the World
Fuck!
Annora scanned the yard as they pulled up, her heart sinking when she saw the house was packed to the rafters with people. She wanted to tell the guys to keep driving, craving more time alone with them, but it wasn’t an option.
She needed to train for the real possibility of meeting her father.
She should be excited or nervous at the possibility of seeing him for the first time, but since he was probably coming to kill her, it kinda squashed any curiosity.
Had he known she was alive?
Had he left her in hell to suffer at the hands of her uncle on purpose, hoping to be rid of her?
Had he loved her mother, or had she just been a convenience?
As the van pulled into the yard, she tucked away her childish thoughts. No, if her father had ever thought of her, it wasn’t with kindness.
Camden parked the vehicle but didn’t turn it off. None of the other guys got out either, as if fighting the same impulse to just leave.
Unfortunately, no matter where they went, her father would find them.
Camden must have come to the same conclusion—he turned off the engine with a sigh.
As the doors opened, Sadie boldly strode out of the house, having used her abilities to beat them home. A harried Loulou scrambled outside a second later, practically bouncing on her feet, babbling a million miles an hour.
A cluster of witches were gathered near the door, glaring as if angry she and the guys dared to be away from home when they came to visit. Willa looked annoyed by the proceedings, standing off to the side, leaning against a tree with her arms crossed, her blue hair making her stand out from the rest. She looked exhausted, the dark circles under her green eyes making the color appear even more vivid.
Their gazes met for a fraction, and Annora could have sworn the witch rolled her eyes.
The shifters were different, prowling around the perimeter of the property, each alert and waiting for attack. They snapped to attention when the vehicle pulled into the yard, every one of them anxious to be noticed. Lionel and his men were maintaining order, glaring at anyone who got too rowdy or belligerent…which looked to be a full-time job.
Neither group was happy to be in the same vicinity as to the other.
“What do they want?” Annora slumped back against her seat, reluctant to leave the privacy of the vehicle.
“The witches will either demand the book be returned to them or insist you start their training immediately,” Mason murmured, then glanced at her with a half-smile. “Most likely both.”
“The shifters no doubt have petitions they want you to review.” Camden glared at the intruders, grumbling under his breath. “I’ll deal with them, and let you know if there’s anything of interest.”
Annora knew she should protest, that it was her job to decide those types of things, but she didn’t feel she had enough experience to judge issues in the shifter world. She’d rather leave it to someone who knew what they were doing. “I’d appreciate it.”
Yet no one made a move to leave the vehicle.
Logan broke first and reached for the door. “I’ll work on making lunch.”
“I’d like to join you when you train the witches.” Edgar crowded closer to her. “I don’t trust them not to try and trap you in some way.”
The rest of the guys grunted their agreement.
As the doors opened, no one even pretended they weren’t staring and waiting for them. The guys circled her, falling into protective formation around her as the shifters and witches surged forward. Only when she started up the steps did she feel unfettered magic snapping around her and the guys.
“We came here for our training.” Brad and Brittney smirked up at her, pretending like they hadn’t tried to force her hand with a weak, witchy potshot at her and Mason.
“Actually, I don’t remember you helping or even showing up for the battle.” Annora stopped and turned to face the spoiled twins, then looked beyond them. “Willa? I trust you to select the appropriate candidates—if you trust any other witches, that is—and we’ll start training in half an hour.”
Ignoring the shouts of protest, Annora grabbed the door handle and addressed the shifters. “Give us five minutes to get settled, then Camden will come out to hear your…petitions.”
Giving into the need to run, she wrenched open the door and shot inside.
Only when the door snapped shut behind her and the guys was she able to finally catch her breath. Sadie immediately pulled Edgar aside, and Annora had to work on biting back the sting of jealousy at seeing their two heads so close together.
