Page 117 of The Witch is Back

“Damn it.” Kole planted his hands. His eyes turned stormy and sparks of magic began to dance. “If you tell anyone—”

“I wouldn’t. I’m not going to.” He’d suspected for a while. Little slips, the odd comment, pieces of memory from the night Tia slipped him the truth potion. But the fact that Emma had broken the rules had given him a lot to think about. “She’s Emma’s family. And I wouldn’t hurt Emma. Or Leah,” he added with a small smile.

“I won’t even ask how you guessed.” Kole grimaced as the magic sparks subsided. “Jane Bond, none of them are. It’s why they try and keep witches out of this place. Leah has the worst poker face.”

“When did you find out?”

“A couple of years ago. I mostly try and pretend I don’t know. I’d advise you do the same.”

“Why?”

Kole’s smile was rueful. “Our Leah is...curious.”

Their Leah bounced back in with the tickets and a pout. “Go, enjoy, I hate you.”

“I got time for a beer before I clear off.” Kole reached out, tweaked her nose. “You old enough to serve me?”

“You young enough not to let it go to your head?” So saying, she busied herself pouring him a beer and then leaned her hip on the counter. “So, what were you guys whispering about?”

“Men don’t whisper,” Kole said with lofty emphasis. “They discreetly discuss.”

Bastian had to grin. He could see how Kole and Emma were related. “You,” he told her, against advice. “And the fact you know.”

“I know.” Blank, she looked at Kole’s face, then Bastian’s. “I know?”

“You do.”

“I know. I know...oh.” Her face froze. “Uh. No, I don’t.”

“You don’t what?”

“Know. I don’t know anything.” She tried a laugh, then slumped. “Shit. Emma and Tia will kill me. Or Tia will. Emma will just stand there looking disappointed and terrified, or if I’m lucky I’ll get the sarcastic comment to end all comments.”

“I won’t tell them.”

Kole gave him a slitted stare. “You’ll lie to my sister?”

“Shut up, Kole.” Leah studied Bastian, her earlier concern melting under interest. “You won’t?”

“It’d stress Emma out if she knew I knew you know.” He frowned. “Or something like that. Anyway, she’s stressed enough. I’ll let her know after the Exhibition and the, ah, wedding.”

Kole grunted. “Acceptable answer. What do you think, Leah?”

“I like it. I like him for her.”

“Hmm.” Kole considered. “Not too pretty?”

“No such thing, but don’t feel sad because you’re not.” Leah patted his cheek. “You’ve got such a good personality.”

Kole, who’d never had trouble with women, just grinned. “And he went after my mom—which I have to tell you was a beautiful thing,” he said to Bastian, who sat there feeling like he was a steak on a shelf they were thinking of picking.

“I so want to meet her.”

“Not going to happen.”

“Seconded,” Bastian added, with a shudder at the idea.

Huffing, Leah pointedly ignored them. “Emma laughs with him.” She picked up the threads of the conversation. “And apparently the sex is hawt.”

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