Page 11 of Witch of My Heart

“No one’s fighting anyone,” Daniel said, a new authority to his voice. “Do not make me handcuff you to myself.”

“Who died and ---” Duke started, but I shook my head.

This was Daniel’s life now. He was Bobby’s second in command, and I didn’t want to raise his hackles if I didn’t have to. We’d always gotten on good as kids and I didn’t want to throw that away now.

“I’m not ---” I started but didn’t get the chance to finish.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Daniel said. “Duke, don’t try it. I don’t think this is a problem throwing fists will resolve. It will take more nuance than that. Why don’t you walk back with Xi to the meeting hall? You two can make nice on the way there.”

“I’m not so sure I should leave,” Xi said, from his perch on the porch railing.

“I’ll take care of them, Xi,” Daniel said. “We’re probably just going to stand here until the problem resolves.”

“That could take a while,” Xi said.

“I know,” Daniel frowned. “Tell my mate and children I miss them, but duty calls.”

Chapter Six

Cord

“Duke is leaving, but your guy is still out there with Daniel,” Starry said, peeking out the window. “Do you want me to talk to Daniel and get him to make Blithe leave?”

I shook my head. It was all I could do. Magic vibrated over my fur and around my ears. I dug my claws into the sofa arm, because everything inside me wanted to retrace my escape route until I leapt into Blithe’s arms. The other part of me wanted to run away and never look back.

“Cord, I’m not trying to push you to talk to me, him, or anyone else, but I need to know what you want me to do. If it’s to tell him to go away for now, I will. I’m not afraid of him or his googly-eyed dragon cousin. If you want me to invite him in, I will. Maybe, I should go back to the beginning. Bobby was correct in his assumption, right?” Starry asked. “You and Blithe are true-mate responding?”

I nodded hard and fast as if I could shake the pounding blood out from my ears.

“That can be scary,” Starry said, sitting down next to me on the sofa. “That can be overwhelming. He’s cute, though and he didn’t watch my ass as I walked up the stairs.”

I wanted to laugh, but that meant letting go of my feline form – my defense system – and I couldn’t do that yet.

“Do you want me to get Marcus?” he asked.

I shook my head. I didn’t need another person around telling me that my reaction was perfectly natural. Starry had that job covered.

“Do you want me to get the witch group here?” Starry asked.

I shook my head again.

“Do you want me to shut up and leave you alone?”

I shook my head.

“This would be a lot easier if you use the group link,” Starry said.

“I don’t know what to do,”I said, giving in a bit.

“Can you tell me what you’re running from?”Starry asked over the group link.

“It’s bloody stupid,”I said.

“Most fears are. I still get afraid that Xiam’s going to get his head stuck somewhere and we won’t be able to get it out.”

“Ginger Barrel is going to come and kill my kittens,”I spat out the words before I chickened out.

“Is this an anxiety or a magic thing?”Starry asked.

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