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“Do you feel I’m wrong? Would you trust a witch who was raised by your enemy?”

I realize the irony of what I asked.

“Sure, maybe we aren’t so different. But I don’t know her. Strangers with magic can’t be trusted.”

A pang shoots through my head as if I offended.

“You don’t count. I’d rather it just be you. You showed me you could be trusted, so does she. And as you know, I’m slow to trust. If Genevieve is compromised in any way, Calli will be at risk. At least you can’t be taken from me.”

I look down, noticing Karma sitting next to an empty bowl. I reach into the cabinet and she begins chirping. I’ve never heard a cat chirp like a little bird. After I pour the kibble into her bowl, she quickly devours it and saunters away.

“I see how it is, I’m only good for food,” I say.

I avoid eye contact with Genevieve as I sit at the end of the table, and she makes no attempt at conversation. Good. She’s quiet, unlike my sister. I can deal with this.

I sip my coffee and hear Jack’s door open and close, his slow footsteps down the stairs drag. When he rounds the corner, he looks half dead. Another person I don’t care to speak to. Though I can’t help but notice his lack of the chipper attitude he always has in the mornings—I won’t be asking him about that, either.

I drag my thumb along the rim of the mug, jaw tightening. The only company I wish to keep is yours. Everyone else feels like background noise.

“I haven’t heard from Ben yet. I hope he’s safe,” Genevieve says quietly, looking at Jack.

“He’ll be fine. You got here what, twelve hours ago? Relax,” Jack says, almost brushing her off with an upbeat tone.

There’s that obnoxiously positive attitude. I was almost concerned.

“I have every reason to worry. And I told you, call me Gen. Please…” She trails off at the end. The wise and confident girl I met, gone and folding into herself. I need her at her best if she is going to be any use to us.

I know it can’t be easy being taken from what you’re used to and having the illusion of freedom ripped from you, especially when your loved one’s life is at risk. I get that, but she’ll need to deal with it.

“Listen, Gen,” I start. “Ben is most likely doing damage control with Rosa. He’s fine. We just need to be patient.”

“What do we do in the meantime?” Jack asks, moving past me to the counter, the scrape of the mug louder than it needs to be as he pours himself coffee.

I quirk a brow. “We do what we discussed on the drive home last night.” I look at Gen.

She shoots me a wary look, as if she is afraid to say the words. “Fine. At least let me finish my coffee,” she says with attitude.

“Feel free to go upstairs and get cleaned up,” I say, recalling her going straight to bed last night when we got home.

“Yeah, that would be nice, but it’s not like I have anything else to wear,” she replies, annoyance lacing her tone.

“You can borrow some of Calli’s clothes for now.”

“Then why don’t you ask her? I don’t even know where she is.”

“Do you have an issue?” I sip my coffee.

“Yeah, actually; I just witnessed murder, got taken from my boyfriend, and have been dragged into the middle of a massive creepy house owned by a dickhead who can’t be bothered to ask if I’m okay.”

“Fine.” I lean forward. “Are you okay?”

“No! I literally just listed all of the reasons why I’m not.” Genevieve looks at me as if I’m an idiot.

I must have misjudged the witch and she’s more like Calli than I thought. Attitude-wise they’re almost identical. As if the universe decided I wasn’t sufficiently punished with one stubborn, defiant girl and handed me another. I have no interest in collecting sisters, especially ones who mistake tolerance for permission. Let us hope, at the very least, Gen will be useful helping Calli with her magic.

“Right, have you seen Calli this morning?” I look around, subtly avoiding eye contact.

“No, I figured she was still sleeping.” Gen crosses her arms. “You’re welcome for cleaning your dusty-ass kitchen, by the way.”