Blood Witch_ Book Three - Cate Tiernan [35]
I swallowed, wincing. “Ouch,” I murmured. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah. Me too. I wish I’d never met him.”
“How did you meet?” I asked cautiously.
“At a convention, two years ago,” Cal answered.
I was startled into laughter. “A witch convention?”
“Uh-huh,” said Cal, smiling a little. “I met Hunter, and he informed me we were only six months apart and brothers. Which would mean that my father had deliberately gotten another woman pregnant while my mom was pregnant with me. I hated Hunter for that. I still don’t want to believe it. So no matter what Hunter says, I say that his father is someone else, not my dad. I can’t accept that my father, total jerk that he is, would have done that.” He put his arm around me, and I rested my chin on his chest, hearing the steady thumping of his heart, sleepily watching the fire.
“Is that why Hunter is acting this way?”
“Yeah, I think so. Somehow he’s all . . . I don’t know, bent and twisted. It must have something to do with his childhood. I know I shouldn’t hate him—it’s not his fault my dad’s life is so messy. But he just—got off on telling me that my dad fathered him. Like he enjoyed hurting me.”
I gently stroked Cal’s wavy hair. “I’m sorry,” I said again.
Cal gave a rueful chuckle, and I wanted to comfort him, the way he had comforted me so many times. Gently, I kissed him, trying to give him love he could be sure of. He almost purred with contentment and held me closer.
“Why was Hunter here, in your mother’s house, that night when she had the circle?” I asked softly when I stopped for breath.
“He likes to keep in touch with us,” Cal said sarcastically. “I don’t know why. Sometimes I think he likes Mom and me to just remember he’s alive, that he exists. Rubbing our faces in it, I guess.”
I shuddered. “Ugh. He’s horrible. I don’t feel the least bit sorry for him. I just can’t stand him—and I hate what he’s doing to you. If he keeps on, he’d better watch out.”
Cal grinned. “Mmmm, I like it when you talk tough.”
“I’m serious,” I told him. “I’ll zap him with witch fire so hard, he won’t know what hit him.” I flexed my fingers, surprised at the violence of my own feelings.
Cal’s smile broadened, but he said, “Look, let’s just change the subject.” He kissed me, then pulled away. “I have a question for you. What are you thinking about in terms of college?”
I furrowed my brow, surprised and bemused. “I’m not sure,” I said. “For a while I thought I’d apply to MIT or maybe Cal Tech. You know, something for math.”
“Brain,” Cal teased affectionately.
“Why do you want to know?” I asked. It seemed so oddly normal, coming right after all this talk about a Council of Witches and ancient magickal clans.
“I’ve been thinking about our future,” he said. His tone was very straightforward, relaxed. “I was thinking about going to Europe next year, maybe taking a year off to travel. I was also thinking, maybe I could get us a little place when I come back and we could both go to the same school.”
My eyes widened with shock. “You mean . . . live together?” I whispered.
“Yes, live together,” he said, flashing me a little half grin, as if he were talking about doing our homework together or going to see a movie. “I want to be with you.” He drew back and looked deeply in my eyes. “No one’s ever wanted to protect me before, like you do.”
My breath came fast at the thought. Laughing, I grabbed him, knocking him back on the sofa. I meant to kiss him, but we ended up toppling onto the floor with a thud.
“Ow,” said Cal, rubbing his head. He smiled at me and I kissed him. But right at that moment I caught a glimpse of an old grandfather clock. My spirits sank. It was getting late. Mom and Dad would start to worry.
“I have to go,” I said reluctantly.
“Someday you won’t have to,” he promised.
Then I was getting into my coat, melting with happiness, and Cal was walking me out. I didn’t even feel the cold until I was almost home.
13
Dark Side
On