“We’ll go first. Take your time going down,” Nolan murmurs in my ear, and squeezes my hand that isn’t white knuckling the banister, acknowledging my continuing struggle with stairs.
Some days are easier than others, but I fear it’s going to be a long time before I stop reliving the feeling of my bastard of a father dragging me down flights of stairs on his way to his torture basement. He was desperate to break the spell binding my magic. Obsessed with the belief that I could use my powers as a Spirit Witch to place my deceased mother’s soul into a new host body. What the Bastard didn’t realize was that torture wasn’t the solution. Love was. My need to protect Connor’s life from the Alpha is what finally broke the spell.I don’t think the Bastard even knows what love is.
The guys collectively make their way down, thankfully more dressed than they were a few minutes ago. My aunt, the wonderful woman that she is, laundered all of the guys’ clothes that were littered around the house, and placed them, folded, in a basket near my bedroom door. Now, Donovan and Nolan are back in their leather pants, Kaleb is wearing his Captain America costume, and Connor is dressed in the aforementioned borrowed grey sweats. There’s still a whole lot of muscle on display, but at least I feel less likely to spontaneously combust.
Sam, the unknown wolf shifter, and my aunt move out of the way when we reach the bottom floor, with Mildred pulling me to her side as if to protect me from the invaders in our home. We’re now also blocking the hallway that leads to the office, spare bathroom, and her magic workshop in the garage. I’m unsure if it’s on purpose or not.
Upon seeing Nolan, his parents quickly rise and engulf their son into a tight hug, their relief at seeing him safe painted across their features. Nolan attempts to hug them back, but there’s a stiffness to his movements and his expression has a default smile indicating that he’s hiding his true feelings. If I were to guess, it might have something to do with Neva and his parents being in the same room.
At the same time, Donovan and Kaleb shuffle over to Kaleb’s parents. When they stand up to meet them, Donovan juts his chin out stubbornly and Kaleb can’t seem to look up from his feet.
While Kaleb’s mother, the infamous Keziah, grabs each of them by their faces and appears to examine them for any injuries, Kaleb’s father, who has the same deep, made-for-radio voice as his son, gently murmurs, “It’s good to see you’re both healthy and safe.”
Deciding that Donovan and Kaleb are indeed uninjured, Keziah hugs them tightly and cries, “Thank the heavens you’re both safe,” then promptly smacks them along the back of their heads and shouts, “What in the hell were you two thinking?”
Kaleb mumbles, “Sorry, Mama,” at the same time Donovan grumbles, “Sorry, Keziah.”
“Sorry is right,” she chastises, hugging them once more. “You had Raymond and me scared half to death with worry. Two brown boys disappearing in the night without a trace—and it was to fight demons on your own! I swear, when we get home…”
During the families’ reunions, the unknown wolf shifter sniffs the air, his amber eyes bright and his tail wagging, but instead of following Connor and Sam to the bay windows that still don’t have curtains, he pads over to sit at my feet, his claws making light tapping noises on the hardwood floors. He licks my hand, bumps his head against my hip, then whines when I don’t immediately start petting him.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Sam looks equal parts shocked and outraged—her fine, black brows furrow, her pale blue eyes open wide, and her lips purse. She opens her mouth to say something, but Connor places a hand on her shoulder and shakes his head. Her mouth clamps shut, and she surprisingly glares at the wolf instead of me.
Trying not to notice the twisting in my gut at the sight of how comfortable Connor is touching Sam now that the Alpha is no longer a threat, I decide to humor the wolf shifter at my feet, petting the top of his head and scratching around his ears. His eyes close to slits, and his tail thumps the floor as he leans heavily against my hip.
Unlike the jealousy I’m totally not feeling at the moment, Connor looks intrigued. As he takes in the display, he tilts his head to the side, causing his shaggy brown hair with a hint of curl to hang in his narrowed, amber eyes. It’s a gesture that implies he’s actively concentrating on something.
“Finally!” Neva bellows, launching herself from her perch on the couch, disinterested in the significance of a random wolf shifter cozying up to a witch. “You have a great deal to answer for, young lady.”
She says ‘young lady’ like it leaves a foul taste in her mouth with an expression to match, as if I’m some simpleton child that’s just vomited on her one thousand dollar Chanel cardigan. Her appearance is so much like her daughter’s that it makes my stomach turn—long, straight black hair, unblemished olive skin, and large brown eyes that come to a slight cat eye slant. Besides age, the only major differences are her curvier hourglass figure and being several inches shorter.
Keziah gives the coven leader a glaring side-eye before commenting, “Leave it to you to blame a child for your failings.”
“I beg your pardon,” she replies, whirling around to face her.
“Beg away,” Keziah counters with a raised brow. She releases Donovan and Kaleb, crosses her arms over her chest, and turns to face Neva. “That child was raised human. She moved into your territory untrained. You did nothing to rectify that. Therefore, any fallout due to her inexperience falls on you, not her.”
“Her magic was bound! She couldn’t be taught,” she argues in her defense, because apparently witch business is a secret, except when it pertains to witches she doesn’t like.Just air out my dirty laundry. That’s fine.
Sam, Nolan’s parents, and Kaleb’s parents all look surprised, because unlike the leader of the local coven, my friends know how to keep a secret.
I subtly hug my free hand to my stomach, as what was only minor aching in my limbs spreads toward my core, and fight to keep my face neutral. There’s also an annoying itchy sensation around my nail beds that has me curling my toes and fidgeting. Attempting to distract myself from the feeling, I bury my other hand deeper into the unknown shifter’s fur. If the lolling tongue is any indication, he likes it.
Mildred’s fingers dig into my shoulder, her face surprisingly flushed for my even-tempered aunt, as she spits at Neva, “And I asked for your help to remove the spell and you refused—rather gleefully, if I recall correctly, despite knowing what it could mean for the entire city.”
The wolf shifter at my side goes into protector mode and starts growling at Neva, causing a small smile of approval to tug at Connor’s lips.
Neva shoots an indignant glare at Connor and demands, “Tell him to stop, immediately.”
“No,” Connor retorts, crossing his arms over his bare chest and casually shifting his weight to his back foot.
Sam’s gaze jumps from Connor to the growling wolf shifter and then to me, her delicate features pulled into a confused frown.You’re not the only one.
“How dare you!” Neva shouts, her hands curling into fists at her sides. “You may be the new Alpha, but I’m the leader of this town, so you answer to me.”
Her face flushes with outrage when Connor only shrugs in response.
Kaleb’s parents look at Connor with compassion in their eyes, acknowledging what it means that he’s the new Alpha, while Nolan’s father, Robert, asks, “What do you mean ‘was?’ I’m sorry, my knowledge of spellcraft is limited, but if you denied her help, how was the spell removed? I imagine binding a witch’s magic is not an easy task and removing it even less so.”
