Page 73 of Tethered

“Peachy.”

“Fuck. Tell me. Derek or Porter hasn’t approached you again?” He moves to me, squatting so his warm hands cover my thighs.

I shake my head. I’d actually forgotten all about them.

“Good. And speaking of good news, I have some news that might cheer you up. Sarah is awake and talking. She corroborated your story. Well, all the parts she was conscious for. Henry is still with her, and he took me aside and told me that both Derek and Porter tried to gain access to the room to speak to Sarah.”

“Threaten her, more like it,” Riggs growls.

“That would be my guess, too. But Henry wasn’t having any of that shit. Especially not having to deal with that simp that’s always sniffing around Sarah. Anyway, I pulled Judy back in for questioning, and she folded like a deck chair, a little too late for Sarah’s liking, though. She has severed all ties with the woman. I’ve issued arrest warrants for Derek and Porter. I have officers out looking for them. I just wanted to come by and tell you in person.”

“Thanks,” I whisper, relieved that Sarah is okay and that she backed me up. I’m fucking glad I made the right call, having Shepard call Henry. I wonder if the simp is the guy Sarah wanted the potion for, and if he was in on it too.

I rub my temples, sick of seeing conspiracy theories everywhere. But is it still a theory if everyone really is out to get you?

Sheperd takes in my lackluster response and frowns. “Okay, guys, what the fuck is going on?”

“Take a seat, man. It’s a long story.”

“One you know?”

Riggs glares at him. “Yeah, because I didn’t run away when she needed us most. You want her to trust you with her deep dark secrets, show her she can fucking trust you with them.”

“Shit. I’m sorry.” He takes a seat on the sofa.

Once I put my empty water glass down, he pulls me into his lap. I look over at Riggs, and knowing I need him, he moves closer, taking a seat next to us so he can rub a hand up and down my back.

“To understand it all, I have to start at the beginning.”

Shepard stares at me for a beat before he presses the radio against his shoulder. “Jessie, I’m unreachable unless it’s an emergency.”

“Copy that, Sherrif.”

He pulls me close and smooths my hair away from my face. “I’m shit at this. I have no clue what to say half the time, and the rest of the time I fuck things up. But I’m here, Poppy, and I’m not going anywhere. Even if sometimes you need to beat some sense into me.”

“Can I volunteer for that part?” Riggs asks. Shepard flips him off, making me smile, and though it’s small, it’s not fake.

“You promised not to run. Remember that, okay?”

“I won’t run.”

I nod and begin. “You ever hear stories about me? Stories that involve magic?” I ask.

“You mean the ones that say you’re a witch? Sure. I ignore them.”

“Okay, but what if they’re not just stories?”

“I don’t understand.”

I lift my hand, and just like I did with Riggs, I let sparks fly. He flinches, his mouth parting in shock, before I close my palm and wait. He’s been quiet for so long, I can almost feel the hope dying inside me.

“Show me again,” he croaks eventually. So I do, this time demonstrating the air by spinning a tiny tornado on my palm. “Holy fuck. Is this real?”

Riggs laughs. “That was what I said.”

I take a shaky breath and continue. “I come from a long line of witches. We generally come into our powers at eighteen, but mine came in early.”

“How early?”