Page 20 of Bitter Discord

“The witches who cursed Makalo in Mozambique, who made him lose control and wanted to steal his magic… They’re not related to the ones here in Dallas, are they?”

“No, they’re not. Witches have sects, groups, schools, covens, and all sorts of motivations for what they want and why they want it. They’re not like other supernatural species where they follow a perfect, single structure to the top. Like us or the werewolves, knowing who is at the top of the food chain and how to reach out to those on top. They’re too human for that level of organization. They also outnumber us on a scale I can’t begin to comprehend, which means even the Tribunal witches don’t have full control. They’re diverse and different.” Zuri smiled.

“For every bad one who causes problems for other supernaturals and humans, there are dozens of good ones, many who don’t use their magic often or live perfectly normal non-magical lives. They’re not a supernatural you can write off. All of them are the enemy. There are supernatural species with poor reputations to others—look at us and werewolves. We have terrible reputations with each other. Witches, unlike many species, can’t be judged on the actions of a few.”

“Heath said the same thing about them being diverse and somewhat… normal like humans.”

“Most witches are just humans, Jacky, with human lives, human partners, and human children. Just because they can do a little magic doesn’t make them not human. The magic is the only thing they have over other humans, but it’s what makes them different from savants or geniuses, who are rarer than witches but also do wonders.” Zuri chuckled at my expression before I looked back at the road. “Let’s frame it this way. Humans can be Changed into moon cursed or Turned into vampires. Fae, the Sidhe rather, who appear the most human, can’t. Witches can be Changed and Turned,” I said, nodding. “Witches are just human plus.”

“Which is why, when the werewolves went public, the witches stopped having so many problems with the humans. Humans know they exist; they just ignore it. Witches are human, the same as them, especially when compared to us. We’ll come back to this, though. You sent me on a tangent.” Zuri sighed. “No, the reason Mozambique is on my mind right now was our father’s behavior. While I don’t want to, I have to treat him as a potential threat now.”

8

CHAPTER EIGHT

Icould smell her frustration, fear, and disappointment but didn’t know what to say. Eventually, she just continued.

“He threatened to kill my twin’s beautiful mate, regardless of her heartfelt reasons. He wanted to snuff out that charming woman with her big heart. He might have been speaking in the heat of the moment… but if he had been in Mozambique, he might haveactedin the heat of the moment. Jabari and I are certain he would have. For something as simple as making a hard choice because she loves her son more than anything or anyone in this world. She put herself between him and our family to protect his right to live a happy childhood, unburdened by us, and our father wanted to kill her for it.” I saw the pain on my sister’s face from the side. “Aisha is one of our own, a werecat. Imagine what he would do to someone who isn’t a werecat.”

“You’re worried he’ll kill my werewolves. You’re worried he’ll eventually decide to kill Heath,” I whispered.

“Absolutely,” Zuri confirmed.

“Even though he knows it would ruin everything between him and me.”

“Yes.”

The answer wasn’t reassuring.

Fear filled me because I had one more topic to get through with Zuri. She caught it because her sense of smell was as good as mine.

“Jacky, Jabari and I made a promise to each other to protect you. Not only you but all of our siblings. For a long time, we’ve stood as our father’s right and left hands. We know him better than anyone, except our mother.”

“Zuri… I promised not to give you any more secrets. I don’t think I ever said that to you, but I felt guilty you had to tell the family you already knew about Heath and me. It came right after you hid your pregnancy from them. Another secret, you being a witch. You kept a lot of secrets, and I wanted to stop adding to them.” I swallowed. “But if you really want to help your siblings right now, Niko might need you soon.” I slowed down, parking on the side of the road. I couldn’t say this while I drove. When I put my hands in my lap and turned to my sister, her concerned fear rocked me to the core.

“Why Niko?”

“Dirk might be in trouble,” I started. “But you can’t tell anyone, not even Niko.”

“Neverbe concerned with me and a secret, Jacky. I will keep them for this family until I go to my grave. You have my word. What happened, and why is it about Niko and Dirk? Why is his only son in danger?”

“I lied,” I answered, looking at my hands in my lap. I had to be careful. Knowing Dirk was a werewolf was step one. Knowing he knew about Hasan’s Talent didn’t have to come out today. We could revisit this conversation. She had never properly met Dirk and didn’t know the story. I just needed to get her through step one.

“Half lied. Walked around the full truth in just the right way to keep anyone from realizing it. I told the Tribunal, Hasan standing right there, there were no casualties the night the Dallas Pack attacked us. I wasn’t fully dishonest. No onedied. Thankfully. Dirk had been ordered to go into Heath’s home’s safe room with Carey. Oliver went with her, as you know. Well, what Oliver, Dirk, and I never told the family was Dirk never went into the safe room. He decided he would be the man at the top of the stairs. He would be the last defense before they could get to that door.” I felt tears come to my eyes.

“Jacky…” Zuri seemed to be figuring it out already.

“After six months, you’re the first in our family I get to tell… Dirk was a hero who put his own life on the line to defend two people who weren’t… who weren’t able to defend themselves,” I said, chest tight. “I really need you to accept him as a werewolf, Zuri. I need you to protect him from Hasan and our family, who might throw him out or hurt him for being one of Heath’s werewolves now. He didn’t choose it. He survived, and he did it to save Oliver and Carey and to help. He’s so good, and I don’t—”

“Oh gods,” Zuri said, sinking back into her seat. “That poor boy.”

“He and I talked yesterday. He was planning on telling Niko around the one-year mark once he’s more adjusted to his new life as a werewolf and what it brings. He’s okay with you knowing because it would be nearly impossible to hide while you’re here, but youcan’t tell anyone. I probably should have told the family when it happened, but Dirk… means so much to me. He wasn’t ready and still isn’t. He believes in what we’re doing, though, so we’re handling it now, so you don’t accidentally find out.”

“Who knows what?” Zuri asked softly. “Start driving again. The longer we sit here, the more chance we have of bringing unwanted attention.”

I nodded and got us back on the road to my territory.

“Everyone in the pack knows he worked for me when he was human, and he still does. He works for me, not the pack. Five werewolves in the pack know he’s Niko’s son. Heath and Landon, clearly, and Heath’s third and fourth, Shamus and Ranger. The last is Teagan, a Beta.”

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