decisions on that. Seb was not allowed to use his air magic to influence his choices unfairly.”
“ So what happened?”
“ We made a killing, considering that we were teenagers relying on newspapers and good luck. At the one year mark, I was winning, but I had enough that I could turn down the reward money, instead donating it to Coven needs. Since then, we try to keep current with the news as much as possible considering our jobs, so we're not as active in trading anymore. But we've got enough of our shares in enough different companies that we're doing very well financially. We don't take a salary for our work in the Coven, and we actually contribute quite a bit to operating costs.
“ I've made a cool couple of million with savvy trading over many years, and if spending it on my wife and child isn't a worthwhile way to spend my money, I don't know what is.”
Melanie tried to soak it all in. “That's an amazing story. You must have worked really hard to get that kind of success.”
He smiled. “I did. But it was also a lot of fun. Now it's your turn. I've spilled my life story, and you promised to do the same.”
“ You're right; I did. I like to think I was born to a normal family. My mother and father were bonded and had one child. Then for some reason, my mother left. My father wouldn't tell me why, and to be honest, I don't really care anymore. She wasn't in my life, and I made my peace with that a long time ago. My father was lightly involved in the Coven. He went to meetings occasionally, and he started taking me along when I turned ten. They tested me there, and one thing led to another. It quickly became apparent that I was the most powerful air witch in America.
“ It was about the worst news for me. The community had expectations of me, and my father had expectations of me. I was trained by anyone who would try, and eventually I started avoiding witches entirely. The Waverly boys were the exception. They seemed to genuinely like me Richard and I made plans, as you remember.”
“ I do,” Justin said darkly.
“ Then I got the letter personally inviting me here. Despite my dislike for Coven politics, when I got the personalized letter, I felt I had to come. Then I met you, and suddenly being branded as powerful wasn't nearly as bad.”
He grinned. “I'm glad you feel that way.” But he still sensed that there was something about her family life she was leaving unsaid. He wasn't an air witch, but he could tell. If she didn't want to share yet, though, he wasn't going to force her hand.
“ Being around so many powerful people in the summit and in your family, I'm not as much of a freak show. And it seems that we'll be having a powerful baby. I'll make sure he or she doesn't feel the stigma of being too damn powerful.”
“ We'll be sure to do that,” Justin corrected with a kiss to her nose.
They talked about lighter things through the end of the documentary, which Melanie was frankly amazed she was able to stay awake for. Justin settled in beside her on the bed, and she lay her head on his chest, letting her fall asleep almost immediately.
The next morning, her cell phone woke her at precisely ten. Blearily, she answered, “Melanie Reed.”
“ Don't you mean Melanie Ward?” Skylar teased.
“ Of course.” She could have smacked herself in the head. She wasn't awake enough for this.
“ Did I wake you?”
“ Yeah, but it's high time I got up anyway. You ready to go to work?”
“ I don't know about you, but I've been preparing all morning with things we can do. Justin called me this morning to tell me to take it easy on you as well.”
“ That was sweet of him. Let me take a shower and get dressed. Can you be by here in about thirty?”
“ Sure. See you soon.”
Melanie found a note from Justin on the bedside table which said “Hope I didn't wake you up as I was getting off to work this morning. Have a good time with Skylar and don't work yourself too hard. I'll give
“ So what happened?”
“ We made a killing, considering that we were teenagers relying on newspapers and good luck. At the one year mark, I was winning, but I had enough that I could turn down the reward money, instead donating it to Coven needs. Since then, we try to keep current with the news as much as possible considering our jobs, so we're not as active in trading anymore. But we've got enough of our shares in enough different companies that we're doing very well financially. We don't take a salary for our work in the Coven, and we actually contribute quite a bit to operating costs.
“ I've made a cool couple of million with savvy trading over many years, and if spending it on my wife and child isn't a worthwhile way to spend my money, I don't know what is.”
Melanie tried to soak it all in. “That's an amazing story. You must have worked really hard to get that kind of success.”
He smiled. “I did. But it was also a lot of fun. Now it's your turn. I've spilled my life story, and you promised to do the same.”
“ You're right; I did. I like to think I was born to a normal family. My mother and father were bonded and had one child. Then for some reason, my mother left. My father wouldn't tell me why, and to be honest, I don't really care anymore. She wasn't in my life, and I made my peace with that a long time ago. My father was lightly involved in the Coven. He went to meetings occasionally, and he started taking me along when I turned ten. They tested me there, and one thing led to another. It quickly became apparent that I was the most powerful air witch in America.
“ It was about the worst news for me. The community had expectations of me, and my father had expectations of me. I was trained by anyone who would try, and eventually I started avoiding witches entirely. The Waverly boys were the exception. They seemed to genuinely like me Richard and I made plans, as you remember.”
“ I do,” Justin said darkly.
“ Then I got the letter personally inviting me here. Despite my dislike for Coven politics, when I got the personalized letter, I felt I had to come. Then I met you, and suddenly being branded as powerful wasn't nearly as bad.”
He grinned. “I'm glad you feel that way.” But he still sensed that there was something about her family life she was leaving unsaid. He wasn't an air witch, but he could tell. If she didn't want to share yet, though, he wasn't going to force her hand.
“ Being around so many powerful people in the summit and in your family, I'm not as much of a freak show. And it seems that we'll be having a powerful baby. I'll make sure he or she doesn't feel the stigma of being too damn powerful.”
“ We'll be sure to do that,” Justin corrected with a kiss to her nose.
They talked about lighter things through the end of the documentary, which Melanie was frankly amazed she was able to stay awake for. Justin settled in beside her on the bed, and she lay her head on his chest, letting her fall asleep almost immediately.
The next morning, her cell phone woke her at precisely ten. Blearily, she answered, “Melanie Reed.”
“ Don't you mean Melanie Ward?” Skylar teased.
“ Of course.” She could have smacked herself in the head. She wasn't awake enough for this.
“ Did I wake you?”
“ Yeah, but it's high time I got up anyway. You ready to go to work?”
“ I don't know about you, but I've been preparing all morning with things we can do. Justin called me this morning to tell me to take it easy on you as well.”
“ That was sweet of him. Let me take a shower and get dressed. Can you be by here in about thirty?”
“ Sure. See you soon.”
Melanie found a note from Justin on the bedside table which said “Hope I didn't wake you up as I was getting off to work this morning. Have a good time with Skylar and don't work yourself too hard. I'll give
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