Why I cared, I wasn’t sure, and I’d probably freak out about later, but in that moment, all I wanted was for Colden and Buttercup to connect, to realize that they could be a family for one another if their parents were as crappy as they sounded. That being said, I’d wager my father was a crappier parent.
Following my gut had led me to more interesting and precarious situations than I liked to remember, which was why I ignored all the warning flags going up in my head and pulled on my magic. I hadn’t reached for it in so long that I had almost forgotten what it felt like.
I knew it was different for every witch, but for me, it felt like running satin over my skin, a smooth but exciting touch. Casting was difficult if you made it too complicated or tried to direct the magic too much, so I tried not to make it too specific. I focused it at Colden and muttered the spell under my breath so no one else would hear me, barely even mouthing the words.
The intent I put into them was for him to not be as shy and awkward as he was acting. He’d been talking to me just fine outside the bakery, so I knew this wasn’t how he was all the time. I infused the words with the need to connect with people and the desire for family, everything I could think of that would make this interaction easier, more likely to succeed, and not just weird Buttercup out.
The spell flew from my lips, and I could almost see the moment it hit my new friend. Panic washed over his face, and he clamped his lips shut, throwing a hand over his mouth as an extra precaution.
11
Colden
I had felt a rush of magic then…word vomit. The urge for me to say everything I was thinking was overwhelming. I shot Neve a panicked look. Had she done this?
Resisting only worked for so long though, and finally, the words burst forth. “What’s happening? Why are you looking at me like that? Why is my heart racing? Did you do this? I thought you were so pretty and nice and wanted to ask you out, but if this is some kind of joke, it’s sick. Stop. Stop. Stop! Why can’t I stop talking? Who is that demon back there? Does he know why I’m here? Do you know why I’m here?” The last question was directed at Buttercup, who just shook her head. I wanted to keep my mouth shut so badly, but I couldn’t. It literally felt like my mouth had a mind of its own, going against my wishes to form words and sentences I never would have said aloud under any other circumstances.
“I know why I’m here. I’ve been trying to do this for months. I’ve been so scared of destroying something that didn’t even exist that I could never even take the first step until I met Neve today. Stop, Colden. Just stop talking. Please,” I begged myself as I realized I probably looked crazy to the others. Even Neve was looking at me like I was suddenly speaking Latin with my head spinning around backward, but underneath that, it seemed like there was the hint of an apology though. “Why are you looking at me like that? I’m not crazy! I just wanted to introduce myself to my sister. Why did everything go wrong?”
“Sister?” The man, or rather demon I’d heard Buttercup refer to as Magnus looked confused.
“Buttercup and I have the same asshole absentee father.” The words dropped into the room like bird shit on a car window.
“I’m your half-sister?” Buttercup’s surprised voice was the only thing to break the silence.
“Yes,” I replied with a sigh. It was out there now. It may not have been how I intended for the news to be revealed, but there it was.
“Why didn’t you introduce yourself earlier?” she asked, her voice sounding a little hurt.
“I didn’t think I was good enough to be your brother. Plus, I know you have four mates, so what did you need a half-brother for? I’m not exactly a fantastic person, and when I saw how good your life was, I felt like if I inserted myself into it, then I’d be tainting it somehow. I really hadn’t intended on saying all that. Being that honest is uncomfortable. This whole situation is uncomfortable. I don’t know why I can’t stop talking.”
“My life isn’t perfect,