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Even though I’d asked them about going back their answers didn’t really matter to me because I had already made up my mind. No matter what I had to do I would never return to that place. I didn’t care if they tried to drag me, I would not be returning. Ever.
“A Forest Witch,” one of the men murmured quietly but I refused to look at them and focused on the cup in front of me like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. “Interesting. Thought they’d all been chased out of the woods and rounded up years ago.”
I had no idea what they were talking about but I was indeed what one would refer to as a zforest Witch since I was a witch and I had lived in the forest my whole life.
“You’ll never have to go back there again, girl,” Rain spat out so viscously that my head shot up and I shrank back into my chair to escape it. “We don’t tolerate abuse of any kind, especially not when it’s directed at our young female witches. Those responsible will pay for their part in your pain.”
I didn’t understand.
I didn’t want anyone to pay for anything, I just didn’t want to be sent back there for more of it. But I wasn’t so sure they deserved to pay for their treatment of me. They thought they were doing what was best for all of the people even if it meant I’d had to live a horrible life because of it. I wanted my people to live happy, fulfilled lives. I simply didn’t want it to be at my expense.
Why did I always have to pay the price for everything? When would it be someone else’s turn to suffer just a little?
That horrible thought made me feel like a terrible person. I was taught better than to wish ill on others and I shouldn't be doing it now, no matter how much pain and suffering I’d been forced to endure at their hands.
“Agreed,” Raven growled. “If she doesn’t want to go back then she’s more than welcome to stay here for as long as she likes. If she never wants to leave, well, that’s fine too. We don’t care.”
Rain glared at Raven from across the table. “She can go wherever the fuck she wants. She doesn’t owe you a goddamn thing simply because you’re the one who got her out of there. She might be a forest witch who clearly doesn’t know any better about certain things because of the way she was raised but she’s a free witch now and is free to come and go as she pleases. I realize she might not have a place to go because she doesn’t know anyone but she does have alternatives now. She’s welcome to stay with myself and my coven, she’ll be safe there. I also know my daughter will be more than happy to open up her home to the girl as well. And you damn well know she’d be more than safe with my daughter and her coven. She’s still a Council member and the closest thing we have to an authority figure right now.”
For the first time in my life I had options. But it also kind of sounded like I’d end up a burden no matter where I landed.
I just really wanted to be on my own for awhile. That didn’t sound like it was going to be an option for me though.
For once, I wanted to own my own future.
“She can go wherever the fuck she wants to go and stay wherever the fuck she wants to stay.” Raven snarled angrily as he leaned over the table threateningly and I thought maybe took his life into his own hands because Rain was clearly a dangerous man. “And the Council is good and dead. Your coven made damn sure of that. Your daughter might be a powerful witch but whatever power she had over the people died with the rest of the Council. Don’t you dare sit at my table in my fucking home and threaten me. And don’t you ever fucking threaten to take Autumn out of here or do anything at all with her. She’s a free woman and she’ll make her own decisions from here on out, and she’ll not be bullied into doing what you want her to. If you don’t like that then you can get the fuck out of my house.”
I stared at Raven with wide eyes and I worried my mouth was hanging open. I reached up with a shaking hand and ran my fingertips across my bottom lip. Yup, my mouth was definitely hanging open. I pushed my chin up and gently closed my mouth. I didn’t want them to think me dimwitted and a fool. I might have been both at times but I really did not want to appear to be either in front of these men for some reason. That was very important to me. I just wasn’t sure as to why. These men were complete strangers to me and yet their opinions of me very much mattered.
It was a very unfamiliar feeling to me to care about what others thought of me. I wished I didn’t care now. It would make my life so much easier. Rain threw back his head and laughed. I shifted my wide eyed look to him.
That man was clearly not right in the head and I wasn’t sure if I should run away from all of these people screaming. The problem was I had nowhere else to go. I was stuck here for the time being. Until they kicked me out or I wised up and ran away. Whichever one came first.
Strangely, it was me who Rain looked in the eye while speaking. “The balls on this one, girl. You’re gonna be in for a lifetime of it, you can trust me on this one. My daughter has got herself one just like him. Do yourself a favor now and if you don’t already have one get yourself a backbone. You’re going to need one.”
I frowned at him. “What do the size of his balls have to do with anything?” I was so confused, I had no idea what he was talking about. None of it.
They all burst out laughing and the tension faded away from the table and out of the room.
Now I was more confused than ever.
“Finish your coffee, sweet Autumn,” Raven demanded in a soft, gentle voice. “And after you eat we’ll give you a tour of your new home, however temporary or permeant you wish for that stay to be. And I’ll have lunch made for you so it’ll be done by the time the tour’s over. Is there anything you don’t eat that we should be made aware of?”
That was all very kind of him. I wondered why he was being so nice to a freak like me. Was he blind? Did he not see the strange markings on my face? Did he not find my different hair color strange and odd? I had been made fun of and picked on my whole life. Every single person found me strange and odd.
So why did this man look at me as if he didn’t see any of those things?
I cleared my throat again. “Food is a luxury not everyone can afford and that’s a lesson I’ve learned the hard way. I’ll eat whatever you offer to feed me and I swear, whether I like it or not, I won’t complain about it. I’ll simply be grateful for the meal.”
They were all quiet again and I worried I’d said something wrong or done something to displease them.
They all were looking anywhere but at me and none of them looked happy.
Oh well. I had food and a tour to look forward to and there was no talking of kicking me out just yet.
I’d take it. For now.
8
