AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But you were kids,” I protest like that makes a difference.
He nods and nuzzles his nose against mine. “We were. But it doesn’t matter when you’re set to inherit the leadership of an entire coven. We needed to be prepared.”
I keep my mouth shut even though I want to argue that they had a right to be kids too, that they should have been allowed a childhood. Gideon’s lips twitch like he knows what I want to say, but he keeps talking. “One thing we were told is that we won’t have a choice in who we end up with. Heirs marry other heirs or the next strongest witch they can. Power breeds power, and we need powerful children in order to keep a firm hand on the coven.”
I have so many problems with how the coven is run. It’s insane. I hate all the rules, and the blind faith, and the following of directions that make no sense. I hate all of it. And yet, here I am learning how to use my power so I can be a part of it.
The thought makes my stomach curl up even more.
Gideon’s finger touches my chin, drawing my attention back to him. “So as crazy as it sounds, the four of us used to talk about who we hoped we’d end up with, the traits we wanted her to have beyond just being gifted at casting. Hardin wanted someone who was strong, who could take what he dished out.”
“So he was a little shit even back then?”
Gideon chuckles. “We were all little shits. Still are by some standards.” I hum in my throat like I agree with him. He laughs again, making my chest go all melty. “Ezra wanted someone sweet that he could take care of. Fielder wanted someone mysterious, that he had to work to figure out and I wanted someone that compliments me, that works with me, that challenges me to do better, to be better.”
His gray eyes run over my face. “You check all those boxes, Ro. In a way that no one else has. You give all of us exactly what we want and need. Throw in your gorgeous face and sexy as hell body, and that you don’t take any of our shit, never have-”
“Never will.”
“And you are everything we want.”
I smooth my hand down his chest, enjoying the soft cotton of his shirt, following the trail of my hand so I don’t have to look at him as I ask this burning question deep in me. “Would you still want me if I didn’t have this power, Brightwater? If I was just a human with a talent for makeup and not illusions, would you want me?”
He waits again, silent, until I look up at him. When I do, his gaze is blazing with desire and need and hope. “I wanted you from the first moment I saw you, Ro. From the second you sat next to me in chemistry and fucking blew me away with how easily we worked together. No unnecessary questions, no spluttering or explaining what we needed to do. You just… did the experiment and worked with me so fucking beautifully.”
My lips quirk into a smile. “You like me because I’m a good lab partner?”
“I think you’re underestimating the draw of that.” His brows lower like he’s just thought of something. “Which reminds me, who is your new lab partner?”
I laugh. “Worried they’re gonna fall in love with me too, Brightwater?”
“Fuck yeah, I am.”
My mouth goes dry and I don’t know if it’s because of the possessive tinge to his voice and the way his hands tighten on me while he says it, or if it’s because I just said the L-word to him. And he didn’t immediately deny that he loves me.
I force both thoughts from my mind and pat his shoulder. “Well, never fear, Gideon. My lab partner is Francesca Powell, who is totally in love with her boyfriend. I know this because she talks my ear off through every experiment we do together. It is nothing like being partners with you.”
He visibly relaxes, kisses the tip of my nose. I fiddle with the seam on his shoulder. “Gideon, can I ask you a question?”
“Of course, sweetheart. You can ask me anything you want.”
I’m still hesitant, even after he’s given me the go ahead. I guess I’m not sure how exactly to pose this question, but it’s something I’ve been curious about since I found out he’s a witch. He chuckles. “Just ask, Ro.”
“Your dad. He’s a witch?”
Understanding dawns on his face. He nods. “Yeah. Yeah, he is. You’re wondering why a witch would become a televangelist preacher?”
I nod emphatically. “It’s been driving me crazy. It just doesn’t make any sense!”
He laughs, shifting his grip just slightly. “First, being a witch doesn’t mean you can’t be religious and believe in god. Plenty of witches cast spells and still go to church on Sunday. The two actions provide something different to the practitioner. One gives a sense of power and one gives a sense of peace. Many witches believe their power is god given. Or that the gods and goddesses mentioned in our spells are the same as the god in the bible.”
I nibble on my lower lip before asking. “Is that your father?”
“God no,” Gideon laughs. “No, he’s in the second camp. And that is the camp of hiding in plain sight. No one would suspect him of being a witch. No one. If something happens and someone sees him cast something, he’d probably be able to pass it off as divine intervention and people would believe that before they’d conclude that he’s a witch.”
My brows arch. “That’s actually really smart.”
Gideon nods. “My father is cunning. An asshole, but cunning. And he’s kind of the last thing I want to talk about right now.”
