Page 57 of Witches of Honeysuckle House

“She came through the back. To see me.”

Violet and Tillie shared a look.

Joshua ran a hand through his hair. “She told me about the two of you.”

Violet held a hand over her mouth.

“She wants you out of her house,” he said to his sister. “She threatened your safety.”

Violet closed her eyes and rubbed at the space between her eyebrows. She’d heard from her own sister’s mouth that she’d cast spells on Violet. Though Violet had dipped candles to protect herself and Tillie, she didn’t want to believe it was true, that any of it was necessary.

Part of her wondered if it was her fault. Had she been more like their mother, more prepared to raise a thirteen-year-old girl, maybe Regina wouldn’t have turned out this way. Their mother had only ever taught them kindness. She’d fostered their magic within the gentle warmth of her love, making certain to remind them every spell ought to leave the world better than they found it.

Violet had done her best to hang on to her mother’s teachings after the accident, to make up for the lost love of their parents. She never pushed Regina to make friends or go out with boys from school or venture far from Honeysuckle House. She’d made Regina dependent on her, then she’d taken that stability away.

Tears stung Violet’s eyes. She leaned her head back and tried to will them away as a small hand slipped into hers. Her eyelids fluttered open. Tillie stood beside her.

“This isn’t your fault,” Tillie said.

A choked cry caught in Violet’s throat.

“If I’d told her sooner …”

“It would’ve been the same,” Tillie said. “Her candles …”

Violet squeezed her hand.

“Maybe there’s some sort of magic you could cast to keep her from telling people,” Joshua suggested.

Violet never used her magic to control a person. Yes, she’d countered her sister’s spells, but her words? Her autonomy? But with Tillie’s safety at stake, that might have to change.

“No,” Tillie said. “You can’t keep that up forever. We’d never be able to live our lives the way we want to.”

“You could leave,” Joshua said. He, too, had tears in his eyes.

“And go where?” Violet asked.

“Maybe he’s right,” Tillie said. “We could travel north, to a big city. Find somewhere to lose ourselves.”

But Violet wasn’t ready to give up her home.

“She doesn’t get to win,” Violet said. “I’m going to talk to her.”

“And if that doesn’t work?” Tillie asked.

“Then I’ll do what your brother suggested,” Violet said. “If Regina came here, it was a last resort. She always turns to her magic first.”

“Our candles,” Tillie said.

Violet nodded. “Regina’s magic isn’t as strong as mine. If she’s not willing to change, then she’s the one who has to leave. Not us.”

“I don’t want you to have to fight her for the rest of our lives,” Tillie said.

“Whether we stay or go, Regina won’t give up,” Violet said. “Not unless I make her.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Florence, Now