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Fucker makes a lot of demands, but fine.

Guess we need to go home.

CHAPTER 10 CALLI

“I noticed you haven’t been talking to Genevieve.” I hear Cade’s voice come up from behind me as I pour myself a glass of chocolate milk.

“When did you get home?” I feel my body go rigid.

“Just walked in, answer the question.”

“Yeah… I’m not so sure she wants to talk to me.”

I’ve been wondering exactly what I did that scared Gen so much. But I’ve been too afraid to ask.

“You should try. She doesn’t hate you, she just doesn’t understand. There’s a difference.” He quirks a brow, giving me his best dad look.

I stir the chocolate mix in my glass and sit at the bar in front of him.

“Honestly I thought I scared her.”

“You probably did. But avoiding her isn’t going to do either of you any favors.” He looks over at Kai and makes eye contact with him. “We need all the allies we can get.”

Kai’s face straightens before turning back to the TV and Cade looks back to me with a forced smile.

“You’re right…” I bite my lip in hesitation. “I’ll try.”

I sigh and set my cup down on the counter and shift out of my seat. As I slowly drag my feet up the steps, I try to find an excuse to avoid the impending conversation.

I hesitate to knock on Genevieve’s door, standing there like an idiot. I think about what I’m going to say: Hey, Gen! Sorry I scared the shit out of you yesterday. Can we still be friends?

I go to walk away when the door opens and I jump and turn back around.

“Calli?”

“Hey!” I say far too enthusiastically. “So look… can we talk?”

“Yeah, okay.” She gestures for me to come into her room.

I plop on the bed and Gen sits next to me, scooting back and crossing her legs. I have no idea how I’m going to have this conversation, but at the very least, I can tell her what I know.

“Calli, relax. I’m sorry I reacted the way that I did yesterday. I’ve just never seen that before.”

“I guess I’ve never really known what was normal. I don’t quite understand my magic yet—obviously.” I sigh. “I have to ask, what exactly was it that brought that reaction on?”

She hesitates for a moment. “Witches can manipulate nature, make things grow, heal, or even die. But you… It was like you pushed it through time. That wasn’t normal magic. I’ve never seen anything like that.”

Her words send chills over my arms. There’s no way that’s what I was doing.

“Rocks are a part of nature, how is that so different?”

“It’s not a living thing, Calli, whatever you are. You are very powerful.” My shoulders drop. Kai told me something similar, Jack too.

“I don’t know what to do with that, honestly.”

Gen reaches out and grabs my hands.

“We’ll figure it out together.”