Page 143 of De-Witched

The glow faded. “Right.” He took a breath, squeezed her hand back. “It’s nothing.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.” He smiled, then, back to normal as he patted her hand. “Don’t worry. I’m sure they’ll let you in.”

She snorted, full of confidence she didn’t feel as time ticked on. “They should be worried about keeping me out if they try and push me away from Gabriel.”

“I pity them.”

“Pity us, Lord Bluewater?” It was Luisa who cut in, whose voice made Leah flinch in surprise. Luisa smiled thinly, as if she enjoyed the reaction.

Gabriel hurried over, only one hint of fear leaping out before his society mask hid it all. He slid next to Leah. Or slightly in front of her.

Protector. She might have rolled her eyes if she wasn’t so grateful for it.

At Luisa’s silence, a fist clenched in Leah’s gut, a tightness that didn’t allow for air.

One second.

Two.

Three.

“His price has been met.” Luisa didn’t allow for celebration before adding, “Now it must be yours.”

Out of the corner of Leah’s eye, she saw thunder roll over Gabriel’s brow. “That wasn’t the deal,” he demanded.

“Sacrifice,” the High witch stated without much emotion, “must come from all parties.”

Leah’s heart deafened her to anything else as she watched the witch that reminded her of a snake. Able to strike without warning and just a little unnerving. “What’s the price?”

“You alone are permitted entry to this world.” Luisa’s eyes glowed. “No family, no friends, nobody must know. And if you breathe one word, the magic I bind you with now will punish you accordingly.”

Leah swallowed. “My mom—”

“Nobody.”

Her stomach felt tight as she looked to Gabriel. The emotional bruise blossomed, quick, without warning, as she thought of the gulf that would separate her and the only parent who had ever really cared about her.

Except...

Did she want her mom in this world? Did it matter so much that she couldn’t be told?

Leah was looking at the only person she really needed her mom to know. As long as her mom knew Gabe, the man, she didn’t need to know Gabriel, the warlock.

She nodded.

Luisa inclined her head. “Congratulations.”

Once, she might have clicked her heels for joy at being let into this world. Now, she latched onto Gabriel’s arm, the only thing that really mattered. “Thank you.”

“Isabella wants you to come for tea.” Luisa smiled slowly at Leah’s obvious surprise. And alarm. “Soon.”

As she strode off without waiting for an answer, Kole slid a look at Leah. “Trouble.”

“Charm,” Leah corrected, but even she felt shaky at the idea. “Maybe it’s their version of we will be watching.”

“Oh, they’ll be watching,” Tia said from behind her, then gripped Leah tight. Emma followed suit. “Thank the Goddess.”

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