Page 119 of The Witch is Back

“That’s why you pick losers.”

Letting the tension from the reminder go—what was the point in holding on?—Bastian cocked his head at Kole. “What would it take to get a firm yes?”

“You ever get to go full-out Indiana Jones in hidden tombs?”

“Sometimes.”

Kole’s grin flashed. “We’ll talk.”

Leah sniggered. “Like you’d do well in a tomb. Emma told me how you used to fling spells at spiders to make them run away from you.”

Kole scoffed. “She exaggerates. And I was eight.”

“Uh-huh.” Leah turned to Bastian. “When did you find out I knew?” she asked, as if the interim conversation hadn’t happened.

He tried to keep up. “I’ve known for a while.”

“Huh. You’ll have to let me know my tells in case any others come snooping. Kole refuses to discuss it.” She pouted his way.

He sent her a stony look in return.

“Ah, sure,” Bastian said, drawing back her attention. “Why not.”

“Great. And while we’re at it, maybe you could talk to me about mind magic? Emma says that’s your specialty. Oh! And telekinesis. And potions, we must discuss potions because mine keep blowing up on me.”

Bastian blinked.

Kole laughed as he pushed to his feet. “Good luck, man.”

Bastian caught up with him outside. “Hey. I just want you to know.” He thrust his hands into his pockets to defend against the night’s chill as Kole eyed him. “I’m not messing around with her. It’s not like that.” He huffed a disquieted laugh. “I can’t tell you what it is, but I care about her.”

Kole’s breath came out in a white plume. “Okay.”

“It’s not just a fling.” Bastian didn’t know what had compelled him outside. What drove him to continue. “She told me about your mother. How she used to lock her up.”

True surprise made Kole’s posture change, harden. He turned grim. “Our mother is a stone-cold bitch, as you called it,” he said. “I did as much as I could, but I was away at school a lot. Not that that’s an excuse.” The last was added with a healthy dollop of self-loathing.

“She said that. Emma. She said you tried.”

“For what good it did. We were always a team, but that didn’t mean we always handled things well.” Kole scowled at the sidewalk, ignoring the people swarming around them like fish in the sea. “Clarissa has this idea in her head of what Emma should be to live up to the Bluewater name. Some name,” he snorted. “My dad was the least of a Higher family. We’re barely respectable in society. Emma is Clarissa’s way in.”

“I know.”

“She was harder on her than any of us. Any perceived fault she took out on her. When you left, Clarissa took it out on her.”

Bastian flinched. “I know.”

“I’m not trying to make you feel bad. I’m just...” He trailed off, rocked on his heels. Light from the bar caught his thoughtful expression. “She told you, huh?”

“Yeah.” Bastian jingled change in his pocket. “She still thinks I’ll leave.”

Kole paused for a couple of seconds. “Emma grew up thinking she was flawed. And when you left rather than marrying her, that only emphasized it. She’s had to be by herself—fend for herself—a long time. She’s never felt wanted.”

A gaping hole opened in Bastian’s chest. “I want her.” The words were raw and honest.

They were lost on Emma’s brother. “If you really do, you’ll have to find some way of proving that to her or she’ll always think you have one eye on the door.” And just when things had reached a new level of intensity, he added, “Ask her about the ring.”

“The ring?”

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