Garrett coughed, trying to suppress a smile. “Sienna, I have a few things to do around town. We’ll talk later.” He looked at Mom. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thank you.” Mom smiled at Garrett. Once they’d left the room, she looked at me. “Is there something going on between you and that warlock?”
“No.” I shook my head. “You know I’m in love with Kaleb. Garrett and I are just friends.”
“You’re friends with a warlock? How does Kaleb feel about that?”
“He’s dealing with it, but he doesn’t know…I haven’t told him the truth about me.”
“I’m sorry.” She took a deep breath. “We should talk about it when I get out of this hospital. I know—”
“We can talk freely. Calandra’s put a blocking spell on this room.” I touched her hand again, worried talking about it might put too much stress on her. I needed answers, but Mom needed to rest. “If you’re not feeling up to it, we can talk later.”
“I feel fine.” She glanced at the walls; her expression wary. I couldn’t blame her. The symbols had disappeared, which must be part of the spell’s process. “What was Calandra doing here?”
“You weren’t doing well after surgery. I asked Kaleb to bring her, so that she could help you.”
Mom’s hoarse laughter filled the room. “You asked an olden to drag a High Council witch to my hospital room?”
“Yes.”
“I wish I’d seen that. You’re so much like Marie. I…” She wiped away the tears that trickled down her cheeks. “Marie Dinescu is your birth mom.”
“I know. Calandra told me.”
“I’m sorry. I should have told you the truth, especially after we moved to Woodlake. But you didn’t have any powers, and I thought I was doing the right thing. I never expected the witches to come for you. When you fell in love with Kaleb, I know I should’ve stopped it, but I’d never seen you so happy. He truly loves you, and I wanted him to protect you. I hoped your secret would always be safe. I didn’t think…” She burst into tears.
“Mom, it’s okay.” I patted her hand, wanting her to stop crying. None of this was her fault. She’d done her best, and even if she had forbidden me from seeing Kaleb, I wouldn’t have listened. “I know you were only trying to protect me.”
“Will you ever forgive me?”
“I already have.” I grabbed tissues from the nearby table and handed them to her. “Please stop crying.”
“I thought you hated me.” She wiped her face, crumpling the tissues in her hands.
“Well, I was mad at you, but you’re still my mom.”
“Oh, Sienna.” She held out her arms, and I stood to embrace her. We hugged, holding each other tight.
I pulled out of her arms and sat back down. “Did you know Marie well?”
“We were best friends when we were very young, but when her powers surfaced, she changed. She moved to Dover and joined the coven when she was twelve. I saw her a few times after that, but she refused to talk to me. She said I was a nobody because I wasn’t a witch. I heard rumors she’d dabbled with dark magic and made a deal with the devil.” She touched my hand when she saw the horrified look on my face. “I know it’s not what you wanted to hear, but—”
“It’s okay.” I shook my head. I’d expected Mom to say Marie was a sweet and kind witch. Not a cruel one who’d used dark magic. I didn’t even know what dark magic was, but it must be bad if Marie had dealt with the devil. “What kind of deal did she make?”
“I don’t know. It was just a rumor. I don’t even know if it’s true. The important thing is she loved you.”
I sat up straighter, thinking back to my conversation with Calandra. “Do you know why she gave me up?”
“Yes.” Mom hesitated. “She had a vision of you surrounded by fire. So, when I heard she died in a fire, I knew she’d saved you. You were supposed to die with her, and she couldn’t let that happen.”
That didn’t sound so evil. “Did she tell you who my father is?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I hadn’t talked to Marie in fifteen years. Then one day, she showed up on my doorstep. She insisted I raise you as my own daughter. She said it was the only way to keep you safe. So, I packed my belongings and left town. I met your dad not long after, and he fell in love with both of us.”
“Didn’t she have any sisters or brothers?”
“No. Marie had no siblings. She had an uncle, but I heard he died a few years ago.”
I sank back in the chair, saying nothing. It had only been a week since I’d overheard Mom and Calandra arguing about me. This was all too much to take in.
“Sienna.” She tapped the side of the bed to get my attention. “I need to know what Calandra did when she came here.”
“She performed a healing spell, and we talked.”
Mom’s gaze lowered to my hands as if she already knew what I’d been hiding. “Did you agree to a blood oath?”
“I had no choice.”
“Of course you didn’t. The witches always require payment. What did you promise?”
“It’s not a big deal. She didn’t ask me to sacrifice my first-born or anything,” I joked, trying to make light of the situation because Mom looked worried. “I just have to go meet the High Council.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes. She’s hoping I’ll join the coven, but it’s my decision whether I stay or leave.”
Mom exhaled loudly. “That doesn’t sound so bad, but you need to hide that red line around your finger. You can’t let anyone see it. Get a ring from my jewelry box at home and wear it until you’ve fulfilled your oath. If Kaleb sees it, he’ll—”
“I’ll wear a ring, but I’m telling him the truth. I have to.”
“I know. He loves you, and I’m sure he’ll accept it once he realizes you didn’t know anything. It might take some time though. You’ll need to be patient.”
Her words surprised me. Unlike Calandra, who’d insisted Kaleb would kill me, Mom believed he might eventually be okay.
“Why did you tell Calandra I used a love spell on him?”
“She told you I said that?”
I nodded. “Something about me finding Marie’s grimoire and playing around with a love spell. I told her it was true but that I hadn’t known what I was doing.”
“I never said that. Calandra’s lying.” She clasped her hands together in her lap and sighed. “She was probably fishing for information on Marie’s grimoire. I’m sure she’d love to get her hands on it.”
“What’s a grimoire?” The word sounded familiar. Perhaps it was something I’d read in a book or seen on a television show.
“It’s a book of spells and potions. Every witch has one, and it’s passed down from generation to generation. Marie gave me hers for safekeeping, but I only remembered last week when I was in Dover. She must have put a spell on me to make me forget until you needed it. A witch’s grimoire can be dangerous in the wrong hands.”
“Where is it?” I asked. Maybe it had my father’s name written in it.
“It’s somewhere safe. I’ll show it to you when I get out of here.” She glanced over at the door when someone knocked. “There’s one more thing you need to know. Marie didn’t trust the High Council witches, not even Calandra. That’s why she gave you to me. You can’t trust any of the witches, including Garrett. Don’t ever forget that.”
“I won’t,” I said as the door opened and Mom’s doctor entered the room.
“Nells, you’re looking fantastic,” the doctor said as he picked up her charts. He flipped through the pages as he prattled on about follow up and the importance of resting.
My gaze drifted to the open door and came to rest on Kaleb, who sat in one of the chairs in the hallway. He had his eyes closed and his hands folded on his lap. Would he still want to marry me after he learned the truth? Would he accept the real me? A Romani witch with no powers and who knew nothing about being a witch.
Chapter 23
Later that afternoon, Uncle Henry and Aunt Norma called in to say goodbye to Mom. The doctors in Woodlake were transferring Mom to her doctor’s care at St. John’s Hospital. Mom’s doctor in Dover had insisted it happen immediately. Although she’d said she was feeling fine, he still wanted her there. The sooner, the better.
I tried not to worry, but it was hard. I didn’t like that her doctor wanted her to leave right away. Had her cancer returned? At least Uncle Henry didn’t argue with me when I told Mom I’d visit her later in the week. The trip would also allow me to fulfill my blood oath to Calandra, so that I could get this red line off my finger.
After Uncle Henry and Aunt Norma had said their goodbyes and headed home, Victor and Drina arrived at the hospital and met us by the ambulance that was transporting Mom to Dover. I stood near Mom’s gurney while the medic went back into the hospital to grab her paperwork.
Kaleb and Carmel stood by Victor’s car, discussing the details of Mom’s trip. At my request, Kaleb had asked his sister to go to Dover with Victor. They’d follow the ambulance in his car and return late tonight.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Mom covered my hand with hers as she glanced over at Kaleb. “Maybe I should call my doctor. Tell him I can’t come until tomorrow.”
“We’ve talked about this already.” I patted Mom’s hand. “I’ll be fine, and I’ll come see you in a few days.”
“Make sure you call me tonight. No matter how late it is.” Mom took a deep breath. She was nervous about me talking to Kaleb, but she knew I had Calandra’s potion to immobilize him.
“I will,” I replied as the medic returned with her paperwork.
“Kaleb,” Mom called.
Kaleb walked over to the back of the ambulance and stood next to me. He placed his hand on top of ours on the gurney. “Yes, Nells?”
“Promise me you’ll take care of Sienna. You won’t let anyone hurt her,” she pleaded.
“I promise,” Kaleb replied.
One of the medics walked up to the other side of Mom’s gurney. “We need to get going.”
I gave her a quick hug, then watched Kaleb and the medic load her into the ambulance. “Make sure you get plenty of rest and listen to your doctor. I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too.” Mom waved as the medic sat next to her.
Kaleb closed the ambulance doors and slipped an arm around my waist. “She’ll be okay.”
“I know,” I replied, wishing I hadn’t made dinner plans with Uncle Henry and Aunt Norma. I wanted to tell Kaleb the truth now, not in five hours. At least Drina was coming to her parents’ house with me. She’d even made a berry trifle dessert with blueberries and strawberries to commemorate the fourth of July.
The ambulance pulled away from the hospital and headed down the road.
“I’ll call you when we get to Dover. Promise.” Victor kissed Drina goodbye and got into his car, and she walked over to the jeep to wait for me.
Carmel said nothing as she got into the passenger seat and stared straight ahead. She had no idea I was the reason she was going to Dover. Of course, Markus had been my first choice, but Victor had refused to leave me without a chaperone.
As Victor drove out of the parking lot, Kaleb and I walked to the driver’s side of the jeep.
“So, I’ll see you at the café in two hours?” He kissed my forehead.
“Yes,” I replied. “Don’t forget we need to talk later. It’s important.”
“I’m all yours for the night.” Kaleb grinned and gave me a quick kiss before strolling off toward Main Street. The Town Council needed to talk to him about something, so he wasn’t joining us for dinner as planned. He also wanted to check on Calandra and Garrett. Today was their deadline to leave town.
“I’m glad you guys have made up,” Drina said as she opened the passenger door. “Oh, I left the keys in the ignition for you.”
“How about you drive us home?” As I walked around to the other side of the jeep, Drina’s face lit up.
“Are you sure?” She bounced from foot to foot, bursting with excitement.
“Of course. You drove here. Why not drive us home?”
Drina hurried to the other side and jumped into the driver’s seat as I got in and closed the passenger’s door. As she slowly drove out of the parking lot, I stared out the window and thought about Kaleb checking on the witches.
I’d hoped to see Garrett before he left town, but he hadn’t come back to the hospital. Perhaps Calandra had told him I was coming to Dover, so saying goodbye hadn’t seemed a priority.
Later that evening, I parked the jeep near the café. Main Street was already crowded, and they’d roped it off between the café’s parking lot and the ferry’s dock, where locals and tourists had already set up folding chairs. The fireworks were due to start in an hour, and from what Uncle Henry had said at dinner, the show would be spectacular.
As I locked the jeep, two police cars caught my eye. They were parked by the town square, alongside several trucks. Nearby, a group of men carrying crossbows and guns huddled under a streetlamp, talking to the wolf trackers and the biologist.
I entered the café, hoping to find Kaleb, but he was nowhere to be seen. A few tourists sat at the tables near the front window, and Bill stood at the register, looking at a receipt.
“Have you seen Kaleb?” I asked, hoping he had nothing to do with whatever was going on in the square. The last thing I needed was for him to cancel our plans. “We’re supposed to meet here at eight to watch the fireworks.”
“He should be out front talking to the sheriff. Did you check the outdoor seating area?” Bill glanced up at me.
“Not yet. Do you know what’s going on outside with those men and the crossbows?”
Bill’s gaze drifted to the two locals sitting at the front counter. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
“Well, if Kaleb comes in, tell him I’m outside.” I opened the door to the outdoor seating area. Whatever was going on at the town square was definitely something to worry about if Bill didn’t want to say anything in front of the locals.
Tourists filled the outdoor area, waiting for the fireworks show to start. But there was no sign of Kaleb or the sheriff. Maybe they’d been walking to the town square as I parked, and we’d somehow missed each other.
I made my way to the sidewalk in front of the café and walked toward the square, determined to find Kaleb and discover what was going on. As I drew closer, I spotted him. Dressed in jeans and a black shirt, he stood near one of the trucks, talking to the sheriff and several guys from Norwood Isle.
“Sienna,” Garrett called out to me.
I hurried across the street, surprised to see him standing by his car on Main Street. Did Kaleb realize Garrett was still in town? “I thought you’d left already?”
“I couldn’t leave without saying bye to my favorite wolf girl.” He winked at me.
I rolled my eyes at his use of the locals’ nickname for me. Leave it up to Garrett to find it amusing. “Where’s Calandra?”
“She left after lunch, said something about important stuff to take care of.”
“Did she say anything else?” I glanced in Kaleb’s direction. He was still talking to the sheriff.
“No.” Garrett rubbed his jaw, looking at me with suspicion. “Is there something I need to know?”
“Not that I’m aware of.” I tucked my hands in the back pockets of my jeans, trying to look casual and relaxed. Calandra mustn’t have told him about the blood oath, which meant he didn’t know I’d see him at the coven.
“Do you know what’s going on in the square?” He folded his arms.
“No.” As the men holding the crossbows continued to stare at the Norwood staff, an uneasy feeling settled in my chest. “Who are those men?”
“They’re vampire hunters.”
My eyes widened. “Is that really a thing?”
“Yes.” Garrett straightened. “Kaleb’s heading this way. I’m going to grab snacks for the ride home.”
“Wait.” I touched his forearm, realizing I’d never asked him about the vampire. “Why did you lie to the Elders when they asked you about the vampire?”
“What do you mean?”
“The wolf that attacked your car. You must’ve seen its red eyes too,” I replied. “I’m not mad at you. I was just wondering why you lied.”
“I didn’t lie to the Elders.” He shook his head. “I didn’t see a tatcho vampire that night.”
Kaleb appeared next to me, slipping an arm around my shoulders as he looked at Garrett. “Are you staying for the fireworks?”
“No,” Garrett said. “I was just saying bye to Sienna before I left town. Is that a problem?”
Kaleb’s jaw twitched. “No.”
Garrett crossed the street and entered the store next to the café.
“Was he trying to convince you to leave with him?” Kaleb stepped away from me and leaned against Garrett’s car.
“Of course not.” I raised my eyebrows. “Weren’t you listening to us?”
“No.” He scratched his chin. “I know you don’t like it when I eavesdrop, so I didn’t. I’ve also ordered the Norwood wolves to not listen to your conversations unless they think you might be in danger.”
I smiled and gave him a quick kiss, not quite believing he’d done that for me. It must have been hard not to listen in when he’d seen me talking to Garrett. I glanced over at the town square again. “What’s going on?”
“It’s a scouting party. One of the trackers thinks he saw a wolf with red eyes. He’d been drinking, so it’s probably nothing. But they want to double-check the woods.”
A shiver ran down my spine. “The Norwood wolves are joining the search?”
“It’s the Town Council’s condition. That’s why they wanted to meet with me,” he replied. “I’m taking Markus and two other wolves with me. The rest will stay here to keep an eye on everyone.”
“What about the vampire hunters?” I glanced at them again, not liking how they kept such a watchful eye on the Norwood wolves. “Do they know about the shapeshifters?”
Romani Witch (Shifter Blood: Romani Curse Book 2) Page 16
