Read Blood Lines: Kallen's Tale (Witch Fairy #3.5) for Free Online

will get you to shut up I will say it.’
     
    “We trust our daughter.  You may not trust your grandson – even though you should, but I do.  He’s been a perfect gentleman,” Xandra’s father says.  And to think it was not that long ago that the man hated me.  I am grateful the tides changed and he is now on my side.
     
    This conversation is going nowhere good.  In an attempt to change the subject, I turn to the Angel, “Athear, your dinner smells delicious.”
     
    “Please, call me Lailah.  I believe I’ve left the life of Athear behind me.”  Lailah is her Angel name.  Athear was the name she took when she decided to Fall.
     
    The tactic works and everyone begins moving about the room again concentrating on dinner instead of whether or not Xandra and I have consummated our relationship.  The tension is still running high enough to have us all on edge, but no one is pulling magic.  Yet.  Given enough time, Grandmother’s somewhat abrupt, or it could even be called abrasive, personality will push most to a breaking point.  I guess she will find out soon enough that the threshold for Xandra’s breaking point is rather low as she adjusts to being magical.
     
    Dinner turns out to be uneventful.  Everyone is mostly quiet as we enjoy Lailah’s cooking made with somewhat fresh ingredients.  I am relieved every time I have something to eat in this realm that did not come from a can or a box.  When we have all finished up and cleared the table, Xandra volunteers us for dishes.  As much as I do not like doing dishes, it will give me the opportunity to apologize for Grandmother’s behavior.  Now all I have to do is find the right words.
     
    Xandra frowns up at me.  “Are you okay?”
     
    Straightforward is usually the best approach.  “I apologize for what my Grandmother said.  I did not realize that I wear my feelings for you so freely.”
     
    “What do you mean?”
     
    I mean I should have been more discreet so that Grandmother could not see the lust in my eyes.  “I should not have allowed my feelings to be so obvious.”
     
    Xandra has bewilderment all over her face.  “I thought she wanted us to get together?”
     
    I sigh and cock my head to the side.  “I believe she still does, but she does not want me to embarrass the family by being forced into a hand-fasting.  Fairies are supposed to have more self-control than Witches or Cowans.”
     
    I definitely said something wrong.  I hastily go back over my words as Xandra thankfully puts the sharp knife she is holding in the sink and then gives me a death glare.  “Are you saying that she would think that I would be the one pushing you into sex?  No, don’t answer that.  I so don’t want to have this conversation.” 
     
    I close my eyes and shake my head.  I am still an idiot.  I just succeeded in making a bad situation worse.  Xandra turns away from me and shoves her hand into the soapy water to get the next thing that needs to be washed. 
     
    I expected her to be slamming the dishes around in annoyance, so my attention is instantly captured when she becomes still.  Slowly, she raises both hands out of the water.  One is holding the handle of the knife she had put in the sink when we began talking.  The other is holding the tip of the knife.  Literally.  It has gone in through her palm and come out the other side.  In one of the calmest tones of voice she has ever used, she says, “Will you please ask my dad to come here?”
     
    I am thrown for a moment as I look at her hand again.  Yes, the knife is still there.  How can she be so calm at the moment?
     
    “Now would be great,” she says a little less calmly. 
     
    Waking myself up out of my stupor, I throw the towel I have been using to dry dishes onto the counter.  Turning on my heel, I go in search of her father who is now in the living room.  “Excuse me Mr. Smith, Xandra has managed to stab her hand all the way through with a sharp