Page 74 of The Witch’s Daughter

“No.” My growl slipped out, but I couldn’t help it, not after all this time spent waiting for Kera and Liam to arrive while the sense of dread grew and my hands were tied, unable to act. I’d expected an inquisition. Support, at least. They had to know there was something wrong with all this.

“No?” Vincent arched an eyebrow. “Exactly who are you again?”

Let me out. He’s a dead witch.

“Alpha Jaxon,” Tisiphone quickly intervened as she rested her hand on Vincent’s chest. “Isn’t he supposed to be at the trials this morning?”

I saw red, barely able to see anything besides my mate touching him.

Vincent smirked. “The Alpha quit the trials after your display of power the other day.”

“That’s a mistake.” Tisiphone thumped his chest playfully, but at least she stopped touching him. “You’re going to want Jaxon in your army. He’s a great soldier and loves following orders. If you don’t believe me, ask my gram.”

Her honey-brown eyes slid toward mine. Just a fraction of a second. And my heart exploded in my chest as our gazes locked before she tore hers away.

“If you insist.” Vincent didn’t spare me another second, marching out of the tent and waiting for Tisiphone to catch up like she was on a leash.

But that wasn’t the truth.

She had him tethered.

“Are you okay?” Sage whispered once they were out of earshot for a human.

I ran my hand over my mouth, nodding. It was all too much, but it wasn’t over yet. If anything, that look she gave me… It was just beginning.

I had to get back there. Fast.

“What did she mean about following orders and my grandmother?” Kera asked right as I was about to burst out of the tent.

I stopped just long enough to answer. “I once made the mistake of promising Lisa I’d take care of Tisiphone.”

It sounded so simple when I said it out loud, but who would’ve thought it would set off a lifetime of consequences neither of us could untangle ourselves from? A single moment that altered the fabric of fate. Hurt words spoken in heated moments we couldn’t take back that would shape the future as we knew it.

Humans. My wolf grumbled. Always making things complicated.

“A mistake?” Sage asked. “How is that a bad thing?”

“I know what he means.” Kera nodded. A heavy tiredness seemed to settle on her shoulders, but she still stood tall. “Go now and hurry. I don’t like this any more than you do, but it seems that our Tisiphone has her own plans, so I’m holding you to Lisa’s promise now. And I’m a lot meaner than my grandmother ever was.”

27

Trish

I kept my steps light as I walked with Vincent back toward the training field, even though my heart was racing.

Alpha Kera was furious, but I’d convinced her to give me a few more days to figure out what else was going on. I couldn’t screw up now, not when for the first time in my adult life, she was trusting me to take care of things.

I’d almost slipped up once already by pressing my luck to get Jaxon back in here. But I couldn’t bear the pained look on his face, and getting him closer would give me the opportunity to speak with him sooner.

Everything was working so well.

That’s exactly why I don’t trust it.

Vincent wasn’t a wolf, but he wasn’t stupid. Unless he’d somehow grown up outside of every wolf territory, then he’d know that Kera and I could speak through our pack link. Him not saying anything about that was worrying me.

Oh, and Mom being here? I could kill Alec and Meg for letting that happen. Thankfully Jaxon had been right beside her, offering support I couldn’t give while still keeping up the act.

I owed him one. Big time.