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“Easy,” Freya told him. She tucked the gun into her waistband and held her hands up. “I just wasn’t feeling very welcome with this thing pointed at my face.”
“Have your jokes, witch,” he snapped. “None of us will be laughing for long.”
“Why?” I pressed.
Dad looked at Cadence. “She’ll come for her. It’s time.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Walker
“Cut the theatrics,” Freya snapped. “What do you know about Josephine?”
She appeared to be at the end of her patience with my father, who continued to stare at her like she was an invasive cockroach he’d like to step on. I thought he might refuse to speak to her altogether, but he finally replied.
“Not much,” he answered. “I didn’t even know that was her name. I only know of the curse.”
“What curse?” Cadence asked.
Dad wiped sweat from his brow and sighed.
“Why don’t we take this into the living room?” he asked. “I’d hate for our guest to feel unwelcome.”
Without another word, he grabbed his cup of coffee off the counter and headed into the living room. Like always, his gait was sluggish and messy. Watching him shift from hopeless drunk to ruthless hunter and back was disorienting.
After Cadence and I shared a confused look, we followed him. While Cadence eased into the rocking chair beside my father, Freya and I sat on the couch. We waited in strained silence, and my dad refused to meet my gaze.
“Start talking,” I ordered.
He sighed and looked at his coffee in distaste. I wanted to slap him. Now was not the time to be drinking anything stronger.
“You two know our family’s history?” Dad asked Cadence and me.
“Bits and pieces,” I answered.
He nodded. “The Reids have been witch hunters since long before Hol Creek was founded. And witches have lived in these mountains for even longer than that. It’s what drew us here—the magic in these mountains. We ensured that no humans were hurt to amass more power for them.”
He practically spat the last part at Freya, but she didn’t flinch.
“You didn’t always kill killers,” she argued. “No one’s innocent in a witch hunt.”
He kneaded his hands in his lap. “Things got out of control a few times.”
Freya scoffed but didn’t interrupt him again.
“So,” Cadence said. “Where do I fit into this?”
Dad stared holes into the floor.
“We were some of the most talented hunters for centuries,” he continued. “It’s no surprise that we acquired quite a few enemies in that time. Enemies that hadn’t found forgiveness by the time your ancestors decided to give it up.”
We all leaned forward in anticipation. I couldn’t remember a time I’d been so wrapped up in a conversation with my dad.
He took a swig of coffee. “Your great, great grandpa was the one who ended our dynasty.”
“How?” Cadence urged. The same question nearly tumbled from my lips.
“He fell in love with a witch.”
