I pause at the door, looking back at him.
“Yes?”
“Let Jayce know that if he fucking hurts you, I won’t care that he’s related to Azura. I will fucking castrate him.”
My eyes widen as I stare at him, paling. Why would he say that? Does he think we’re- Oh my gods!
“Er… there’s no need. When training, it’s obvious I can get hurt. That’s a bit-”
“You’re a smart girl, Sienna. You know exactly what I fucking mean.”
My heart thuds. How did he figure that out? But we’re notseeing one another! I’m only going to make matters worse, so I simply nod and turn, running from the room.
Oh gods, this is not good! I dare not tell Jayce what he said.
We had trainingat one point, but I was assigned to work out alone, which I appreciated. Even though it was hard to get everyone’s emotions out of my head, I did a little better than if I were on the mat. I ask to be excused twenty minutes in, and I’m relieved when I am granted it without any fuss.
Things have been a little awkward, and I notice the glances I’m getting, but there are fewer disdainful looks. I text Heaven about meeting up if she has a moment, but she’s probably busy with lessons and doesn’t reply.
Allie said she had magic classes, so she wasn’t with her either.
Aunty came to see me at break before she left, and I finally managed to catch Heaven at the end of lunch break when she came in late. I whisper a spell; it’s a bit of a struggle, but I manage, although I’m tempted to mute the entire room, the power calling to me. But I manage to only mask the two of us speaking as aimed, and even Heaven gives me a smile of approval.
“Hey, you ok?” I ask, knowing she’s been avoiding me. Allie had already eaten and left, but I waited, wanting to catch her.
“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?”
“Maybe because you and your mama argued?”
She frowns at me, and I put my arm around her as I follow her while she gets her food. Since the lunch hall will close in twenty minutes, there are no queues. Most of the students have cleared out, save a handful of stragglers.
“It was fine. She was just stressed because of her own trauma.” Heaven’s voice is clipped, but I know her better than that.
“But you’re upset,” I push gently, as I follow her to a table.
She looks at me and sighs. “Do you know what the problem is with our family?”
I shake my head. “They see themselves as werewolves when half of us aren’t. My mom knew when I was born that I was definitely a witch, yet she named me Heaven.”
“It’s a beautiful name.”
“It is, but it’s also as if they didn’t want to accept that their daughter is a witch. Most witches hold their witch names from birth, building that connection with their bloodline from childhood. Yet for our family, it feels as if we are wolves first, anything else second. Every witch has links to her ancestor’s magic, good or bad. Every. Single. Witch. channels that power, yet the moment I do, it’s looked down upon. I’m not stupid. I’m not going to use dark magic. But it’s like there’s a stigma, if a witch is powerful - Oh my Goddess, she must be using dark magic. If a wolf is powerful, it’s all - look at him, he’s so amazing. And this stigma? It’s not just Mom, it’s from everyone. I think she’s like that because she’s judged by others herself. And you know what irks me the most?” she asks.
I nod. “Tell me?” I say gently, glad she’s at least venting to me.
“When they need help, it’s us goddamn witches who areneeded all the bloody time!” She purses her lips, tossing her hair, and I tilt my head.
“I get it, I do… but I don’t think Aunty cared about the dark magic, but rather about you. She was worried something would happen toyou. Goddess, I swear if you needed to use dark magic to protect yourself, your mama wouldn’t say ‘oh my Goddess, why did you?’ She’d be proud and relieved that you protected yourself. That you’re safe,” I explain gently.
She lets out an ‘hmph’, rolling her eyes.
I reach over and take her hand. She tries to pull free, but I wrap both of mine around hers and tilt my head. “Honestly, I can vouch for them on that. Our mamas are pretty alone right now. They’re scared for us. I know that’s why I couldn’t tell them some things because I didn’t want to worry them. They don’t have a partner to lean on anymore. They’re alone, raising us all alone. They’re responsible for us, and they’re terrified for us.”
She sighs. “Maybe.”
“As for that stigma about witches, we’ll keep proving them wrong. Look around us. We go to school with witches. There was a time when witches were hated. Our own mamas faced that. Even Jaddati didn’t easily take to your mama being a witch. They saw the dark side of witches, and our mamas changed that outlook. My dad changed that…”
She cracks a small smile. “He did. I miss them. Dad and Uncle were the calm ones… I really, really miss them.”
