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My heart warmed. I would have lost my mind if either of these two might die, too.
Like it or not, Kira was right. If there was even a chance that me and Ben could break the curse, we had a responsibility to investigate.
“I don’t know how we’re going to make that happen without our families finding out,” I said.
“You’ve got options,” Kira said. “Our covens would be a safe meeting space, and maybe even Janeira’s?”
“Maybe.” The idea made sense, but making it happen would take work.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I checked it. A text from Dad.
Come home when you can. It’s important.
Ihadn’t wanted to return home after Dad’s text, given what I suspected he wanted to talk about. I hadn’t exactly left on good terms with the family the night before. But we were past the cold-shoulder teen phase. If he wanted to talk, we would talk.
When I walked into his study, Dad sat at his desk, poring over a book with Sammie at his side. Another scented candle burned in a glass jar near his pen holder. That explained the lavender smell.
“What’s the emergency?” I asked as Sammie ran to greet me.
“Not an emergency, but urgent, perhaps.” Dad shut the book. “Could you close the door, please?”
I did so and sat in the nearest chair, fussing Sammie behind the ears.
“They’ve asked me to speak with you about last night,” Dad said.
Called it.
“You really upset Wendy last night with all this talk of reconciliation,” he said.
“I’m not trying to undermine anyone’s pain by suggesting it,” I said. “I’m trying to stop anyone else suffering the same thing.”
“That’s not how they see it.”
“They’re choosing not to see it that way, and apparently, so are you.”
“Not everyone’s going to agree with you always, Maeve.”
“I’m not a child anymore, Dad. I know that.”
“You’re my child, no matter how old you get. Your safety will always be my responsibility.”
I gestured at him. “Can you just get to the point of this so I can leave, please?”
I was sick of this lecture already.
Dad leaned on the desk with a sigh. “I couldn’t be prouder of you for uncovering what happened to Tyler and saving Michaela. But joining forces with Ben Everhart put you in real danger. You aren’t to go near him ever again, do you understand?”
There it was.
Despite knowing it was coming, disappointment rolled around in my gut. I thought that if anyone would want this feud to end, it was Dad. He had lost his wife to this stupid curse. Didn’t he want to avoid all that heartache for anyone else?
But the mob ruled here. They outnumbered me. I would just have to agree on the surface and do what I liked behind the scenes. It wouldn’t be the first time.
“Fine,” I said.
“Don’t sulk like that. Your intentions might be good, but yesterday was proof enough that Margaret Everhart would try to kill you even after you saved her son.”
“Can’t argue with that.” I took Sammie’s ears in my hands and massaged them.
