Spell Cat by Tara Lain Page 0,69
ticked in Lavender’s brain. For nearly a full minute, no one moved. Powers, talk about terrifying. Killian—transformed. His very skin glowed with power, like Al’s eyes. He stared at her father, who tried to hold his gaze and failed. Mimi had begun to cry, and Evangeline was comforting her. Maybe she didn’t believe the Witch Master would kill his own mother. Lavender had her doubts. He was no one’s dutiful son right now.
A knock sounded. Killian looked at the door, and it opened. Two men, one tall and blond and the other young and fresh-faced, half dragged another man between them. That had to be Killian’s lover, Blaine.
Jimmy pulled away from her side. “Professor! Let him go, you assholes.” He ran over and delivered one very unwitchlike punch to the large blond, who slumped to the floor. Go, Jimmy! The other thug was obviously confused about who was in charge of this half-destroyed madhouse. He looked at her father, dropped Blaine’s arm, and started backing up. Jimmy grabbed the professor.
Holy shit. From the corner of her eye, she saw her father rally. No! In the commotion, he gathered power that shone from his hands like fire. Killian didn’t even turn from looking at his beloved. He raised a hand, and lightning struck her father full in the chest. He fell to the ground, smoke rising from his prostrate body. Her heart wrenched. He was despicable, but he was her father.
Killian turned and looked at her, his blue eyes glowing. “He’s still alive.”
The Witch Master walked across the room to where Jimmy supported the physics professor. The man’s face looked bruised, and he had a split lip. Killian touched the lip gently with a finger. “Are you all right?”
Amazingly, the lovely human smiled. “I am now. They just roughed me up a little. Nothing permanent.”
“They were trying to get me to go through with the wedding to Lavender. I’m deeply sorry to have involved you in the politics of my community.”
The man looked around at the wreckage of the room. “This gives a whole new meaning to arranged marriage.”
Killian sort of half smiled. She could see the glow of his skin fading, and the fire in his eyes seemed damped. Still, what must the human think? Killian nodded at Jimmy. “Jimmy, can I ask you to take Blaine to the hospital and have his injuries checked?” He touched the human’s cheek again and looked at him with such love it made her heart ache. “I have to speak to my community, or I would take you myself.” He handed Jimmy his keys. She thought he looked sad. “Take my car. Take Blaine wherever he wants to go, and you come back to my mother’s house.”
Blaine actually laughed. “Wow. If you’ll loan your car, I must look pretty bad.”
After his incredible power, Killian somehow seemed ancient and broken. “No. You look beautiful. May I call you later to check on you? I’m truly sorry to have involved you.”
Blaine reached up and stroked Aloysius. “Hi, buddy. You’re some amazing cat.” He looked at Killian. “Why would they take me? What leverage did that give them?”
Killian shook his head. “Karonoff knew I’d do anything to protect you.”
Jimmy laughed. “Yeah, he just didn’t know what ‘anything’ meant.”
Blaine looked like he wanted to speak, but Killian tapped the keys in Jimmy’s hand. “Be careful… with Blaine.” Jimmy led the man out of the room as Killian watched. Then he turned back to the council, three of whom sat huddled together at the table. Shah Mugal had managed to revive Lavender’s father and was kneeling beside him.
“Mother—you, at least, I expect to attend the meeting of the community. The rest of you may do as you wish. Don’t ever question what I love again.” He swept out of the room, and she followed him. Holy Powers. What a day.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Killian sipped some champagne and watched the group of witches tentatively interacting. Some of the more bigoted had left in a huff right after his announcement, but most had stayed. Yes, his food and drink attracted a lot of the community, but some were trying to get to know the mixed-race witches he’d also invited. He could see the so-called “pure” witches attempting to politely learn just how powerful the mixed witches were. Especially since they’d found out Killian was only half-witch. Powers, what a shock. But he loved the idea. That must be why he’d always liked humans so much. He suspected more than a few of