Read Online Witchling (Curse of Kin) by Ari Harper - Free Book Online Page B

watched the tension fade from Bones face as Brie was led away. He looked up and saw me watching him. A flush rose up on his pale skin. I think he realized that his emotions were unguarded enough for me to see. I raised my eyebrows at him, then smiled, lifting one finger up to show I had scored a point against him. The blush on his skin faded quicker than it had risen, his mouth now set in a grim line.
    I felt Sully come up and lean against me. “Wow,” he whispered into my ear. “It would seem that your protector is scared of our Brie.”
    “Wouldn’t you be if you didn’t know her?” The thought did amuse me, though. Bones looked so untouchable and strong, and Brie’s advances had scared the shit out of him.
    Jasper had managed to move Brie’s focus from Bones to the bigger picture, and she was listening to him talking of the curse and the involvement of the gods. I heard him mention the word “secret” more than once and noticed how attentive she had become.
    “What about the Others?” Brie asked Jasper. “That’s the part I find really exciting.”
    “You are just plain weird,” Sully retorted, joining in the conversation. “This isn’t a bloody game like your tarot cards, you know. This is serious stuff. People’s lives are at stake.”
    “Get a grip. You know she doesn’t really mean it.” I jumped to her defense.
    “How do you know?” Sully tilted his head in her direction but looked at me.”She’s always going on about covens and spells and hanging bloody crystals everywhere. What makes you think she won’t lose the plot and blab to someone?”
    Brie glared at him with her hands on her hips. “For God’s sake, Sully. I can tell the difference between good and evil, you know. I just wish that I could be the one with the power.” She quickly added, “Not that I mind it being you, Nera. It’s just that I wish I had something.”
    I gazed at Brie, my friend from the day we were born. I looked at her dismayed face and wondered why it was me that had the power and not someone like her who reveled in magic and spell books. “Oh, Brie, you are special! You and Sully are two of the most important people to me, you know that. You always do the right thing and are always there for me. I couldn’t ask for better friends. You guys are here with me now, and you know how Mom always says things happen for a reason.”
    “Be nice if we knew what it was,” Brie mumbled, dropping her head to her chest with a sigh.
    Jasper placed his arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug. “How would you kids like to read some of my dear wife’s diaries? You might learn a little about what life was like back then. I have had the diaries scanned, and they’re all on disc now.”
    “Oh, Jasper.” Brie turned her face up to beam a sudden smile at him. “That would be so interesting. Don’t you think so, Nera?”
    “If that’s okay with you, Jasper, we’d love to read them.” I wanted to talk to Jasper alone but that would have to wait until another day. Maybe I would run by tomorrow morning and chew on his ear. That’s if his new friend wasn’t around. “It’s getting late, so I suggest we get the discs and head back to my house.”
    ***
    We found Mom at the table with a cup of coffee and the paper. Her face lit up when she saw us walk in. “Hi, guys. There’s cold juice in the fridge and chocolate cake in the tin on the counter if you are hungry.”
    “Thanks, Mom. Where’s the serial pest?” I asked, throwing my bag in the corner. “Not in my room I hope.”
    “No, dear. He’s next door with Mrs. Freeman. He thinks he is helping her in the garden, pulling out weeds. I think that she just likes the company, even when he pulls out her seedlings. They are good for each other, and I get to read the paper in peace. Win-win all around.”
    She smiled, laid the paper down, and watched as I took the cake out of the tin and cut three big slices. I reached for a plate from the overhead cupboard and