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And I don’t have a good answer for her. Not without possibly telling her things Rook might not want her to know.
Chapter11
Rearranging everything, but not the fun kind
“Look,I’m in a really tough spot here,” I start.
“You’re in a tough spot!? My brother has run from you without a word about where or when he’d return, andyou’rein a tough spot?” She closes the distance between us and stares up at me. Her odd witchy scent seems stronger today and for a moment, I wonder if that’s because she’s worried about her brother or if my nose is extra sensitive today. “Rook has been through enough. He’s had enough trauma and wicked women in his life. If you hurt him…” She doesn’t finish the threat. She doesn’t need to.
I believe with everything in me, magical and otherwise, that Emilia will kill me if I hurt her brother.
But she also mentioned his trauma, so maybe…
Maybe I can dance around this and get her to understand the situation without actually saying anything specific.
It’s worth a shot.
“Emilia, Rook confided in me what that awful woman did to him.”
The tiny witch’s face goes pale, color draining from her lips entirely. “He told you what Belle did to him?”
Belle. I file that name away for later. If I ever meet her…
“He did. And we’re figuring out how to move forward. Until then, if he needs space and time to figure things out. I’m giving it to him, without question.”
Emilia’s brow pulls downward as she contemplates my words.
Her gaze sweeps back and forth as if she’s weighing the pros and cons of two choices. I don’t know which way she’s leaning when she rushes me.
Instinctively, I go into a defensive crouch, but instead of shifting into a crow and pecking out my eyes or blasting me across the room like her brother did to Rafe, she puts me in a bear hug.
She’s tiny, but she’s mighty, squeezing me so hard she’s almost got my toes off the ground.
“I had my doubts about you,” she says when she releases me.
I can’t help but cough as my ribs go back to their normal positions. “Clearly.”
“But it’s clear the Fates knew what they were doing when they chose you as my brother’s mate.” She takes my hand in hers. “If I can be of any help at all, please, I’m at your service.”
I nod, unsure what to say. “As long as you don’t put me and Belle in the same room, I think I’ll be OK.”
Emilia’s smile fades from her face slowly. “Belle is the second in line. She’s just under me in terms of the chain of command. She will have to attend.”
I don’t hide the growl rumbling in my throat. “Why does she have any power at all?”
Emilia takes a step back. “It’s complicated, Willa. Our magic is matrilineal—”
“I don’t give a flying witch’s fuck why your system is totally fucked and keeps a predator in a position of power to continue preying on the few mages your community has. I’m only interested in keepingmymage safe. She is not welcome on my mountain. Am I clear?”
“Willa, there are magical concerns you don’t understand.”
“I’m sure there are. But that’s your job to figure out, Emilia. It’s your job as coven leader not to bring your brother’s rapist to his new home.”
Emilia takes another step back from me, and unlike every other time, I know exactly why. I flex my elongated digits and curving claws at her, making a fist right in her face. “I have no problem rearranging power structures to keep those without power from being taken advantage of. I did it in the Laurel Cove packs with their shitty alphas, and I’ll do it in your coven if I have to. Have I made my intentions perfectly clear?”
Emilia nods.
And yes, there’s fear in her eyes. Fear I put there.
