“I actually like how she’s well-learned on spells,” Enrique says.
Heaven looks at him, and I hear her heart skip a beat. “So, can you be my mentor?”
Enrique looks surprised as Kataleya smiles, and everyone looks at Heaven.
“Opportunist,” Theo remarks.
“I take back what I said earlier. I’m not impressed. You just got lucky,” she says haughtily, tossing her hair before turning her gaze back to Enrique, clearly waiting for an answer.
“I may be the El Rey Carmesí, but I don’t know spells. Your mother is the one who might be the best to mentor you.”
“I see… Thank you,” Heaven replies. She tilts her head, but although she says nothing more, I know she’s thinking about something.
I give her hand a gentle squeeze under the table. I know why she wants a teacher who isn’t her mama. She wants someone who will push her to her limits, someone who won’t worry all the time.
“Maybe you can find another powerful witch to mentor you?” I suggest softly.
Heaven nods. “Yes, because I plan on becoming the most powerful witch this world has ever seen.”
Although a few of the elders chuckle at her confidence, something inside of me stirs, the hair on my arms rising.
Her words were like a promise, but they are laced with something else.
Something… deadlier.
Colliding ofWills
Jayce
Dinner is over, and Leo and Azura arrived a short while ago with Kai, their older kids left at home. Katara’s taken Sienna and the other two girls up to her room. Kataleya and Azura are in the kitchen helping Mom and Grandma clean up, whilst the rest of us, aside from Carter, are sitting in the lounge. He’s been pissed ever since I said I don’t want everyone who is able to be allowed to read the tomes. Uncle Damon showed up not long ago as well, and he’s now sitting with us.
“I’m with Jayce on that one, the fewer who know the better, especially when we can share what will be knowledgeable with everyone and keep what needs to be kept a secret to be known only by a select few. But not so few that if something were to happen that the knowledge would be lost,” Leo says, almost reaching for a cigarette, but instead letting out an exasperated sigh. Both Mom and Grandma are in agreement that they don’t like the smell of smoke in the house.
“I understand that point, but they are your brothers, Jayce.” Dad now looks at me, concern in his eyes.
I frown slightly. “I know.” But it fucking hurts that I can’tshare why I made that decision. My intuition isn’t wrong. I need to keep this to myself only… I know that. It’s just how I know something is up with Sienna, and that’s fucking freaking me out.
Theo shrugs. “I’m all good with it. Reading means concentrating. Reading means more homework. In a world of Jayces, be a laid-back Theo.”
Ahren chuckles. “That’s one way to look at it.”
“I see that, but this is about more than just what’s safest. It’s about trust,” Dad says, his eyes full of worry. It only makes me feel guiltier, especially since the five of us have always been tight – despite our differences.
Uncle Damon leans forward. “I get that, but I think what your dad is trying to say is trust in your bond as brothers. That always goes a long way.”
I look up at him as he and Dad exchange a look of understanding. Those two aren’t brothers by blood, but aside from that, their bond is strong; even when there was a time when that bond came close to being destroyed for good, they worked past that.
“I understand what you two are trying to say, but this is more than my opinion. It’s my instinct,” I say quietly.
The room falls silent, and Ahren and Theo glance at Dante as if he knows what I mean. Dante doesn’t react. Sipping on a milkshake Grandma had made, he looks at us but doesn’t say anything.
“Jayce’s call, as we said earlier. The boys will have to understand,” Grandad says with finality.
“Well, I think Elijah should be in the group, and you’ll need trusted sources to get it all written up. I can suggest some, and you can agree or disagree,” Leo says as he sits back and looks atme, his eyes sharp.
“Sure,” I agree.
“Alejandro, Jax, Damon, Enrique, Royce and Raihana.”
