Page 23 of The Witch’s Daughter

She groaned. “The worst. Forty-eight hours of nonstop bitching and fighting. At this point, I’m hoping that Vincent Matthis is building an army I can join so I don’t have to journey back with my sisters.”

“You don’t mean that.” I smiled, only feeling slightly sorry for Tisiphone. Cerberus Pack was… close. After their years of isolation, it made sense. “You’re lucky to have others who care so much for you.”

Pity filled her eyes.

Gritting my teeth, I backtracked. “That’s not what I meant. I mean—”

“I know what you meant.” She cut me off with a nudge of her shoulder, saving me from any further awkwardness as we stepped back into our dance. “What’s the deal? Where is everyone else?”

“They’re all over here.” I touched the small of her back, guiding her next steps, and ignored the excited howl of my wolf at being allowed to touch Trish so intimately without her shying away.

“Gentry’s tent is there. Calla’s is the big one. Ahmad and Amir are in the yellow and blue striped tent.” I led her closer with each step, still moving lightly. “And I’m over here.”

My heart beat harder as I thought this through and I pulled out every bit of control to calm it down so Tisiphone wouldn’t notice. We’d get the next few weeks together. Sleeping side by side.

A second chance, my wolf whispered.

“We’re so close.” She chewed her bottom lip.

“This looks heavy.” I snatched the bag from her shoulder, holding it just out of reach, and forcing her to hurry to catch up.

“Where are you going with my stuff?” She stomped along behind me.

“To your spot.” I placed her bag on the softer ground beside my tent, making sure her sisters could still get a good view from where I assumed they were holed up on the Ossory border.

I resisted the urge to unzip her bag and start putting together the tent myself, knowing Trish would take that as a hit to her pride. “I told the welcome committee I’d get you all set up.”

Tisiphone’s smile didn’t reach her eyes as she looked nervously at the other tents. “Are you sure everyone wants me this close to them?”

We’re sure.

“Of course.” I waited until she unzipped her tent and shook out the poles before reaching to help. “It’ll be just like old times.”

9

Trish

“Just like old times,” I muttered to myself as I finished unrolling my bed of furs and arranging the little wash sink next to my clothes.

Jaxon had made a big deal about helping me put the whole tent together. He was just like the rest of them, acting like I was a danger to myself and everyone around me. You’d think if that was truly the case, they’d let me live out the rest of my days alone as a bog witch like Gram in the woods.

(Which I still one day aspired to do).

I can get on board with that.

But noooo…

Everyone kept trying to swoop in and save me like I was some damsel in distress.

I was a witch. A powerful, wolf-shifting witch. Okay, maybe I was lacking on the powerful stuff lately, but I was not the princess in some fantasy story.

And I knew I was being extra grumpy because the last few days traveling with my sisters had sucked. Meg would not stop bossing us all around, and Alec had snapped at both of us any time we said anything.

Thankfully, I was out of telepathic range. I’d tested it as soon as I’d hiked over to this field. I was sure they were watching with binoculars—Meg took her assigned role as backup from Alpha Kera seriously—but for the first time in my adult life, I didn’t have to deal with their voices in my head.

The taste of freedom was intoxicating.

Too bad Jaxon was going to ruin it.