Page 168 of The Lands Defying
I know he feels guilty for his role in the Highers bidding for so many years. He was blindsided, just like many others. But they will see who he really is, and I have no doubt that in time, the people of Vrohkaria will look to him for guidance.
When we pass a particular home, Janette comes out of her door, a male following close behind her. I eye them as she sneers, grabbing the male’s hand quickly. The show of partnership is not lost on me.
“Where have you been?” Anna makes a noise at her sister’s question as she walks past her, shaking her head. “Ahh, with the delinquents I see. I am surprised you haven’t been around themallyet.”
Did she just call Anna a whore?
“Insecurity does not look good on you, Janette. Do better,” Anna replies.
Janette follows after her, releasing the man and grabbing Anna’s arm. “You think you are something special, when all you are is a whoring bitch!” Janette spits, shoving her.
“I don’t want your husband, I never have,” Anna says, fire in her eyes. “He had a crush on me years ago and I rejected him, you know this. If your husband has wandering eyes, maybe you should take that up with him.”
A slap rings out as Janette hits her.
I grab the back of her hair and yank her to me. “I wouldn’t do that again if I were you,” I growl down at Janette who raises a red hand filled of her magic.
“And I also wouldn’t do that,” Darius says, his power wrapping around hers instantly.
The male who must be her husband, steps forward. “Let’s just…calm down. Okay?”
“Let her go, Rhea, she isn’t worth the energy,” Anna says, I do so reluctantly as Janette stands straight, flattening her hair down while she glares at me.
“You are all just rabid. Why grandmother lets dogs in, I will never know.”
“Just stop, Janette,” the male says, coaxing her away but she is having none of it.
“Are you sticking up for her, Jake?” She asks him, anger crossing her face. “Do you want to be with her?!”
“Of course not.”
“Let’s go,” Anna says and continues down the path as her sister and Jake argue.
Or more, she argues while he tries to placate her.
Zaide and Leo walk ahead, and when Jake tries to pull Janette back toward the home, she pushes him and stumbles into Zaide. Without any warning, Zaide takes her legs from under her and carries on walking like nothing happened.
I stare, stunned for a moment until I cover my mouth with a laugh as Janette screeches on the floor.
Anna turns and looks from her sister to Zaide for a moment, before continuing on.
“Brutal,” Damian says as he walks over her. “Maybe be nicer, yeah?”
“Shut up,dog,” Zaide jests.
“Pft, maybe you are a lost cause,” Damian sneers.
Darius grabs my hand as we follow the others, leaving a screeching Janette behind.
“I don’t like her,” I tell him as his magic wraps around our hands. I call my own to join his.
“She thinks your witch wants her husband.”
“She definitely has a grudge, but I saw the hatred in her eyes. She could really hurt Anna.”
Darius grunts. “She wouldn’t get close enough, not with who is watching over her.”
“Who is?”
