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

to be proactive instead of reactive?” 
     
    Her mother narrows her eyes at her.  “Being proactive and going on the offensive are two different things.” 
     
    I do not believe her mother made the distinction she set out to make.  It certainly has not convinced Xandra of anything different.  “If I know someone wants to come after me, why should I have to wait until they use their magic first?  Why can’t I go to them?”
     
    “Because we didn’t raise you to be a psychopath,” her father says.  There is a twinkling in his eye that indicates he is teasing her.  Good for him.  Comic relief is something this conversation could definitely use.
     
    “I feel helpless waiting around, hoping that I’ll be able to defend myself from whatever someone throws at me next.  Maybe if I’m a little more threatening, people will leave me alone.”  I do not think she truly believes that but I am impressed by her expressed optimism.  To Grandmother, she adds, “I won’t go if you don’t agree to this.”
     
    Xandra looks so cute trying to be tough and stare Grandmother down.  Threatening is not a look she can pull off.  But Grandmother is not a stupid woman.  Xandra may not be threatening but there is a strong thread of stubbornness laced through her words.  One strong enough it is easy to see that she is serious.  If Grandmother does not agree, Xandra will not go.  Trying to smile like she means it, Grandmother says, “That seems reasonable.”  Her eyes belie the truth of her words. 
     
    “Then we can leave in the morning?” Xandra says.  I do not think she meant that as a question, especially when she adds in a firmer voice, “We should probably get an early start.”
     
    “Xandra…”  I believe her mother may actually be planning Xandra’s death.  At the very least a long internment in this house.
     
    Xandra’s father jumps in, probably saving his daughter’s life.  He gives her mother a new target for her anger.  “Julienne, we have to let her go.  We discussed this at length earlier.”
     
    She turns her angry eyes towards him.  “We did not come to an agreement.”
     
    “Mom, I would rather do this with your support than without it.”
     
    Her mother closes her eyes and takes several calming breaths which looks odd since she cannot actually breathe.  Eventually, she turns to Grandmother.  “If you let anything happen to my daughter, I will kill you.”  There is a pretty strong promise in her words.  I believe she would actually find a way to do that.
     
    If nothing else, Grandmother knows when to be gracious.  “I understand.  I would feel the same way.”  Turning to Xandra and me, she says, “We should leave bright and early tomorrow, so we will need much rest this evening.  Perhaps it is time to turn in.”
     
    Yes, we often go to bed at eight o’clock back home.  I just shake my head and keep my mouth shut.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    “Okay,” Xandra says and grabs my hand.  It takes a moment to register in my mind what she is doing.  She is leading me to her bedroom.
     
    We get about three steps when Grandmother stops us with words icier than an arctic freeze.  “Kallen.  Where do you think you are going?”
     
    Oh how I wish I could put a muzzle on Xandra at times like these.  She is completely oblivious to how angry grandmother is.  She must be because she says as if Grandmother is dense, “To my room.”
     
    “Why would you do that?  Has he left something in there?”
     
    I squeeze Xandra’s hand in an effort to prevent the volcanic eruption that is about to spew from Grandmother’s mouth.  With furrowed brows and a distinct ‘are you stupid’ look on her face, Xandra says, “No, because he’s going to sleep in there.”  Obviously, I was not successful in communicating through the hand squeeze.
     
    Grandmother’s eyes move slowly to me.  I believe they move so slowly because they have