not liking the suspicion on his tone. My family legend was that we were one of those ancient lines that Owen mentioned. And I was a seventh-generation necromancer, which was supposed to make me the most powerful dead raiser on earth. I didn’t believe any of it. And I wasn’t going to volunteer that information to Owen. Especially since I didn’t know him.
“Maybe you’re not as worldly as you think. I haven’t done it since I was a kid, anyway.” I sure didn’t want to get into that, though. I changed the subject quickly. “So, what happened to you?”
“After you left me at the lighthouse, I went in to find a woman inside. I assumed it was the one you mentioned. She attacked me and tied me up. I’ve been there ever since, waiting to die.”
Olivia and I stared at Owen in shock. My heart raced and fury began to build. That woman was in the store today. Acting like any other normal person and not the psycho she was turning out to be. Definitely not like she was holding anyone prisoner. “All this time?”
He nodded. “I’m starving by the way. If you’ve got something.”
“Yeah.” I rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a bag of chips and a bottle of water. I thought about calling Alfred in to cook dinner, but I wasn’t sure I wanted Owen to see him yet.
“Oh, thanks.” Owen took the bag and ripped it open before shoving a handful of chips into his mouth. “So,” he said through his full mouth. “She’s been trying to get information out of me about Ava. She’s obsessed with you. All she did was grill me about you and your dad.”
Dread slammed into me, sending flames of fire through my veins. My voice shook as I asked, “What about my father?”
“She thinks he’s alive. That you’re hiding him.”
I chuckled like a crazy person. “Well, jokes on her because he’s dead. Why would she think you’d have this information?”
He shrugged. “I never met your dad but I’m a necromancer. Maybe that was why. Like we have a hot line or a club or something. I never got her name, but she was definitely a hunter. She could’ve killed me.”
A hunter. Like a witch hunter, I guessed.
“How did she keep you from using your magic?” None of what he was saying made any sense.
He rolled his eyes. “A sigil. I walked right into it, too. Rookie move.”
Well, then I was more than a rookie, because I didn’t have a clue what sigil would bind his power. But I didn’t want Owen to know that.
“That’s why she’s here. She’s after you and your dad. Why? I have no idea.” He took a drink of water. Then he leaned forward with his arms resting on the tops of his thighs. “You probably have a lot of questions about who I am.”
“You can say that.” My tone was flat when I spoke. I glanced at Olivia and crossed my eyes, making her snicker.
I knew Owen saw the exchange because his lips twitched. “I’ve only been in Shipton Harbor for about six months. The moment I arrived, I felt the magic in the air. I already knew several witches lived in the area but had no idea there were other necromancers. Yours and your father’s magic still linger in this house, mixed with the centuries of witches living here. I assume it’s been in the family a while?”
I nodded, finding it interesting that he could sense the magic so easily. Then again, I might be able to if I didn’t suppress half my power. “My ancestors built this house, and it hasn’t been owned by any other family.”
“That makes sense. Most active houses are like that. It’s how they become animated and do not do well when the family leaves it.” Owen paused.
His words settled in the back of my mind. The old house wasn’t dealing well with me wanting to sell it. That made me wonder if the house would continue to chase others off.
“In fact,” Owen continued. “The magic from the house spills out into the town. I pull from that power to aid into my own spells. I knew William did the same.”
That was news to me. Had William used the power from the house to create Alfred?
Just then Sammie came bursting through the back door at top speed. “Mommy,” he wailed. “I hurt my knee.”
Owen and I watched as Olivia scooped Sammie up in her arms, but then scurrying behind him came