Page 119 of The Black Witch

“I’ve been put on warning!”

“But why?”

Diana snorts indignantly. “Because of Fallon Bane, that stupid Gardnerian I am being forced to live with against my will!”

Aislinn and I shoot each other quick looks of surprise.

“I don’t understand,” Jarod says.

“Last night,” Diana snipes, “Fallon Bane thought she would amuse herself by cutting my hair off while I slept.”

Jarod whistles to himself and laughs softly. “Poor Fallon.”

Diana’s whole posture stiffens. “PoorFallon?” she exclaims self-righteously. “She’s a bully!”

Jarod makes a valiant attempt to rein in his amusement and look serious. “And I can just about imagine how you reacted,” he says, suppressing a smile.

“I reacted with extraordinary restraint!” Diana proclaims, clearly annoyed that her brother isn’t taking this more seriously.

“Does she still have four limbs?” he asks, not completely in jest, it seems.

“I simply gave her a warning.”

“That was very diplomatic of you.”

“And I broke her wand.”

“Oh.”

“And now I’m on academic warning! For ‘interfering with the peaceful integration of cultures.’ After that fool Mage tried to attack me in my sleep!” Jarod opens his mouth to say something, but Diana cuts him off. “I think Father was mistaken about these Gardnerians. There is no way to learn to live with them! They are pathetic and worthless and weak!”

Aislinn uncomfortably averts her eyes as I gape at Diana.

Jarod clears his throat and glares at his sister, his eyes flickering meaningfully over at Aislinn and me.

“What?”Diana snaps in annoyance.

Jarod sighs and rubs his forehead, gesturing toward us. “We happen to be sitting right by some Gardnerians,” he points out.

Diana glances over at us, undaunted. “I don’t mean Elloren and Aislinn. You two aren’t the least bit pathetic and worthless. You’re both somewhat pleasant. Unlike the vast majority of your race.”

Jarod stops rubbing his forehead and just lets his head fall into his hands.

I’m surprised and oddly amused by Diana’s reluctant compliment and Jarod’s futile attempt to rein his sister in. I turn to Aislinn, who’s regarding Diana and Jarod with equal amazement.

Jarod glances over and shoots us an apologetic look. He’s been nothing but kind and diplomatic for weeks now. It seems foolish to keep our distance any longer.

“It’s all right,” I say, more to Jarod than to Diana, who doesn’t seem the least bit sorry for the slight. “I’d be careful about Fallon, though. She’s pretty vindictive.”

Jarod looks over at me, clearly surprised that I’m addressing him directly.

“She’s a bully,” Diana says with a dismissive wave of her hand, “but she’s too weak to be an effective one. Withme, at least.” She pauses to narrow her amber eyes at me. “She does seem to be obsessed withyou, though, Elloren Gardner.”

“Oh?” I say, trying to sound innocent.

“She doesn’t like the fact that you look like your grandmother. It threatens her. She’s also territorial about Lukas Grey. She wants him as her mate, but is afraid you will claim him first.”

I color at her blunt statement. “I... I’ve only known Lukas for a couple of months,” I stammer defensively.

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