Page 6 of Which Witch is Willing?
“You’re making enough noise to raise the dead,” Justine said, her tone sharp and disapproving, then her eyes widened and she stepped back, seeing Death and the other three Horsemen. “What aretheydoing inmyhome?”
“Ourhome,” Claire said. “And its best if you return to your room and lock the door.”
“I will not be a prisoner in my house.”
“We can always lock you up somewhere else if you don’t do what you’re told, old woman,” Nick threatened, having no affection for his onetime prisoner.
“Aunt Justine,” Tierra implored, “Please, return to your room. I’ll explain all this later.”
“Yes, you will.” She harrumphed and slammed her door shut, the lock clicking into place.
“I need a drink,” Nick said. “It'll help rinse the taste of battle-axe from my mouth.”
“Liquor is in the pantry, make yourself at home in thekitchen,” Tierra stressed, grabbing Claire’s hand. “We’ll be right back.”
Killian grabbed her arm, refusing to let her pass. “I don’t like this.”
“Get used to disappointment. I won’t budge on this and if you try to make me, I guarantee you will hate the result.” She didn’t back down from his thunderous look, but held his stare with one just as stormy.
“Bane, get your ass down here, and let the women retrieve their sisters,” Dru said. “Knowing when to retreat, sometimes wins the battle.” War should know.
Killian said something under his breath, warning Tierra that she would pay for this later.
Insolent man.
Jinx, still perched on Tierra’s shoulder hissed her agreement.
Once Dru and Killian joined Nick and Julian in the large foyer, Tierra and Claire vaulted up the stairs to the fourth floor.
“I can’t believe you stared Death in the face andhebacked down,” Claire said.
“The man is medieval in his thinking. He’s going to get an education in the modern, magical woman as soon as I have a few freaking minutes to deal with him.”
“So, your time away together didn’t smooth things over between you?”
“Not in the least. He squirreled me away from my sisters with no chance to explain and no choice in the matter. Yeah, he’s got a few painful truths coming his way.”
“Damn, but we need a girls’ night to catch up on what is going on with each other’s love lives.”
“Yes, we do.” Though she really didn’t have a love life. Killian never spoke of love, just possession. She wouldn’t mind some sisterly advice on that and she needed to discuss what she’d witnessed with Justine and Lila, too. Maybe they could help her lock away the image so she didn’t have to remember it ever again.
They reached the attic and found it quiet as a grave.
“Are you sure they’re in there?” Claire asked, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.
“About eight-five percent sure.”
“If they are, why haven’t they left and come looking for us?”
“That I don’t know.” But they were about to find out. Tierra recited the spell that revealed the cloaked door to their mother’s sanctuary. She turned the knob and entered with Claire right behind her.
“About fucking time you two got here,” Aerin snapped.
5
Moira rushed toward Tierra and Claire, sandwiching them both in a crushing hug. “You ain’t dead!”
Tierra hugged her back, burrowing her face in Moira’s hair and breathing deeply, cherishing the smells of magnolias and rain that always reminded her of her water witch sister. Thinking that she could have lost her today about broke her heart. She glanced over to Aerin, and motioned her over.
