Frog Hollow (Witches of Sanctuary Book 1) by Savannah Blevins Read Free Book Online

Innocent.
    Suddenly, I don’t know how to make myself speak. I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I close it, hoping if I start over, I’ll manage to make it work, but no such luck. I’m speechless. Reid walks toward me, his face still sad. I hate how I always seem to have that effect on him.
    “Wilhelmina,” he says softly, running his hands through his hair. “Our lives here are complicated. Thanks to that stunt you pulled at the diner, I have no choice but to go home and tell them you’re here. Everyone will know you’re here now.”
    He stops for a second, grimacing at the thought. “But you,” he struggles to get the words out, “you still have a choice in this. You can leave. You can leave here and go live a normal life.”
    I scoff loudly. Does he honestly think he can turn me green, call me a funny name, and then send me on my way to live happily ever after?
    “Normal?” I repeat with a cruel laugh. “You think that is what I’ve been doing this whole time? I’ve just been out there all happy-go–lucky, living life?”
    He doesn’t speak, but then again, I don’t give him a chance. The thought infuriates me.
    “You just called me an Innocent. What does that mean? Because I’ve been wondering my whole life what makes me such a freak that my own father was too scared to love me!”
    I heave in breaths, the adrenaline kicking in, my mind turning in circles.
    “You are one of the Innocent.” The sadness is still so evident in his worn voice. “Only a descendent of them will glow under the moonlight after drinking a shot of Jade’s Witchy Whiskey.”
    It was a test. He wanted to confirm what I’m sure he suspected the entire time. “Does that scare you?” I hold out my glowing arms for him to see. “Is this why you want me to leave?”
    I had to ask, even if I really don’t want to hear the answer. I don’t think I could blame him if that is the reason he wants me to go, wanting to protect his family from someone like me.
    “No.” Guilt. It’s brief, but I catch it on his face before he knows I’ve seen it. “All the women in my family are descendants of the Innocent.”
    I shake my head, confused. “Are you saying we’re related?”
    “There are two distinct lines.”
    My emotions betray me as I let the hope brim to the surface. There are more people like me. I’m not the only one. Does that mean I’ve been right all along? My mother had abilities too? I want to be excited. I want to ask him a million questions, but there are other things we have to deal with first. “If you’re not scared of me, why do you want me to leave so badly?”
    “It’s complicated.”
    “That isn’t an answer.”
    He watches my face, and when I don’t back down, his worried expression turns to defeat. “Wilhelmina.” He sighs my name like it’s the most tragic thing he’s ever had to say. “Your mother didn’t die from some kind of illness. She was murdered. Someone took her life because of what she was, because she was one of the Innocent.”
    I’ve thought about it, the reason for her death, but not once did I imagine her life had been taken from her. I’m shocked by how quickly the anger sets in. Like I’ve actually been robbed. I lost the chance to ever know the one parent who might actually accept me.
    Reid walks closer, urgency on his face as he continues to speak. “It isn’t safe here. Especially for you. Before tonight, no one knew you existed outside of our family circle. If they find out about you, I don’t know what they might try to do. I have too much to worry about without adding you to it.”
    “Who are you scared of?” My hands shake, and my voice cracks. “Who killed my mother?”
    “If I knew that, they’d be dead already.” He’s angry too. “We don’t know who we can trust, which makes it all the more dangerous. That’s why you need to go now, while you still can.”
    “No.” Tears well up in my eyes. “I’m not leaving.”
    I can’t leave. Not now.