Page 123 of Burning Embers
He’ll never admit it to anyone, but I suspect he’s afraid of witches and warlocks after what happened with that bitch Michelle.
Ashton quickly explains what he saw at the football stadium.
Izzy falling.
Her bones breaking.
And then Ansel, his hands emitting a strange light…
“We need to keep an eye on him,” Ashton finishes, leveling us all with a penetrating glare that dares us to argue. “An undocumented warlock could prove to be dangerous. Why is he here? Who is in his coven? Why didn’t we know he was a warlock beforehand?”
“Heisadopted,” I point out, wondering if that has a part to play in it.
Perhaps his adoptive parents don’t know the truth about him.
Hell, maybe he doesn’t even know the truth about himself.
“So keep an eye on Christian and Ansel…” Emery lazily spreads his arms over the back of the couch. Despite his nonchalant posture, his eyes remain sharp. Piercing. He volleys his gaze between Reid and Ashton. “Anything else we need to discuss?”
I can’t forget the way Reid was glaring at Ashton when they first stepped into the house. If something happened, we need to know.
But both Reid and Ashton stubbornly remain quiet.
I exchange a loaded look with Emery once more before the two of us immediately turn away from each other. Tension saturates the air, but I’m not sure where it’s coming from. Me and Emery…or Ashton and Reid.
Mates are supposed to bring packmates closer together.
Yet, if things keep going the way they are, there won’t be a pack for Izzy to unite.
How many times can something break before it's irreparable?
Forty-Two
IZZY
“Call me if those idiots don’t get their heads out of their asses.” Desiree gives me one last hug before stepping back. “I’m pretty good at castration.”
“Noted.”
She grins, wiggles her fingers in a wave, and then says, “Bye, Izzy.” Louder, she calls out, “And bye, Jake!”
Jake, who’s been hiding behind a pillar separating the living room from the entryway, pokes his head out with a decidedly sheepish expression at having been caught spying. “Bye, Desiree.”
My new friend chuckles as she walks outside, and I gently shut the door behind her.
As soon as the latch catches, Jake points an accusatory finger at my face. “I hate you, and you’re dead to me.”
I stick my tongue out. “Turnabout is fair play.”
Jake rakes his fingers through his blond hair with a dramatic groan. “I can’t believe I embarrassed myself like that in front of her.” He grabs a handful of hisSpongeBobpants as if the fabric has personally offended him. “Damn you, SpongeBob. Damn you to the deepest pit of hell where you belong.”
“It wasn’tthatbad,” I reason, snorting. “At least you didn’t have on yourMy Little Ponyshirt.”
Jake places a hand over his chest in mock horror. “How did you know about that?”
“I can’t give away all my secrets, now can I?”
“I’ll have you know, that was a gift from Lissa. What was I supposed to do? Burn it? You certainly haven’t seen an angry or depressed Lissa yet.” He shakes his head slowly.