Chosen - Kiersten White Page 0,56

disappointment as Doug puts the car in drive. “Next time,” she says, “bring candy. Or eyeballs.”

“Deal,” I mutter. Either would be easier to deal with than the return of Leo Silvera.

17

“FECKING HELL!” CILLIAN SLAMS ON the brakes in front of his cottage. Doug is thrown against Cillian’s seat as Tsip pops out of existence. I’m out of the car before anyone else has recovered, fists up, ready for a fight. Oz’s van has already turned off toward the castle, so it’s just us.

Cillian’s charming cottage is on the end of a narrow lane abutting the forestland. All I see that’s changed is an unfamiliar car parked in front. And inside, several lights on.

“Who is it?” I ask as Cillian climbs out. There’s a stake in my hand. I don’t remember pulling it out of my jacket. “Have you invited anyone in you shouldn’t?”

“It’s my mum.”

“Your mom?” She’s been away since magic died. I’ve gotten so used to it I kind of assumed it was permanent. She used to go on trips a lot, but the last few months she was just … gone.

“Are you going to stake her? Because that might be a wee overreaction to bad parenting.” He scuffs his shoe against the street, hands shoved in his pockets and shoulders turned protectively inward.

I put the weapon away. “If we staked people for being bad parents, none of us would have any.”

“Is it okay if I stay in the car?” Doug leans out the window. “I don’t have the best memories of the bondage shed, and I don’t fancy explaining myself to Cillian’s mother.” He gestures at his face.

Cillian’s mom was a witch before magic went poof, but Cillian didn’t know about demons, so I assume she won’t either. “Yeah, probably easiest. Where did Tsip go?”

Doug shrugs, then settles back into his seat with the music on, kitten curled up and purring in his lap. The faint sounds of Chris Martin drift toward me like a tinny echo. One of these days, I’m getting Doug Coldplay tickets if it kills me. It’s Doug’s fondest dream in life. Most of our dreams are messy and impossible; it’d be nice to fill one.

I close my eyes with a pang of emotion. One of my dreams was Leo being not-dead. And it’s come true, for now. Which should have been more impossible than backstage passes to Coldplay, but is definitely not as simple. When he was dead, it was easy to think of only the good things. But my mom’s right. The others are totally justified in remembering everything else Leo did, and holding him accountable.

The front door opens to reveal Esther, Cillian’s mother. “That you, Killy-my-love? Come inside! I’ve been waiting for you!”

“Gee, you’ve been waiting for me,” Cillian mutters to himself. “What must that feel like.”

I follow him to the porch, where Esther stands in the pool of warm light spilling from the house behind her. Her braids encircle her head like a crown, and her skin betrays no hint of aging. It’s easy to see where Cillian got his good looks.

“Is that Nina? Goodness, you’ve grown!” She frowns, looking me up and down. “No. You haven’t. You seem taller, though. I can’t put my finger on it.” I used to be the one to go into town and pick up supplies from her shop back when it was a magic shop. I always liked her. I like her less now, though. She hurt my friend.

“We’ve got things to do, Mum.” Cillian tries to angle past her, but she holds out an arm to block him.

“Things that are more important than catching your mother up on the last few months?”

“Yeah, actually.” Cillian pushes past her arm and stomps straight through the house to the backyard, where the shed is.

“So.” I wish awkwardness were a demon I could punch, instead of an insurmountable, suffocating atmosphere. “How was, uh, Colorado?”

“Monks are boring.” She moves to the side to let me by. Her flowing ruby-red dress looks elegant and comfortable at once. “I learned what I could, though. How is he?” She nods toward the backyard. “Besides angry.”

“He’s good. Stays with us a lot now.” I’m pretty sure she knows about Cillian and Rhys, but if she doesn’t, I’m not going to tell her. Not my place.

“I thought your compound was off-limits.”

“A lot has changed. You were gone awhile.” I try to keep my voice neutral, but I can see her stiffen at the assumed accusation.

“I’m doing this for him, you know. Ever