could, I wouldn’t.
No matter what Carly thinks, I’m pretty sure that would be a lie.
With a sigh, Ana shuts the door.
“So this visit of Oriane’s,” Jack says without looking at her. “It was a couple days before Yule?”
Ana moves down the hall. “That’s right.”
“She talked to you and Carly, and presumably Jett, but not Seph?”
She stops at the archway to the parlor, looking back at him. “Yes.”
“And I thought I was cold,” he mutters. Ana stiffens but doesn’t rebuke him. Or defend Mom. Explaining our mother to outsiders isn’t easy at the best of times. This is far from the best of times.
“Why won’t you tell me what she said, Ana?”
Her eyes skitter away from him. Tyr’s still in the parlor, but my sister ignores him, heading for the stairs.
Jack follows at her heels like a dogged shadow, his voice rough. “Loyal still? Even with one sister dead and another on the run?”
Truth or not, that’s a bit cruel, Jack.
Ana obviously agrees, turning around to stab a finger into his chest.
“First of all, I don’t care if you worked with her or not, Jack. You don’t know our mother. Or what she’s capable of.” She wraps her arms around herself.
Jack shrugs. “Witch magic.”
I glare at the back of his head at his tone even though I know exactly what’s he’s doing. Master manipulator at work. But Ana cut her teeth in our world during the court of Louis XV, which from the tales I’ve heard makes Game of Thrones look like summer camp. She laughs in his face.
“Nice try, Frost, but forget it. Some secrets are for family only.” She turns away again. “I want you to stay here tonight. Take Seph’s room. I’ll walk you up, though I’m pretty sure you already know the way.”
Jack raises an eyebrow and so do I. She knew about Jack sneaking in to see me—and she never stopped it?
Hmm, maybe even nosy big sisters choose to butt out now and again.
She heads for the stairs, taking them swiftly before Jack’s next words slow her down.
“I’m sure the sudden hospitality has nothing to do with keeping an eye on me. I sympathize. But I am not here to hurt you or Carly.”
“Just Jett.” She turns at the landing, watching him draw level with her. Ana is just as short as I am, but even looking up at Jack, there is something regal about her. Something cool and untouchable. The ice queen. Elsa with a side of bitch. My sister never lets anything go.
And she’s wondering why Jack did. “You knew she’d run. Why not take steps to stop her? I’m sure you thought of a thing or two.”
“Now was not the time.” Jack doesn’t elaborate, but Ana’s lips tighten as she realizes what I already have.
Jack wants Jett on the run. So he can corner her himself. Alone. He doesn’t intend to finish it in front of my family, but there’s no question he intends to finish it. A pang stabs through me. I’m beyond furious with Jett, and confused and hurt, but…
I don’t want her to die.
“The wards are still in force,” Ana says, with a level look. “I could keep you here indefinitely.
Jack leans against the wall, folding his arms. “Maybe a few months ago that would’ve worked, but not now.”
I watch my sister shiver as we both remember Jack’s little display in the parlor. I don’t know why, or how, but Jack’s magic is growing. My mother’s wards are smothering his magic, but given enough time and temper, I’m pretty sure he’d break free.
Ana obviously comes to the same conclusion.
“Maybe Jett believed the prophecy.” Ana swallows hard. “Maybe she thought this was the only way.”
“Do you think that matters to me?” Jack’s laugh is low and bitter. “I don’t give a damn about the prophecy anymore. Or saving the fucking world. Seph died thinking I killed her, Ana. Expecting me to kill her. It took everything I had, but I kept the magic from hurting her. Seph never knew that, she never—” He swallows and turns away. Ana stares at him, her mouth
No matter what Carly thinks, I’m pretty sure that would be a lie.
With a sigh, Ana shuts the door.
“So this visit of Oriane’s,” Jack says without looking at her. “It was a couple days before Yule?”
Ana moves down the hall. “That’s right.”
“She talked to you and Carly, and presumably Jett, but not Seph?”
She stops at the archway to the parlor, looking back at him. “Yes.”
“And I thought I was cold,” he mutters. Ana stiffens but doesn’t rebuke him. Or defend Mom. Explaining our mother to outsiders isn’t easy at the best of times. This is far from the best of times.
“Why won’t you tell me what she said, Ana?”
Her eyes skitter away from him. Tyr’s still in the parlor, but my sister ignores him, heading for the stairs.
Jack follows at her heels like a dogged shadow, his voice rough. “Loyal still? Even with one sister dead and another on the run?”
Truth or not, that’s a bit cruel, Jack.
Ana obviously agrees, turning around to stab a finger into his chest.
“First of all, I don’t care if you worked with her or not, Jack. You don’t know our mother. Or what she’s capable of.” She wraps her arms around herself.
Jack shrugs. “Witch magic.”
I glare at the back of his head at his tone even though I know exactly what’s he’s doing. Master manipulator at work. But Ana cut her teeth in our world during the court of Louis XV, which from the tales I’ve heard makes Game of Thrones look like summer camp. She laughs in his face.
“Nice try, Frost, but forget it. Some secrets are for family only.” She turns away again. “I want you to stay here tonight. Take Seph’s room. I’ll walk you up, though I’m pretty sure you already know the way.”
Jack raises an eyebrow and so do I. She knew about Jack sneaking in to see me—and she never stopped it?
Hmm, maybe even nosy big sisters choose to butt out now and again.
She heads for the stairs, taking them swiftly before Jack’s next words slow her down.
“I’m sure the sudden hospitality has nothing to do with keeping an eye on me. I sympathize. But I am not here to hurt you or Carly.”
“Just Jett.” She turns at the landing, watching him draw level with her. Ana is just as short as I am, but even looking up at Jack, there is something regal about her. Something cool and untouchable. The ice queen. Elsa with a side of bitch. My sister never lets anything go.
And she’s wondering why Jack did. “You knew she’d run. Why not take steps to stop her? I’m sure you thought of a thing or two.”
“Now was not the time.” Jack doesn’t elaborate, but Ana’s lips tighten as she realizes what I already have.
Jack wants Jett on the run. So he can corner her himself. Alone. He doesn’t intend to finish it in front of my family, but there’s no question he intends to finish it. A pang stabs through me. I’m beyond furious with Jett, and confused and hurt, but…
I don’t want her to die.
“The wards are still in force,” Ana says, with a level look. “I could keep you here indefinitely.
Jack leans against the wall, folding his arms. “Maybe a few months ago that would’ve worked, but not now.”
I watch my sister shiver as we both remember Jack’s little display in the parlor. I don’t know why, or how, but Jack’s magic is growing. My mother’s wards are smothering his magic, but given enough time and temper, I’m pretty sure he’d break free.
Ana obviously comes to the same conclusion.
“Maybe Jett believed the prophecy.” Ana swallows hard. “Maybe she thought this was the only way.”
“Do you think that matters to me?” Jack’s laugh is low and bitter. “I don’t give a damn about the prophecy anymore. Or saving the fucking world. Seph died thinking I killed her, Ana. Expecting me to kill her. It took everything I had, but I kept the magic from hurting her. Seph never knew that, she never—” He swallows and turns away. Ana stares at him, her mouth
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