Page 99 of The Witch’s Daughter

I still had enough energy to gasp. “They left you?”

“After I pulled an arrow from Horton’s flank and told them to go?” Her growl had none of its usual bite. “Yeah.”

I stared at the coagulating blood on my arm, feeling sick at the thought of those wolves being hurt. “Can you sense them? Are they safe?”

“I’m hoping they’ll find their way to Alpha Kera,” she said. “What about you? Can you connect with your pack?”

“No. They’re too far away.” I shut my eyes, trying again even though I knew it was useless. Why had I been so happy to get them out of my head for once in my life? I took it back now, and I wasn’t ashamed to say that I wanted my mom.

Except I didn’t want her or any other powerful witch near Vincent and his crazy ritual.

“You know…” Calla started. “You’d think that if you abandoned me to get laid by your mate, then you’d at least have sealed the bond so we could communicate with someone right now.”

I didn’t know where she found the energy to be angry, but it gave me another burst of adrenaline. “I already apologized for denying my soul-bound yet another time apparently so I could get back here to make sure you were safe.”

“Too little, too late,” she huffed.

“Like I was supposed to know the crazy cult leader would pick today to go off the rails?” It took an enormous amount of effort to push myself off her back and turn around.

Calla was slow-moving too. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?” Really, I was dying to hear this.

She glared at me. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Obviously it does.” I glared back.

“Years ago.” Something in her normally cool demeanor snapped as she slapped her hand against her heart. “You were my friend too. The only one who understood my curse and didn’t avoid me like I carried the plague because I might see their future. As soon as your magic failed, you ditched me.”

My jaw dropped. “You stopped talking to me right after my gram died.”

“You pushed me away.” Some of the fight drained from her as she lowered her gaze.

Did I?

I think you did.

I didn’t know anymore. Everything during that period was hazy. My grief became a wet blanket that muted sights and sounds, heavy to carry, and it felt like I carried it alone.

But maybe I did that to myself.

Getting older sucked when you were forced to examine all your faults and pick which ones to fix. Why were there so many of them?

I wanted to fix this one.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“I’m sorry too. I loved Lisa, and I should’ve tried harder to be there for you.” Calla wiped her hand over her eyes. “It doesn’t matter now. It’s in the past.”

“Still always looking to the future.” I chuckled to myself. This was the Calla I remembered. “Tell me, Seer. Do you know how we get out of this mess?”

I glanced down at my arm, amazed to see that the skin was stitching itself together now.

“The cage door is open,” Calla said.

“Really?” I asked, shocked she’d had a vision that quickly. “Can you see when? And by who?”

“Now, and by that girl.” Calla nudged my side.