Forgotten Witch : A Lia Miller Series

by Sara Stone

  “What?” His eyebrows knit together, and he couldn’t figure out whether to look at me or the road.

  “I mean, usually you’re all macho and grouchy, telling me what I can and can’t do. This morning you are walking on eggshells and acting like I’m going to go all silent monk on you again. The shit I saw yesterday is messed up beyond belief and I don’t want to be alone. But I really need things to just be normal.” I huffed out a big breath, trying not to sound as pathetic as I felt. “Please,” I whispered it and felt like if he coddled me one more time, I would break permanently.

  To my relief, he nodded and his lips picked up into a smile before he dared ask a question. I watched as he seemed to settle on which direction to go with the way he was treating me. He had to understand that I would feel worse if he acted utterly different around me.

  “So, tell me, what is normal to you?” He kept playing up the word normal. We both knew that was out the window, but I would play along.

  “I think normal would be getting a hazelnut latte, a cheese danish, and figuring out how to verbalize all the craptastic things I have questions about. From there, I don’t know what it is.”

  “We can do that. I’ll text everyone to head over when they can.”

  After filling my belly with sugar and caffeine, we all sat around the living room, while I tried to find the right way to voice all my questions. Hattie was practically sitting in my lap, as simply holding my hand didn’t seem to make her feel like she was being comforting enough. She had asked no less than half a dozen times if I was alright.

  “Lia, can you tell us what happened?” She nodded with encouragement as I stammered out the details of what happened when I left. Relaying what had, everything minus all the gory details. I had been causally dating a demon who wanted me for my power and finding out that same demon killed my gram. I wanted to throw up as my mouth formed the words.

  No one had expected any of it, and yet none of them seemed to be surprised either. The whole time I had thought she died naturally. It never even crossed my mind that someone had selfishly taken her away from me.

  “How…I mean…why…I don’t even know where to start.”

  “Lia, your gram hid you because the power in your line of witches is renown. If she thought that someone like him was after you, it would take everything, short of her death, for you to be found.”

  “Do you think that’s why my mother was there?” My throat constricted, and it hurt to talk through the lump that formed as I held my tears back.

  “It’s quite possible. It’s hard to say what his motive was. If he was powerful enough to come off as human, especially in front of Ronan and Judson, he didn’t really need your power.” Ulric had been reserved, listening intently, and finally, only now, offered his thoughts about Brad.

  “What do you mean about Judson and Ronan?” I looked at Hattie, who shrugged, then to Rose, who avoided my eyes. Ulric looked sick with his fumble, while both Ronan and Judson glared him down. Letting my anger take over where the sadness was seemed easier than baring my feelings.

  “Can someone please tell me what I am constantly missing with you two?” I stood up, walking over to face off with Judson. Being shorter, it was actually more me looking up at him, but I was tired of the secrets, so my anger had me feeling taller.

  He grabbed my arms gently and walked me back until the couch hit the back of my knees, making me sit down. He sat on his haunches, putting us closer to eye level. His lips were pursed so hard they were wrinkled, making me think he wasn’t going to say anything.

  “I’m…We…We’re shifters.” He held solid eye contact, watching as his words sunk in. I was not even sure either of us blinked as I ran his words through my head a few times, rolling them over. I thought Brad being a demon was my breaking point, and yet here I was, struggling to understand what this revelation meant.

  “So, both men that I have kissed this past week haven’t been human,” I said, sarcastically, “I must be a magnet for disaster.”

  “I am just as human as you are. You don’t get to put him and me in the same category,” He snapped, as he stood up and backed away. Me and my big mouth had hurt his feelings. I hadn’t intended to insult him, but they had to understand how hard it was to learn all this. Not just learn it, but accept it.

  “I…that’s not…” I wasn’t sure if it was what I meant. I was irritated, but also not trying to offend him.

  “Judson, give her a break.” Rose scowled at him, and he had the decency to look sorry.

  “Did you know, Hattie?” I turned to look at her, noticing the blush spread across her face, giving me the answer. I wanted to be mad at them all for keeping this secret, but it had not been hers to share.

  “I just recently found out.” She looked across the room at Ronan. His tense features softened when he gazed back at her. I hid my smile that instantly showed up, seeing them look at each other with such fondness.

  I looked to Ulric with my eyebrows raised in a silent question. The book. He was in it. It had to be. We were all something extraordinarily supernatural, but he alone could heal with potions or his hands. There was no way he was a warlock or shifter, but something else. Ulric shook his head ever so slightly, and I took that as a sign that now was not the time to bring it up.

  “I forgot to ask about the vampires. Does this mean we have issues with Aldon? How were so many vampires there yesterday without him knowing?” I asked, looking around at everyone. I know I had been exhausted and weak, but I know I saw him there.

  “We have a meeting with him soon. He assured us, and wanted us to inform you, that there is no bad blood between the witches and vampires. Finding them all in one spot to be disposed of helped him get control of his area again.” Ulric said, giving me a small smile. He was still impressed with me. I had lost control of my magic repeatedly, but held my own until they all arrived. If he had chosen not to train me, I would not have made it. We both knew it, but he would not bring it up.

  “You won’t be going alone or inviting him over here,” Judson said, while Ronan and Ulric’s heads bobbed in agreement. Hattie squeezed my hand to acknowledge the testosterone surge in the room. I just about lost it to a fit of giggles with her.

  I looked around at the people who had suddenly become so important to me. I had no intention of coming back and staying before, but there was no other choice now. No matter how weird, growly, or witchy any of them could be, or how lost in the new world I might become, these were my people. I had some work to do on myself after the mess in the warehouse, but I knew they would be there to help me.

  About the Author

  Sara Stone had always felt the pull to write, never quite thinking that being published was a realistic goal until loved ones read the draft of her debut novel.

  With their enthusiasm, she jumped right into sharing it with the world. Creating, anything really, is her love language. Crafts, food, writing...

  She strives to help her readers live 1000 lives, fall in love, and believe in magic one page at a time.

  Social Media

  You can get in touch or follow Sara with the links below.

  Facebook

  Instagram

  Sara also loves to hear from her readers! You can email her at fablewriterstone@gmail.com