Warin hands me the wand, bypassing my grandmother and mother as he enters the house.
“You let him into your house?” my mother gasps and I sigh.
“Yes. As amazing as this little family get-together has been, I’m over it.”
My words shock both of them. I’ve been so ready to please in the past, putting up with their harsh words and quiet digs. But being with Warin has shown me that there’s power in standing up for yourself.
“Grandmother, I hope you find the coven you were looking for. And mom, I guess I’ll see you at the full moon ceremony,” I say, not sure where I want to leave things with her.
She’s not a mean person, just weak.
My grandma still looks pissed as hell with her arms crossed, and she doesn’t look at me as she takes a step down the stairs.
She trips on the last step, falling in the dirt, and I have to hold back a smile, because it feels like karma.
But it isn’t karma.
It’s Tabitha and Domingo holding a small length of string. I hear them chuckling before they fly away.
My mother goes to help her up, and I toss her wand on the ground.
“You’re no longer a Hallow,” my grandmother seethes, as she gets up dusting herself off.
“No. I’m not. I’m an Auclair,” I say, shutting the door behind me.
Chapter 39
When I close the door, Warin is on me in a second, pushing my back against the door as he kisses me senseless.
“You mean it?” he asks.
“Why would I want a family name that doesn’t want me?” I ask him.
“I want you, more than anything I want you,” he says, his forehead pressed against mine.
He would do anything for me, and I suppose this needs to be me doing anything for him. I’ll just have to live without magic, without Gus, maybe without my friends.
I’m panting heavy as a knock sounds on my door. I groan, not wanting to deal with my family anymore.
Warin’s brows are furrowed which makes me more confused as I break out of his grasp and open the door.
It’s Samantha with Gus eating popcorn in her arms.
“Oh, my fuck. Take him. He wouldn’t stop nipping all of us, I’m guessing, because he wanted to see you. Either way, take the gigantic menace,” Samantha says.
Her arms are outstretched with Gus, and he nips her fingers one last time as I take him.
“Oh also, I may have threatened to drain your grandmother dry,” Samantha says with a grin. “Well, I have much more interesting things to do. See you at home, I guess,” she says with a shrug before running away.
I didn’t even get a word in, but I look down at Gus with an arched eyebrow.
“Nice to see you, too. Thanks for checking in with your familiar after being kidnapped and nearly turned into a vampire. Plus, menace is a compliment. But seeing as I don’t speak undead, I had to get their attention somehow. I think I have a solution to your little problem.”
I glance over at Warin, who has no idea what Gus is saying.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not gonna like it, but it’s way fucking better than being turned into a vampire.”
