44. Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Why did life have to kick her in the butt all the time? Tessa curled up on her couch and stared at the black television screen.
Her mom walked into the room and sat at the end of the couch. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on, Tessa Marie?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Mom. Maybe you could fill me in a bit more on our family being witches?”
“I know this has been a shock to you, so I’ll overlook the tone.”
Tessa sat up and turned to her. “I just don’t understand why you didn’t tell me.”
Lina grabbed Tessa’s hands. “Sweetheart. Your grandmother was a hard woman. She told me when I was eight years old that she was a witch, and she tried to teach me how to cast spells. It was a disaster. And your grandmother saw me as a disappointment. Once she confirmed that I didn’t have any abilities, she wrote me off. Didn’t share any history about witches with me.”
“But you did have an ability. You said you can sense powers.”
“I can. That developed in my teens, but I didn’t tell your grandmother about it.”
“Why not?” she asked.
Her mother sighed. “Because I was happier not being pulled into her world. When you were born and I couldn’t sense anything in you, I was relieved. I didn’t want you to be sucked into her sour life. And then she passed before you were old enough for her to test your abilities. I never wanted you to feel rejected because you didn’t have powers.”
Tessa’s heart hurt for her mom. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that and you didn’t tell me so I could have supported you.”
Lina smiled. “I’m the mom, honey. I was protecting you.”
“Well, I think we can protect each other from now on, okay?”
“I’ll try.” Lina tilted her head. “But you will always be my little girl. And speaking of little girls, Lily and Bella are adorable. Who does Lily belong to?”
“They are trying to find her parents, but we think she’s an orphan.”
Lina frowned. “Oh, that poor baby. She is so sweet and happy. Anyone would be blessed to be her momma.”
Tessa blinked at the moisture flooding her eyes.
Lina pulled her in for a hug. “You love her.”
Tessa snuggled into her mom’s arms. “How could I not?”
“And what about Megan’s brother-in-law, Adam?”
“What about him?” Tessa sat back.
Lina chuckled. “You just put on your model face. You can’t hide the truth from me. You have feelings for him. And the way he was watching you, the feelings are mutual.”
Where did she even begin? “It’s complicated.”
“Because he’s a dragon?”
Tessa shot to her feet. “Seriously! How do you know that?”
“Well, it wasn’t that difficult. I told you I sensed powers at the house. Since you all confirmed it wasn’t a coven, dragons made the most sense.”
Tessa’s head hurt. “Of course it did.”
“There goes that attitude.”
She took a breath. “Mom. Can you please tell me what you know about witches?”
Lina patted the seat, and Tessa plopped down again onto the couch. Her legs weren’t all that stable at this point anyway. How many revelations were too much for one person to handle? At the rate things were going, she was going to lock herself in the closet and not come out again.
“I don’t know much about being a witch. Your grandmother could cast some spells, but nothing that made her by any means powerful. In the past witches came into their powers early, which is why she tested me when I was so young. She did tell me that powers were fading with each generation. And she was bitter about it, as was her mother before her. I asked her once why magic was dying, and she said it was because of dragons. That they were evil and our sworn enemies.”
“So you understand why it’s complicated?”
“Not really. You obviously care for one another. What does an old vendetta have to do with anything?”
Another deep breath. “Because witches are still trying to destroy dragons, and now the dragons are preparing to fight back if they have to.”
“And that’s why we left so quickly? Because they threw us out?”
Tessa shook her head. “No. They wouldn’t do that. But other dragons in their clan might.”
“So you left because someone might have a problem with you being a witch? Even though you didn’t know you were a witch until yesterday?”
Okay, listening to her say it that way made it sound silly. “I don’t want Adam or anyone else to have to defend me being there.”
Lina tilted her head again and gave her the laser-eye, I-can-read-your-mind mom look. “Isn’t that their decision to make? They all seemed like kind people, except maybe that grump security chief, Marcus.”
Tessa stood up again and started to pace. “It was a lot to take in, okay. I mean, I’m a witch! And I need to understand what it means.”
“I get that, sweetheart. I wish I could tell you more about the history of witches, but I can’t. And your grandmother didn’t pass anything to me to help you learn about it either. I can’t think of anyone who would be able to tell you more about it.”
Tessa stopped pacing. “No. But I think I can. Are you okay with me going out for a bit?”
“Of course. I can entertain myself.”
Tessa kissed her mom on the head and grabbed her bag and phone. Forty minutes later she pulled down the dusty drive and parked in front of the cabin. Before she could even take a step toward the house, the door opened and John walked out onto the porch, wiping his hands on a dish towel. “Why do you keep showing up unannounced?”
“Because you would probably hide if I told you I was coming.”
“True. Why are you here?”
She took a step closer, hoping he wouldn’t shut her down. “I need you to tell me about witches.”
John frowned. “Why?”
“Because I just found out I am one.”
John’s eyes widened. “The hits just keep on coming.”
Tessa chuckled. “You could say that.”
“Come sit down and tell me how you came to that conclusion.”
Tessa brought him up to speed on the kidnapping, Lily’s disappearance, and Adam getting his memories back. When she got to the point where she picked up the scroll and it changed, John held up his hand and went inside, coming back out with a bottle of scotch and two glasses.
Once they each had a glass in hand, she finished the story.
“Holy hell, woman. I don’t know what to say.”
Tessa took a sip, and the heat went down her throat. “Join the crowd.”
He leaned forward. “I can sense something from you. I don’t know if I missed it the last time you were here or if Eric’s and Adam’s dragons blocked me sensing you.”
“Eric said he can’t sense witches. But you can because you’re both?”
John nodded. “Yep.”
“So tell me about witches.”
“Back when I was born, witches and dragons had their full powers. Witches could cast spells that impacted the different elements. Most witches had a particular strength that their powers centered on.”
“What about me being able to transcribe the scroll? Could any witch do that?”
John shook his head. “No. I would say you would be what used to be called a scribe witch. Your powers would center on the written word.”
“Do you think I can do other things?” Tessa held her breath.
John shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m surprised that you would develop powers this late in life. It could be from being around other magical beings. Maybe it sparked latent powers in you.”
“Possibly.” She stared at him for a moment. “Why are you being nice right now?”
“Because I know what it’s like to want answers. Don’t get used to it. So what does the heir apparent think of you being a witch.”
Why wasn’t she surprised he was asking about Adam. Were they that obvious in their feelings for each other? “He’s fine with it.”
John took a sip of his drink. “You’re the one who isn’t.”
“I don’t know what being a witch means. What if I hurt Megan or, God forbid, Bella or Lily.” Or Adam.
“Are you planning on hurting them?”
“Of course not!”
John poured more liquor into his glass. “Being a witch isn’t any different than being human or dragon. There are good and bad people. You choose your own path, whether you sprout wings or cast spells.”
“Who knew under all that curmudgeon-ness was a heart. Maybe you’re the Grinch?”
“This heart ain’t growing three times its size anytime soon.”
Tessa laughed and then turned as an SUV drove toward the cabin.
“Were you expecting someone?” John asked.
“No.”
The SUV came to a stop.
“Wonderful. Another surly Simonson, just like his brother, Eric. I hope there aren’t any more Simonsons that plan to show up here. I think I’ve had enough of this family.” From John’s wicked expression, he was getting ready to poke the bull. Or the dragon in this situation.
Adam climbed out like he was on some sort of mission. “Sorry I’m late. My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail.”