“Yes.”
I had grandparents, people who knew and loved my birth mom, but they didn’t want to know me? They never wanted to meet me over the past seventeen years? It shouldn’t bug me. I didn’t even know they existed until two minutes ago, but it hurt to think that they’d been out there all this time and never once reached out.
“What about my––Peter’s––family?”
She sighed. “His parents and younger brother died too. Around the same time as your parents. They were very sweet people and were so excited when you were born.”
Her sad smile sent a punch of loss that hit straight in my gut. They had loved me? Would they have wanted to be in my life if they were alive? How would things be different if they were still around?
Did it matter now?
“Why didn’t your parents like Peter and Amber together?” It sounded like it was a one-sided problem rather than mutual hatred.
“Well, Peter’s family is very different from ours,” she answered vaguely, looking at my parents. Dad nodded, and she continued. “His family are shifters, and mine are witches.”
Chapter 3
Nothing. Not even Masie sprouting horns and a tail or Mom telling me we won the lottery, or hell, even their telling me I was adopted—nothing could have shocked me more than the creepy, obviously insane words my aunt just uttered.
“What?” I gasped.
I looked between Mom and Dad, waiting for one of them to crack. To burst into laughter or even smile at the inside joke.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
I blinked and refocused on Masie. “What are you talking about?”
She tilted her head. “I know this is a lot to take in. We . . .” She glanced over at my parents and sighed. “We thought it was too late for you. We thought there was a chance their powers didn’t pass on. We never told you because we were all hoping that was the case.”
That explained why they all looked so guilty.
“So, the earthquake? And the water? I made that happen?”
“We believe so.”
“Because I’m a witch?” I dragged each word out, giving her the opportunity to cut me off and tell me I was mistaken. She didn’t.
“It appears so.”
“Are you a witch?”
“Yes.”
“You have abilities?”
She nodded, “Mine aren’t considered particularly useful anymore. I can create and remove light, but electricity makes that affinity outdated and less valued.”
“What about my mom, Amber?”
She smiled, “She was a great Earth witch. She could make anything grow.”
Mom and Dad agreed.
“I was always jealous of her ability to keep plants alive.” Mom stared at the floor, looking lost in her own memories.
I sucked in a breath and held it in while I closed my eyes. Their abilities didn’t sound like mine. Mine were destructive and unpredictable. Maybe this was all a big misunderstanding. Either that or every adult in my life had lost their minds. Maybe I should take my brother and sister and leave for a while, and let them get their heads on straight.