A Twitch of Tail by R. E. Butler Read Free Book Online

their full moon and equinox ceremonies.  The three of them had spent the whole day in bed, and in between making love, they’d talked.  She was quickly growing very fond of them.  Melo was sweetly attentive and had cooked all their meals.  Tahlon was a bit bossy and aggressive, but she could feel how much they both cared for her already.  She was certain that both men would die before they would let a hair on her head be harmed, and she was quickly beginning to feel the same way about them.
    They’d protested her nudity under the black cloak, which she had expected.  On the way to the bluffs, they had driven her home so she could pack a bag for the rest of the weekend and also grab her strapless maxi dress.  She had explained that she couldn’t wear it during the actual ceremony, but she could wear it up until they made the circle and that eased some of their annoyance at others seeing her naked.
    “Mari said you’re a natural Wiccan,” Tahlon said.  “What’s the difference between a natural and an unnatural Wiccan?”
    She shifted in the front seat and rested her cheek against the cool leather.  “A natural Wiccan has at least one parent who is a natural Wiccan.  Unnatural Wiccans can vary, from those whose family members have turned away from their magic until it is nearly non-existent, to those humans who just have an affinity for supernatural things.  There are exceptions to every rule, though.  There are natural Wiccans who aren’t very powerful, and unnatural Wiccans like the two Corners, Bitty and Gwen, who are very powerful.”
    “Why would someone want to turn away from magic?  It would be like a tiger deciding he wasn’t going to shift any longer,” Tahlon mused.
    “Well, a few hundred years ago, it wasn’t exactly kosher to be Wiccan.  Having supernatural powers meant the human population thought you danced with the devil, even though that’s far from the truth.  Many Wiccans turned away from their powers out of fear of execution, and they forbade their future children from using those powers.  After a few generations, the powers were muted entirely.  Without using their powers, the future generations didn’t retain their long lives, and now unnatural Wiccans remain mortal even if they are able to tap into the power of their ancestry.”
    “Are there male Wiccans?  I thought boy witches were called wizards?” Melo asked.
    “Common misconception.  Male Wiccans do exist.  I’ve only met a few.  My father is a Wiccan.  Wizards use dark magic and are definitely not to be confused with Wiccans.”
    “Where is your dad?”  Melo reached over and took her hand.
    “He and my mother joined together to have a child — me — but he had no interest in being in a relationship with her.  Once I was born, my father set up a trust fund to pay for my education and care and left.  He never wanted to be in contact with me.  According to my mother, he just wanted to ‘do his part’ to keep the Wiccan line of both his and my mother’s family going.”
    “Sorry, kitta,” Tahlon said with a low voice.
    “Don’t be sorry.  I’m not.  I can’t miss something I never had.”
    “Are you close with your mom?” Melo asked.
    She frowned in thought.  “We never really were close, and now we don’t speak at all.”
    “What happened?” Melo encouraged.
    Tera hadn’t planned to air all the dirty laundry of her family life to them now, but she believed in honesty, so she started talking.  “When I was little, my mother told me that a good Wiccan studied hard and was obedient to the coven.  She was very aloof and cold, and I wanted so badly to please her that I tried to do everything she said and adhered to the strict laws of the coven.  But I always had a soft spot for other supernatural creatures, especially those who couldn’t help themselves.  When I worked at an orphanage for weres, my mother tolerated it for a while, but eventually she told me I had to quit or the coven