Page 7

Calli stands near the desk in the library fidgeting with one of the book stacks.

“Calli, what the fuck are you thinking? You realize he could be affiliated with the Order?”

I walk over to the window and turn away from her, as I focus in on you.

You do know something, I can feel it.

My hand moves to my neck as I grip the pendulum, wishing now more than ever that you could speak to me. I close my eyes.

Come on, baby… give me something.

“Cade, he’s not. If he was, do you think Jack would let him near me?” she says, snapping me from my thoughts.

“Don’t bring Jack into this. If you think I trust him with your well-being, you would be wrong.” I avoid eye contact with my sister.

She’s so fucking reckless. To have a stranger move into our house when we’re in hiding…

Goddamn it.

“But it’s true; is it so hard to accept there are more people out there like me? People that the Order of the Covenant would—and have—preyed on. He has been helping, my power is growing, and that is the last thing the Order wants. If he was affiliated, it wouldn’t make sense.”

She has a point. But I don’t like this, I don’t like him. For whatever reason, this Kai rubs me the wrong way. And my assumptions about things being too convenient are only being validated.

“What does he know?” I ask, turning toward her.

Clouds cover the sun and the library darkens. Calli clutches her arms tight looking at me with a pained expression. We stand in the center of the room for a moment before she breaks the silence.

“He knows I’m a witch, that I was shunned and abused by my family until you took me away. He doesn’t know anything else. I swear.” Her eyes are pleading.

But I can feel it in the air; it prickles my skin. I breathe in the subtle scent of grass-fed bullshit in her words.

You’re almost like my own personal lie detector. She’s not telling me something, and you know what it is.

I’ll play Calli’s game. If Kai is the reason for her newfound confidence, I would be an asshole to deny her. I have no proof that he is any danger to her yet, but I may as well let the dice fall where they will.

“Fine. He can stay—for now.” I sigh. “But if I find out he is anything more than what you claim he is, I will kill him.”

She freezes, refusing to meet my eyes. Now I know she’s hiding something.

I grab her forearm and meet her eyes. “I know you wouldn’t lie to me again.”

She looks down at her feet, and I can feel she wants to tell me something.

“Calli—”

“Okay! Look. Please don’t freak out.” She pauses. “He’s not exactly a witch, he’s—something different. But you can’t tell anyone.” Her eyes look desperate.

“You’ve got my attention.” I fold my arms.

“Your guardian wasn’t the only being I summoned to our world.”

I feel my heart skip a beat at her admission. I take a step back, probing for your presence.

She was able to bring him here…

Calli continues, “I brought him over, too. I didn’t mean to, but he has helped me so much, and I have never been hap—”

“What is he?”