Page 44 of Fire Touched

I nod, feeling about two inches tall, then head back to the guesthouse, the small spark of pride I’d had at the help I’d offered long fizzled out.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Katie

I stare down at the tub full of water. A challenge. I pace back and forth, wearing the tiles down, no doubt. What happened to me doesn’t make sense. The Tide Witches tried to kill me. My mother’s coven. I still hear their voices in my mind. Deeper, deeper.

If I didn’t already love Carter like a brother, Ella like a sister, I would stay away from them. With a wave of their hand, they could drown me as much as any lake. Any bathtub. Though today proved that being away from the people I care about only makes the hurt worse. My hand presses into my chest, over my heart. I shove the thought away.

One thing at a time.

Right now, I have to focus on bathing before this damn feast. I will not let a little water get the best of me. Again, says a dark voice in my head. I pace back and forth once more, staring into the depths of the tub. I should get in, before it goes cold.

I take a step forward. The water stares up at me hungrily, waiting to drink me in. I exhale shakily.

‘Are you in yet?’ Moira calls. My support. My witness, in case the water called for me to drown again. I felt absurd asking her, but she hadn’t hesitated to agree. From the other side of the bathroom door, she taps the door. ‘Katie?’

‘No,’ I call, my voice breaking. ‘I’m trying, okay?’

I wrap the gown tightly around me, willing myself to loosen my grip. To step into the tub. My hands are shaking.

‘Katie, I’m right here.’

I let out a slow breath. I will not drown in a bathtub. Come on, Katherine, I chide. Don’t be a chicken. I tear the gown off, climbing hastily into the tub before the material settles on the floor. I let out a yowl.

‘Katie?’ Moira’s voice, raised with panic.

‘It’s cold.’

Moira’s soft chuckle. ‘So, heat it up. I’m going to wear this burgundy dress. Dibs. I think you’d look great in the black one, though.’

Goosebumps rise violently all over my skin. Right. I have fire power. Reluctantly, I use a little of it. Better than freezing my bits off. Slowly, the water’s sharp chill fades. ‘Yeah, whatever you like.’ I’m not looking forward to this feast.

After a few moments, I sit back in the tub, trying to relax. Like I need all of Terran gathering to stare at me—the hybrid freak. Black might help me blend in.

A soft knock sounds on the door. ‘Katherine, it’s Elijah—I’m pleased you’re bathing for tonight, by the way, you were starting to smell—ow, okay, I’m sorry.’ I picture Moira whacking him. ‘I just wanted to know if you wanted me to ask Killian to match what you’ll be wearing? My dad is going a bit overboard on this. I don’t want to wear a burgundy tie,’ he adds to Moira. ‘Can’t I wear black?’

A smile tugs at the edges of my mouth. Elijah. Reliably fun, kind, down to earth. I’m so glad he and Moira are mates. ‘Tell him to wear black,’ I call, before dunking my head slowly into the tub. I lather up shampoo, washing my hair. He’s right. It feels nice to wash.

‘Can do,’ Elijah calls. ‘What? No, I don’t know if Ella is a winter colour…’ he trails off, talking to Moira. ‘Well, sure, I think blue would be great. Or grey. Katherine, please hurry up, I don’t know the answers to these questions and Moira won’t let me leave!’

I laugh, rinsing my hair. ‘Just a minute!’

Ten minutes later, I’m wearing the black gown, towel-drying my hair in our bedroom. I could use my power, either of them, to dry it faster, but there’s something calming about doing it by hand. Without really listening, I nod and smile each time Moira holds up a new dress and holds it against herself, then Ella, who looks overwhelmed.

‘So,’ Moira says, ‘the blue, the silver, or the grey?’

‘I don’t see the difference between the silver and grey,’ Elijah says from beside me on the bed. ‘Why do I have to be here for this? I should be helping the guys with their ties. How am I the only one who knows how to do one?’

I smile and lean into him. ‘You do look dashing.’

Elijah cleans up very well, brown hair slicked back, green eyes gleaming. He’s wearing a black suit with a grey shirt and black tie, expertly done. His smile brightens his whole face. ‘Why, thank you.’ He nudges me. ‘It’s good to see some colour on your face. How was it?’ He nods to the bathroom.

I shrug. ‘I’ve been going over it in my mind. I can’t figure out why they’d do that to me.’

He doesn’t call me out on dodging his question. Elijah wraps an arm around me. ‘Well, they’re not going to do it again, okay? We’ll make sure of it.’ Wordlessly, he takes the towel from my hands and helps me dry the rest of my hair.

I smile, leaning my head on his shoulder.

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