Page 29 of The Witch is Back

And fine. She didn’t want to involve him yet. Things were strained enough between them without adding yet more drama to the mix. Better she try and figure out a way forward without him. Keep to their corners and interact just the smallest amount.

Part of her—and it wasn’t a part she was particularly proud of—whispered that it would serve him right if she didn’t do anything about fixing the clause. But that wasn’t right and she knew even as the idea tiptoed across her mind that it wasn’t something she could ever truly consider. As much as he deserved to bathe in a fire ant trap, his magic was his family legacy, part of him. She wouldn’t take from him like he’d taken from her.

But there had to be a way to block her mother’s hidden clause, and with that in mind, she’d sent a message through her mirror to the brother she was closest to. Kole already knew about the clause, having been with her when she’d discovered it. He was also extremely talented with magic of all types and had a bunch of contacts from his travels. Hopefully he’d have some idea of how to help. And if not, she’d have until the ceremony to decide whether or not to tell Bastian the truth before it all kicked off.

She hadn’t stayed long at the bar after making that decision, choosing to walk Chester home in the rain instead of portalling. She lived about twenty minutes from the bar and she always preferred to walk, even if the air was heavy with drizzle. Chicago was known for its blustery showers, cool weather and arctic winters.

The very opposite of New Orleans’s balmy days and humid nights. The thought always made her smile.

She wasn’t smiling now as she sat on the edge of her bed with Chester in her lap trying to shove his face in front of hers. She doubted anyone would smile faced with a thirteen-year-old on FaceTime who was going for the world record in sulking.

“Chester,” Emma scolded, putting her hand on his head and pushing him back down. The familiar popped back up like he was made of rubber. He loved Sloane and the feeling was usually returned.

Except for now, since Emma had told Sloane she might be late for the movies and they’d have to reschedule. Something she tried never to do. The girl lived with her aunt; her mom had died in childbirth, and her aunt worked as a nurse all hours to support them both. As a result, Sloane was left on her own a lot and was shy around new people. Her guidance counselor at school had suggested the Big Sister program as a way of coming out of her comfort zone. Not that the primary reason for her being so awkward—knowing she was part witch all her life—was something they could help with.

Having found out about Sloane through a letter in her dad’s belongings, the truth cleverly hidden by a spell he’d taught Emma when she was young, Emma had deliberately moved to Chicago to find her after Bastian had left. To be there for her. Considering they had to keep the true family connection a secret—Clarissa wasn’t a witch you cheated on easily—Emma had signed on with the program as an easy way of explaining why she was hanging around. She sometimes thought a different “big sister” might be able to help Sloane come out her shell more, but they helped each other. When she knew someone, Sloane was sassy and smart and fun. Having some experience of living behind a wall, Emma was trying to get her to make new friends using tricks she’d learned herself.

Emma glanced at Chester. Always drawn to the needy, she thought. For all the good it did her.

“I told you; something came up. An old...friend.” Emma winced at how that sounded. Sloane was very sensitive and saw herself as being a low priority.

Sure enough, hurt came into the teenager’s soft brown eyes. “Sure,” she murmured, the camera wobbling. “You must want to see them.”

“Not really.” Emma tried not to lie too much, considering Sloane’s childhood had pretty much sucked. Her mom had died giving birth to her, their dad had snuck away as much as he could to portal to her but then he had died as well, and even now Sloane had to be kept a secret from the witch world until she was ready. If she ever was. It had all left her feeling a little lost, abandoned, and Emma had promised to always be upfront and put her first.

With that in mind, she sighed. “It’s complicated. I’ll tell you more when I see you. But he’s a warlock, which means we have to be extra careful.”

“Because of your psycho mom?”

Emma snort-laughed. “Yes. Promise me you won’t just show up.” She pushed Chester down again when his nose snuffled the screen. He didn’t understand how Sloane could be there and not be there at the same time. A pang of happiness slid from him to Emma and she let it comfort her. At least someone was happy.

She focused on the truth. “Bastian was my childhood friend. I haven’t seen him in years. But he knew my family intimately. It’s possible he might see the connection.”

Sloane’s eyes grew wide, a flush on her round cheeks. “A warlock? Is that different to a witch?”

“Not really. Just fancier sounding.”

“What can he do? Can he do telekinesis? Tia lent me this book and I read all about how some warlocks can float things ten times their body weight.” Glee appeared. “I would so kick some ass if I had that power.”

A mini-Leah. Goddess save them all. “I’m not sure what he can do anymore, but he used to have some telepathy and telekinesis.”

“So cool.” She slouched. “You sure I can’t meet him?”

“Yes.”

“What if, like, you and he started dating? Then we could trust him and I could get to ask him all about his magic.”

“We are not dating.”

“Oh.” With the mercurial nature of teens, Sloane looked disappointed. “That’s a shame. We could have gone shopping and picked you up some new clothes.”

“What’s wrong with my clothes?” Emma asked, even though she’d heard the budding fashionista’s opinion. Several times. In person and in writing.

Sloane did an eye roll as well as any other teenager. “You look boring. I heard witches always dress stylishly.”

“You heard that, huh?” Emma did her own eye roll. “So sad for you to have got stuck with the boring witch for a sister.”

“I know, right?” Sloane crossed her eyes. “I promise not to show up, but maybe if he sticks around and you realize he’s not gonna betray me to the dark-bitch-momster, then we could talk?”

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