Chapter 10
Wes
“Can I have a word?” Toby asked. I nodded and let Liza take my place beside Livvie, then followed Toby into the kitchen. He pulled out his phone and pressed a button, putting it on speaker but turning the volume down low. We huddled together to listen as Anthony answered.
“Hey, Anthony,” Toby said. “We’ve got a little problem here.”
“How can I help?” he asked.
“Could you possibly get in touch with Sammy?” I asked.
Toby continued. “We think Livvie might be a witch with her magic somehow suppressed. She’s been having a hard time lately and tonight she got really stressed and let everything on the table levitate.”
Anthony hissed. “Geez. I’ll try to get in touch with Sammy, but she’s been acting strangely lately and hasn’t been around much. It’s been hard to pin her down, but I’ll do what I can.”
We hung up and stared at each other, at a loss. “She could be a pixie or some kind of fairy like Kaylee,” Toby suggested. “Maybe her magic is stronger.”
“Do you think she’s really a witch?” I asked.
“You know, I doubt it because have you ever heard of a witch being a shifter’s mate?” Toby asked.
I shook my head. “Good point. She’s got to be something else, something in her family that the power is being triggered, maybe by the mating bond.”
Toby snapped his finger. “That makes sense. Still, I’d be happier to have Sammy look her over.”
When we walked back into the living room, Livvie was crying again, and a book had levitated off the bookshelf on the far side of the room. It wasn’t moving or anything, just hovering in front of the shelves.
“Hey,” I said softly, crowding Liza away and pulling Livvie into my arms again. “I’m here, it’s okay.”
“Why is it so comforting to be in your arms?” she asked.
Liza handed her some tissues, but I took them and gently wiped her tears.
Then she grabbed a few more and blew her nose with a big honk.
It was hard not to chuckle. I was so glad she wasn’t afraid to be real around me.
Many women would’ve demurely dabbed their noses instead of blowing when they needed to.
We talked about nonsense stuff like movies and music, trying to change the subject and keep Livvie calm. A few minutes later, the doorbell rang.
Livvie tensed in my arms. “Who is that?” she asked.
Toby hurried for the door. “It’s probably our friend Anthony,” I said, hoping he had Sammy with him.
It was Anthony, but he was alone. He hurried in and sat on the coffee table across from Livvie. She let him take her hand in his. “I know who you are,” she said, then glanced at Liza. “I don’t think a doctor can help me with this.”
Anthony chuckled. “I’m not a shrink. But I have some experience with not sleeping. I can easily subscribe you a good night’s sleep to get rid of the bags under your eyes.”
That drew a laugh out of Livvie, which soothed my nerves. I loved the sound of her happy. “Do you know anything about your family history?” Anthony asked. “Anything that could explain what happened earlier?”
Livvie shook her head. “It’s just me and my grandmother, and she doesn’t like to talk about family. I don’t have many memories before the age of nine when she started raising me because my parents died.”
“Why don’t you remember?” I asked.
“Well, I was told I’d been in an accident, but Nana recently told me my parents died in a home invasion and that I was spared.
Maybe the burglars hurt me or something, I’m not sure.
” She shook her head. “I’m not sure why I haven’t asked before, either.
It seems like the least important thing in the world, and I rarely think about my extended family or my past before we moved to Bluewater. ”
Something in my gut told me her past and history were a big lie. Her grandmother was definitely hiding something. I glanced at Toby and by the expression on his face, he thought something wonky was up with her story, too.
A jingle of bells was the only warning we had before Sammy appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. Livvie jumped up, out of my arms and nearly out of her skin as Anthony sighed. “You could’ve called to let me know you’d gotten my message,” he said.
“At least she’s still wearing the bells,” Toby muttered.
Sammy shrugged as she walked forward. “This was more fun.”
Livvie was pale as a sheet as she stared at the clan witch with wide, scared eyes.
And Sammy studied Livvie right back. “What the hell is going on?” Livvie asked in a shaky voice.
“I’d like to know the same thing.” Sammy walked forward and shooed Anthony out of the way. We all stared at her. She chuckled. “Well, this is a change of pace, isn’t it?”
We all waited for her to elaborate, but she didn’t. Perching on the coffee table, she looked Livvie in the eyes and studied her. Sammy waved her hands slowly in front of Livvie’s face, squinted, and sucked in a deep breath. “Well, my dear, you’re not human.”
Livvie leaned back. I grabbed her hand to let her know she had support here, but she’d already pulled herself out of my arms, so I didn’t want to push it by pulling her close again. “What are you talking about, not human?” Livvie said quietly.
Sammy cocked her head, stuck her tongue out, and tasted the air. With a smack of her lips, she nodded. “You’re definitely not human. I believe you’re one of us. You’re like me.”
The air sort of sucked out of the room. Even though the witch seemed self-satisfied for figuring it out, she didn’t seem pleased in the least. Her eyes blazed.
I scooted forward and stood, stepping in front of Livvie, which put me directly in Sammy’s path and almost pressed against her.
She stood and walked deeper into the room, visibly shaking.
“She smells like me,” she said. “Like I used to. Like my old coven, before they banished me.” Whirling, she glared at Livvie, who was peeking out from behind me. “I don’t believe in coincidences.”
Turning to Livvie, who was shaking just as hard as Sammy, but out of fear, I leaned down and met her gaze, her eyes wide and confused. “Everything is going to be fine,” I said. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
I didn’t want to feel this way. This certainly wasn’t the plan. But it felt right. I couldn’t help but act on my instinct to protect Livvie. “You’re not alone, okay?” There was no way I wouldn’t protect my fated mate when push came to shove.
She nodded, her eyes glancing between me and Sammy, across the room.
“Wait. You all know about this. You’ve talked about it? About me?” Livvie’s gaze moved around the room to everyone there. “All of you who claim to be my friends?” She nodded toward Sammy. “Except you.”
“I can’t explain everything right now,” I said.
“But it’ll all make sense soon. Just know you’re not alone and you’re not crazy.
I’ll be by your side through all of this.
” How could this be possible? Dragons had never mated witches.
We’d always thought it wasn’t possible. Sure, the human thing was new, but it turned out it had happened before.
I’d never even heard a whisper of a rumor about dragons and witches.
My tattoo burned something fierce as I put my hands on her shoulders. Her gaze, darting around, settled on my eyes, and her face crumpled a little. “I’m scared,” she said in a small voice.
“I get it. I would be too. But you’re safe and you’re not alone.”
“Not at all,” Liza said from behind me. “We’re here for you, too.”
Sammy sighed. “I’m sorry,” she said. Her tone of voice had changed considerably. “I don’t get scared, but this scares me. It’s too coincidental.”
I stayed in front of Livvie as Sammy walked closer. The witch rolled her eyes. “Calm down, dragon breath. I’m not going to hurt her.”
I didn’t move, but she wiggled her fingers at me. “Let me talk to her. You have my word, as long as she has no nefarious intent toward me, she’s perfectly safe in my charge.”
There was no way Livvie was faking all this. I stepped aside and let Sammy sit in front of her again. “May I touch your forehead?” Sammy asked. “I won’t invade your mind or anything. I want to read your aura.”
Livvie glanced from me to Liza, and we both nodded, so she did as well.
Sammy put one finger on Livvie’s forehead and a few seconds later nodded and pulled back. “Yep. I think she’s had her magic suppressed. It has to be for a reason, but I’m not touching the suppression until I know why it’s there.”
“But…” Livvie looked at me, then Liza, then Toby and Anthony, before returning her gaze to Sammy. “But what are you?”
Sammy smiled wide. “Well, I’m a witch, my darling. And apparently, so are you!”