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Charlie held his hand out to Daithi, looking worried. “Clawdia doesn’t deserve that. Stop. We’ll find another way.”
Mary laughed. “Rebellion in the ranks? You should know it’s too late for your friend. I delivered his fire last night.”
“Delivered where? For what?” Daithi questioned.
She smirked, and I realized she had tricked us into underestimating our enemy and blinded us from seeing what would ordinarily be obvious; Mary had been whispering a spell. Zaide stood up to prepare himself for an attack but, in doing so, gave her what she wanted.
She dragged him into a cage that formed around Charlie and Daithi, separating me from them. Thankfully, in trapping them together, Daithi’s magic reflected off the walls of the cage. His illusion broke, and it freed Winnie from the trap.
I sucked in air desperately. I heard Zaide and Charlie let out a sigh of relief, and I looked over at their caged bodies. Zaide reached a hand to me, and we both flinched when the magic cage shocked him.
As Winnie sat up and gained her breath back, Mary laughed again. “Whatever you are, you’re weak.” I knew how much that would hurt Daithi. He thought himself so much higher than witches, yet he’d just been caged by one.
Winnie moved over to me and stroked a hand down my face as I lay still on the ground, panting. “I’m so sorry. This must be so horrible for you.”
She didn’t mean suddenly being suffocated. Although that was horrible, too. She knew my past. She knew why I was a familiar. How I came to be. How I hated being human, being reminded of my past.
Tears welled in my eyes at her kindness, and yet I was still so angry. It was strange to have such conflicting feelings, but they were familiar ones, having felt the same about my father. Angry, betrayed, hurt, but also just wanting love.
If you had just left Savida alone, this wouldn’t be happening,I thought, but she didn’t hear me. Somehow, we’d broken our telepathic connection. I wasn’t sure if she’d done that on purpose or if it was a symptom of my being human, but regardless, it was another crack in my shattered heart.
Zaide shouted from his cage, “Break your bond with her so she doesn’t have to suffer your pain.”
Winnie looked shocked at the thought. “Break my bond? She would die. She is only alive now because I formed a connection with her soul.”
“A soul gone before their time.” Mary smiled cruelly, and I shuddered at the memories of my past.
Winnie ignored her and continued, “Besides, it is being human that’s hurting her far more than my bond with her is.”
“Poor little thing topped herself the first time. Who’s to say she won’t do it again?” Mary pouted mockingly. Shame caused my face to burn red. She’d just told Charlie and Zaide my darkest secret. I whimpered and looked at them to see them staring at me, heartbreak in their eyes.
“That’s enough, Mary.”
The other witch huffed, turned on her heel, and got into the driver’s seat of the car while Winnie stayed with me for a moment. “Come with us. I’ll find some way to change you back.” She whispered, “This is killing you. I can see it.”
Being humanwashard.
I was overwhelmed and confused. Daithi was being cruel, and someone had just tried to kidnap me. But it wasn’t killing me. I wouldn’t let it. Not again. I was going to be braver, stronger, deserving of Zaide’s devotion. I was going to impress Charlie, save Savida, and make Daithi like me. Winnie wouldn’t be a murderer.
A plan formed in my mind, and so I didn’t reply. It didn’t help me argue with her, since I needed her to think all I wanted was to be a cat again.
I turned to look at Charlie, Zaide, and Daithi. Zaide gave me a pleading look that prayed I would choose them.
Winnie saw my gaze and continued, “They were going to kill you, Clawds. They are just using you to get to me. I know you’re angry with me, but I don’t want you in danger, and I don’t want you in pain. Come with me, little sister, and I can try to turn you back.”
I nodded and stared at them, hoping they could read my intentions in my eyes.
For all my goals, I needed to be with the witches. And after Daithi’s attack on me, they’d believe my loyalties lay with them. I could get them the information they needed to save Savida. I wouldn’t be pathetic or useless.
I stood on shaky legs and walked toward the car.
“Clawdia, no. Please, stay! Please!” Zaide shouted desperately. A part of my heart cracked at the sound of his sorrow. I didn’t want to cause that. My body wanted to turn around and burrow into his chest.
But that would save no one.
CHAPTER19
CHARLIE
