One
Skye
You’d thinkwitch hunts would have become less scary in the twenty-first century. People are enlightened, science has advanced to incredible heights, and superstitions have slowly faded into oblivion.
But right now, with a village full of sea dragons gathering to demand an explanation about me, nervous sweat trickles down my spine. Dragons despise witches, and I’ve been hiding among them for too long. The secret’s out.
I thought I could find happiness here in Amber Bay. I was wrong.
A clamoring starts outside, people shouting or arguing, but I can’t make out the words. Their tone is angry, though—this isn’t a peaceful gathering.
“Get away from the window,” Jack orders, his voice a deep growl.
My thoughts are sluggish with worry, so I just stare at him, bemused. What good will it do for me to stay away from the windows when the dragons could easily break in here? I’ve seen the evidence of their strength, and this beautiful wooden house won’t present a problem to them at all if they decide to enter.
He doesn’t wait for me to follow his command. He takes my hand and hauls me back toward Aiden’s desk. The office is large, but it suddenly seems small and claustrophobic with the angry mob outside the Lodge’s front door.
Aiden, the clan leader and the man who confuses me even more now that I’ve gotten to know him better, doesn’t show any emotions at all. His face is a stony mask. Minutes earlier, he’d accused me of deliberately leading my witch coven to the village by using a GPS tracker we’d found in one of the boxes my sister sent me from California. He smashed the device, and the broken pieces of plastic and wire now litter the office floor.
I track the bits with my gaze. Some have fallen on the thick carpet in front of the desk. I can’t seem to focus on anything but those shards, and somewhere in the back of my mind I know I’m in shock. My brain is trying hard to cope with this new threat on my life.
“We’ll protect you,” Jack says, backing me into the corner. “Skye. Look at me.”
I drag my gaze up. His beautiful gray eyes are wide and fierce, and I know he’d do anything to protect me. The thought tears me up inside: it has finally come to this.
Because of me, Jack—and others—will have to choose between their own people and awitch. And a useless one at that.
Just as Aiden claimed earlier, I haven’t made any progress on the protection spell I’m supposed to place around the village to prevent outsiders from coming in. And now I’ve put all the sea dragons in mortal danger because my old coven, my family who have cast me out, are after me.
No wonder they want me gone.
“Skye.”
Jack’s voice brings me back to the room. His forehead creases in worry, and I touch it with my thumb to smooth away the lines.
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “I knew this was coming.”
He opens his mouth to protest, but I slip out of his arms and stand beside Aiden. He doesn’t look at me but glances down at the crumpled piece of paper with my photo and the word ‘WITCH’ emblazoned on it. It’s what riled up the villagers—dozens of these were put into mailboxes and strewn around the village, as Jack’s sister, Maya, has informed us.
She’s peeking through the office door. “I think the coast is clear. We should get her out by the back door before they surround us.”
“No,” I say. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Jack touches my arm gently. “Baby, you have to. We’ll figure this out, but if the folks are angry, it might not be safe for you here. Witches aren’t—”
“I know,” I interrupt. “But where would we go?” I meet his eyes and I hate the worry and dismay reflected there. “We can’t run forever. They’d find us, or we’d have to leave Amber Bay for good.”
Ty appears at the door. “Then we’ll leave.”
He must have heard the tail end of our conversation. Two steps, and he’s beside me, joining Jack in glowering.
A muscle twitches in Aiden’s cheek at his words. “No one is leaving.”
“I’m glad we agree for once,” I murmur.
Ty faces Aiden with a deep frown. “You can’t be serious. How are you going to make sure she’s safe?”
“Nobody will harm her here.”
