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As we settled in on Bruno’s couch, Millie took my hands in hers. “Where have you been, Lira?”
I took a deep breath; aware it was time for the truth. “You know all those places I told you that I visited in the past year, when I’d just leave you hanging and disappear?”
“Yup, but I forgave you for dumping me at the art gallery because I met Jacob.”
I smiled. “Thanks.” Giving Millie’s hand a squeeze, I continued, “Grandma wrote in one of her letters about an abandoned house that had been in our family for generations. I opened the letter about a year ago and have been staying there the past year. I never went on any of those trips I told you about.”
I watched as Millie processed this. “All by yourself?”
“Well, Charli was there.”
“Charli?”
“She’s our great-great-grandmother.”
“Lira—” A look of exasperation crossed her features.
I held up my hand. “She’s a ghost, Millie. She stayed behind to protect the house.”
“And you’re a witch. That’s what you told me the last time we talked.”
“Yes. And I have something that might help us win this war with Pac.”
“Lira,” she said, sitting back and sighing. “This is a lot.”
“You’re telling me.”
“You doing okay?”
“I am now. Bruno has helped a lot,” I said, looking over to the door that separated me from him.
“I’m so glad you two found each other.”
“Me too. Like you said, it’s been a lot. I’m really sorry for leaving you hanging so much in the last many years.”
“Thank you, I appreciate the apology, but you know I love you. You’re my sister. I could never not love you. Please don’t keep secrets from me anymore, okay?”
“I won’t,” I said, squeezing her hand.
“Good. Well, we should probably go out and see everyone. They’ll want to hear what you two have to say. Miti set up a family meeting saying you two were coming, but we weren’t sure why.”
I could only nod as I followed Millie out the door and went to Bruno. He gave Millie a hug, saying how nice it was that she was here with Jacob now. This was the first time Bruno was able to get a good look at the two of us together, and he looked back and forth between us before laughing.
“If it wasn’t for the bond Lira and I have, I wouldn’t be able to tell who was who.”
We laughed and followed him to his parents’ house.
Everyone was convened in the living room when we got there. All the men were as big as Bruno, if not bigger. Millie held my hand as we walked in, and I grasped the back of Bruno’s shirt with my other. It was my first time meeting his family, and I stood behind him, trying to hide for as long as I could.
“Lira, we won’t bite,” a soft voice said. That sent a calming effect over me. I peeked around and saw an older woman sitting at the front of the room. “I’m Bruno’s mom, Alia. You are most welcome in our home.”
“Hi.” I breathed in a lung full of air. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Bruno put his hand around my waist and drew me to his side as he walked us to the sofa. Millie took her seat next to who I assumed must be Jacob.
“Dad, why are you out of bed?” Bruno asked.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” he growled.
