Page 59 of Wicked Witchmas: Elara & Tripp

Tears streamed from her eyes, soaking her temples and the feather-soft pillow cradling her head. A cool hand stroked her brow, and she shifted to see the woman beside her.

Compassion shone in her light-gray eyes. “How do you feel, sister?”

“Like I could drink an ocean, and it still wouldn’t be enough? Why am I so thirsty?”

“A lifetime spent denying your heritage. It will pass soon.”

“Heritage?” Elara frowned, struggling to recall what she’d heard at the meeting. “Water nymph.”

“Yes. Fathered by a Titan.”

“No, he’s my three-times great-grandfather or something like that.”

The woman laughed. “Is that what they told you?”

Elara nodded.

“They lied.”

“I don’t understand,” she said. “If my parents were gods, I’d know.”

The gray eyes narrowed in contemplation. “Let me guess. The story goes something like this: Your father was loving and indulged your flighty mother’s every whim. But they never stayed in one place for long.”

Elara froze.

The guess was accurate and eerie as hell.

“I can tell by your shocked expression that I’m right.” The woman sighed and stroked her cheek. “Sorry, little one, but your parents were not mere mortals. Mother of nymph descent, Titan father. The power radiating off of you is a testament to this fact.”

Rolling her head to stare at the ceiling and consider what the other woman had said, Elara was struck by another realization. She gasped and jackknifed into a sitting position.

“We’re in a bubble under the water?”

“We are.”

“How? Where?”

“I suppose I should introduce myself. I’m Storm. You’re half-sister.”

Elara’s head almost came off her shoulders; she whipped it around so fast. “What? Half-sister?”

“Same father.”

“Rupert Hawthorne is your dad?”

Her newfound sister snorted. “Rupert? Is that what he’s calling himself now?”

“Please, I am completely in the dark on this one. Can you give me the highlights here?” The pleading in her voice was cringeworthy, but she’d had the week from hell and needed the clarification.

“Of course.”

The woman unfolded herself from the bed and rose, revealing a tall, perfectly toned body. It came as a surprise to realize she was naked.

“Do you, uh, normally walk around in that state?” Cheeks hot, Elara gestured up and down.

As if she just registered her nudity, the woman laughed. “Yes. I forget it bothers others.”

“I’m not bothered. I?—”

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