The smile disappeared. “Then your mother became very sick, very fast. Couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, and the doctors couldn’t diagnose her. So she called a few trusted members of the coven. It took a complicated discovery spell but they found the reason for her illness. She’d been placed under a hex. And Zarina had cast it.”

“The coven must have done something. Punished her.”

“They did. The ACW stripped Zarina of her magic for five years, but the damage was done. Your once fierce mother was afraid. Not so much for herself as for you and me. We left Portland and moved to North Carolina. Your mother refused to join another coven for fear there would be a new Zarina and that you would be the target this time. After a while, she stopped practicing altogether. We both agreed that you should be raised as normally as possible.”

“Because of that one incident?”

Jack shook his head. “It wasn’t one incident. Covens all over the country were reporting similar events. Human familiars had become something of a status symbol after it was revealed that the head of the ACW had one.”

“What is that?”

“The American Council of Witches.” Jack let out a breath. “I knew if you moved into this house, something like this would happen. Did you find some of your uncle’s things? Is that how you figured it out?”

“No. I…met someone.”

Jack gave him a hard look. “Explain.”

Cole told him what had happened when he and Pandora had touched, about the visions he’d had, and how she’d seen him shift.

Jack frowned and swore softly. “This is Lila all over again.”

“No, it’s not. Don’t compare Pandora to her.” Anger stormed through Cole at that accusation, instantly needing to protect Pandora. Then he hesitated at what his father had just revealed. “You and Mom knew Lila was a witch?”

“Yes, we did. In the beginning, your mother wanted to confront her and run her off, but then it became clear you weren’t going to bond. We made the decision to let things run their course so long as Lila didn’t seem like she was resorting to any kind of black magic. We figured she’d give up at some point, which she did.”

“Lila had to know the truth about you two, though. She said she could read auras.”

“She knew exactly what we were. But your mother made it very plain that if she said a word, or used any kind of magic to influence you, Lila would find herself hauled before the ACW. That seemed to do the trick.”

“I’m surprised Mom didn’t make her leave.” Cole couldn’t remember his mother ever being afraid to stand up to anyone.

“She would have. Except that we fell in love with Kaley the same way you did. For her sake, we held our tongues many, many times. And then it didn’t matter anymore.”

The memory of Maxine Van Zant’s death put them both in a somber mood.

After a long pause, Jack’s smile returned. “Kaley was the only good thing to come out of that marriage.”

“That’s for damn sure,” Cole agreed. They sat quietly for several minutes. Then Cole looked at his father. “So you know that Kaley’s a witch obviously.”

Jack nodded. “I do. And I wish your mother was still alive to help her out now that she’s thirteen and will be coming into her power soon. Poor kid. She’s going to need someone to guide her through this.”

Which brought them back to Pandora. “A mentor. I know. Dad, my…friend has already agreed to help her find one. She comes from a family of witches. That’s where Kaley and I are going tonight. To their house for dinner.”

Anger filled Jack’s eyes. “You’re making a mistake. You don’t know this woman. You don’t know what witches can be like. They look at a familiar and they see an opportunity.”

“Pandora is nothing like that. I doubt her family is that way either.”

“How do you know?”

“I’m a good judge of character.”

“Lila says otherwise.”

Cole sighed in frustration. “Pandora had no idea what I was when we met. In fact, she didn’t even like me. She liked Kaley. I was just”—he shrugged—”the bothersome muggle who didn’t believe his daughter was a witch.”

“But she warmed right up to you after she figured out what you were, am I right?”

Sort of. He scowled. “That’s not how it happened.”

“Then tell me.”

“I told her if she helped me with Kaley, I’d give her the listing when I put the house up for sale.” At his father’s curious expression, Cole added, “She’s a real estate agent.”

Jack’s grimace hardened. “Even better.”

“You have no reason to have an issue with her. You haven’t met her.”

“I know witches.”

“Are you saying Mom wasn’t trustworthy?”

Jack’s face softened. “She was the best woman I’ve ever known. She changed my life for the better. She was…my other half. Emotionally. Spiritually. Physically.” He closed his eyes. “I have never stopped missing her.”

Cole gentled his voice. “And how do you know Pandora isn’t that person for me?”

Jack took a few breaths before answering. “Are you in love with her?”

“It’s too early to say anything like that. I’ve only begun to get to know her. But I do feel drawn to her in a way that’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Do you think that means we’re connected?”