Page 40 of His Whispered Witch

It was silly, but until this moment, she hadn’t considered that she wouldn’t have an arranged marriage. It was strange to the rest of the world, but within covens, it was expected. Every generation was weaker. They tried to marry into magical families to keep power alive, and that meant arranging things. Everybody knew that. Annie knew that.

“Is there somebody else you want instead? Somebody unsuitable?”

Annie let out a hysterical cascade of laughter. “Just about the worst person in the entire world?”

Penn gasped dramatically. “You’re dating Hitler?”

Annie rolled her eyes. “Okay, not the worst. In fact, not bad at all. He’s amazing.”

“But I take it he’s not an upstanding boy from a magical family?”

Annie shook her head morosely. Penn squinted at her. How oldwasshe? She wasn’t in school, but she couldn’t have been much older, and she’d already found the love of her life? Penn felt a little jealous. She also felt a little jealous that Annie went out and found somebody normal and not some kind of fated connection with a werewolf.

“You have time, right? If he loves you, this boy isn’t going anywhere.”

Annie’s eyes flew to her. “He’s getting the same pressure.”

Penn frowned. “So heisfrom a magical family?”

“Not like that,” Annie said to her shoes.

When nothing else was forthcoming, Penn sighed.

“I wish I could help,” she said sincerely.

“No one can,” Annie said.

No, Annie wasn’t a teenager anymore, but she was close enough to get the dramatic hopelessness just right.

“Just, um, keep the lines of communication open?” Penn rolled her eyes at herself. What did that even mean? “I mean, keep talking to your mom and your aunt. And me,” she added, though how long would she be here?

She froze. Forever? She had planned on spending her life here with this coven.

She couldn’t deny it now. She was going back to him, and not only to help him. Where the hell would they go, exiled from pack and coven alike?

Annie summoned a smile. “Anyway, I told you I’m fine. Iamfine.”

Penn heard the conviction in her voice. “You are fine. Whatever happens, you’ll be fine.” She took a deep breath. If only she could take her own advice.

Annie squeezed her hand. “Thanks. I’ve got a shift.”

For the first time, Penn noticed she was wearing a purple shirt that exactly matched the shade of the house with a white cauldron on the front over a pile of sticks made of brooms, the uniform for the shop.

“Have a good shift,” Penn said and sat where she was until Annie was off the porch and heading down the street, her arms wrapped around her torso as if she was literally holding herself together.

She recognized that tension, the love of her family versus the need to make her own decisions. She sighed, feeling a sort of peace she hadn’t felt since her blissful orgasm before the truth bomb. She’d already chosen to come here. She could choose again.

She didn’t like to come into the house uninvited, but Annie had left the door open, and there didn’t seem to be anybody else home.

She stepped inside and tried to look casual as she headed for the library when a scramble of paws made her freeze.

The wolfhound galloped around the corner and skidded to a stop with his nose in her belly button. He sniffed her all over and growled.

“Hey, stop that.”

Did he smell the werewolf?

“I’m your friend!” she said, putting magic in the world. “Go… Go take a nap.”

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