Ella walks a few paces forward and stops, looking back at my father. “What are you waiting for?”
“Be my guest,” I say, motioning to the house. “Oh, wait.” I turn, hold up both hands, and whisper an incantation to create a door in the warding. The entire circle glows bright blue.
“Oh my God,” Ella whispers, watching the circle slowly fade away, going invisible again. She hesitates before stepping over the threshold of where the circle just was and lets out a breath of relief once she’s past. It’s obvious that she’s scared yet is pushing through for Scott’s sake. He doesn’t deserve someone who loves him this much.
My father follows behind her, glancing at Lucas but never looking into his eyes. Freya shadows up ahead, showing off. Ella screams and turns toward my father, but if it came down to it, I’m sure he’d throw her right into the line of fire to buy himself more time to run away.
“Freya,” I say, smiling. “Stop showing off.”
Kristy goes in the house first, followed by Evander. She goes into the office and turns the light on. Ella goes in next, stopping just a few feet into the foyer. Lucas’s hand lands on my lower back, fingers inching under the fabric of my shirt. Feeling his cool skin on mine sends a rush through me, making my heart flutter while comforting me at the same time.
“Before you come inside,” Tabatha starts, holding up one hand and extending it toward my father. “I think a little insurance will make us all feel better.” Waving her hand, two strands of magic leaves her fingers and wrap around each of my father’s wrists. “Ad imperium,” she chants and snaps her fingers. The bands of magic are pulled together like handcuffs.
Then she opens up her hand, releasing the hold. The bands stay around my father’s wrists, but he’s able to move them apart now. “Try anything, and I’ll cuff you.” She flicks her eyes to Lucas. “Well, if the vampire doesn’t get you first.”
“The office is this way.” I walk through the foyer and into a room I don’t use that often. It’s tidy enough, though it’s in need of a dusting. I type my password into my computer and quickly close the ten tabs I have open. “All yours.”
Moving away from the desk, I go back to Lucas, who wraps his arm around me knowing that my father finds human-vampire relationships wrong and unnatural.
“Callie,” my father starts, going toward the desk. His eyes meet mine, and it’s like he’s looking at me—really looking at me—for the first time in over ten years.
“If you’re even going to attempt to apologize, save it. You sold me when I was only nine years old, and if Tabatha hadn’t gotten me out, I’d still be there. You never had any intention of coming back for me, and you know what, I’m glad you didn’t. It’s because of the hell you put me through that I learned how to fight and how to be strong.”
My father’s brow furrows, and the words I’ve longed to say but didn’t think I’d ever find the courage for burn inside me.
“What you did was unforgivable,” I go on. “What you did will forever speak volumes about your character—or lack thereof. But I came out stronger and found my real family because of it. And you…you’re going to have to live never knowing if I’m going to come out with my story. If I’m going to tell the world how much of a monster you are. How their beloved and trusted politician has been lying through his teeth for his entire career.”
I let out a breath, realizing that I’m only a foot away from my desk now. My father sank down into the chair and is staring at me with an unreadable expression. I truly believe the only reason he might slightly regret selling me like livestock is the fear of the story getting out.
“I’m proud of who I am, and the fact that you can’t see how incredible I am will forever be your loss.” The lamp in the corner of the room flickers. “Now get to work.”
I whirl around and march out of the office. Lucas steps in, drawing his fangs. He’ll watch every move and make sure my father is doing what he’s supposed to be doing.
I keep walking, going down the hall and into the kitchen. My nerves are shot, and my stomach has been clenched since the moment I saw my father walking up the sidewalk. I put my hands on the island counter and lean forward, letting out a deep breath.
“Holy shit,” I pant. Squeezing my eyes closed, I debate pulling out the wine and taking a big drink. Because I could really fucking use one right now.
“That was incredible,” Evander says from the threshold of the kitchen. “You’ve talked about telling him off for years and, you finally did.” A smile spreads across his face.
“It felt really good.”
“You’re right, you know. You are incredible and you are strong. Which is probably due to growing up with me as your fill-in for an older brother.”
I smile, and my eyes fill with tears for some reason. I’m not sad, but the overdrive of emotions is getting to me, and it’s like my brain can’t process them all.
“You did a good job. It’s so easy to start feeling sorry for myself or get angry, but when I think about how everything played out…maybe it was supposed to happen this way.”
“You rose from the ashes.”
The floor creaks, and I look through the kitchen into the living room. Tabatha and Kristy are in there with Ella.
“I kind of feel bad for her,” I tell Evander.
“She does looks quite helpless.”
“But she’s dating my brother.” I wrinkle my nose. “Speaking of, I should make sure he hasn’t scratched up my walls or anything.” He’s in the bathroom upstairs, and is huddled behind the toilet, looking so pathetic I almost feel bad for him too. I really shouldn’t have gone with a cat. But it’s fun seeing Scott get his just desserts. He hates cats…Binx especially.
He growls and hisses at me, reaching out and swiping a paw out.
“Keep that up, and I’ll have them declaw you too,” I sneer. “Eventually you’ll make a nice house cat. Though I’m going to draw the line with you sleeping in my bed. Or my room.”
I shut the door behind me and sit on the ground. “We’ve never ha
d a heart-to-heart and seeing how you can’t go anywhere or talk back, this is the perfect time.”
I rake my fingers through my messy hair. “Like I said back at the office…I never did anything to hurt you or make you not like me. I was born different, and I still don’t know why you and Dad hate me so much just because of that. I can’t help who I am.”
Reaching forward, I pick up a fur-covered plastic mouse that has catnip inside and shake it. My familiars often come to work with me, and thinking they’re just regular cats, Betty gave them all cat-toys for Christmas this past holiday. “I used to be curious. First because I thought if I found out why you hated me so much then I’d be able to fix it. You’re my big brother, after all. I wanted you to love me just like I loved you. Which I did for much longer than you deserved.”
I toss the cat toy and Scott’s ears perk up, almost as if he’s starting to pick up on real cat-like behavior.
“But then Dad sold me to that medical research laboratory, and you did nothing to stop him. If anything, I think you encouraged him. And when you all came to visit…I’ll never forget that look in your eyes.” Shaking my head, I let out a sigh and lean back against the wall.
“Now, I’m not telling you this in hopes that you’ll feel bad and suddenly stop being scum. You know how they say, ‘there’s no cure for stupid,’ well the same applies for people who are mean-spirited assholes. That’s just how you are. So, let this serve you as a reminder. I am not weak. I am not powerless. There are many who are, and I will stand up for them. Picking on people just because they’re associated with me…” I shake my head. “Let’s just say, if there is a next time, you won’t be so lucky to be a cat.”
I stand and bend down, reaching a hand out to Scott. “Now be a good cat and come here. Someone is here looking for you. If I get what I want, I’ll change you back.”
Scott growls and refuses to get up.
“I could always change you into a slug.”
With a hiss, he gets up and slinks over.
I pick him up and go downstairs, slipping into the kitchen before Ella has a chance to see me carrying Scott in my arms. Man, that’s weird to think about. Evander is still in the kitchen raiding my fridge, and probably being terribly disappointed.