Read The Witch for Free Online Page B

curious about this. Shall we?” He stepped through with all the confidence of an all-powerful Laquazzeana.
    Jushua followed. He had some serious questions. The witch needed to answer them.
     
    **
     
    She held her mother tightly, knowing the other woman was terrified out of her mind. But Renee Ramsey Nellano was also the bravest woman Loren had ever known. Her mom kicked ass, and didn’t bother taking names. She just kicked; especially where Loren was concerned.
    There wasn’t anything her mother wouldn’t do for her, and Loren knew it.
    When the ether around them cleared, Loren took one look around and laughed. Laughed so hard she almost fell over.
    Sometimes the Fates really came through…
    And then she stepped aside, because she knew the men they’d just left would be right behind them.
    “Well. So here’s where the party’s been all along. And I must have missed the invite.”
    The room was filled with people. Silent people.
    Three that she recognized—Jade, Becca, and…Mara.
    Her three closest friends. All in one place. Jade and Becca didn’t surprise her—Jade was Dardaptoan vampire and Becca Lupoiux werewolf—but Mara…
    Loren had been concerned for her friend when Mara and her family had disappeared months ago. She’d known Mara was part Dardaptoan and had suspected Lupoiux, as well.
    But Mara hadn’t known. And it wasn’t Loren’s place to tell her.
    The sweet soul that her friend was would have to have been terrified and shocked when she found out. “Mara, thank the stars you are safe. I was worried.”
    “Loren.” Jade was staring. “Loren. How did you get here? And where is—“
    “Your husband will be along in a minute; he was right behind me.”
    “Hello, Mrs. Nellano. It’s good to see you again.” Becca stood and hugged Loren’s mother. Becca had been Loren’s first college roommate. Her cousin Jade had been across the hall, with Mara. The four of them had been friends from their first day at the University of Colorado. They’d traded roommates off and on throughout the four years they’d spent in college, but always they were near each other. Other than her mother, she’d never been closer to anyone in this lifetime.
    Like had drawn like, after all.
    Loren’s mother had taken to putting Becca’s favorite cookies in the care package she’d sent to Loren once a week. She’d felt for Becca, knowing Becca’s mother had died when Becca was born.
    Loren hadn’t had a father, and Becca hadn’t had a mother. And Jade had a father, but an absent mother. Mara’s father had been gone for years. They’d found common ground in each other. And had stuck together for four years.
    They and her mother were all the family Loren had.
    Tear welled up when she looked at Mara, the smallest and youngest of them all. She had been so worried, especially about Mara.
    She’d told herself she shouldn’t have gotten attached. Eighty lifetimes of loss and grief for friends should have made a better impression. But that hadn’t mattered.
    She’d still wondered what had happened to Mara. “Mara…”
    Loren hugged her friend.
    Next thing she knew they were all jumbled together, her, Mara, Jade, and Becca. They were laughing and crying and things started to feel right in her world again.
     

     

Chapter Twelve
     
    The sight that met his eyes was definitely not one he had expected.
    Women everywhere and crying. Laughing. Hugging.
    So…the little witchie had friends among the Dardaptoans. Interesting.
    She was on the floor with the healer’s female Jade, and two other women, plus some babes he thought were half Lupoiux. Apparently they all knew each other well.
    “As I figured.” The healer said from behind him. “Jade was quite worried. And until she realized Mara was already here that worry was worse. Now, perhaps, that worry will not be in my Rajni’s eyes so much.”
    Jushua just shook his head.
    He would never understand the females of any Kind.
    How was he supposed to reconcile a