Witches Chronicles

Chapter 8:

Jace's pov

I stood there, staring at Willow, my insides churning with a mix of guilt and frustration. She looked at me with those wide, innocent eyes, standing in front of our mansion, a place she never should have been. I wasn’t ready for this—hell, I never wanted her to get involved in this part of my world. She was too pure for this mess. Too kind, too good, too… human. I could feel Emmet smirking at me from the corner of my eye, practically reveling in my discomfort.

"Found her wandering, so I thought I’d give her a little tour," Emmet said, his voice dripping with fake innocence. He knew exactly what he was doing—pushing buttons, testing limits. And I wasn’t having any of it.

“Willow,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm, normal, like nothing was wrong. “You didn’t have to come all this way. You could’ve called.”

She blinked, glancing between Emmet and me, clearly sensing the tension. “I didn’t mean to intrude. Emmet just—”

“Just invited her in, like the gracious host I am,” Emmet interrupted, a smug smile tugging at his lips.

I shot him a look, trying to keep my cool. “That’s not the point.” I turned back to Willow, softening my tone. “It’s just... this place isn’t exactly ready for guests.”

“Why?” she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion. “It’s just a house.”

If only she knew how far from the truth that was.

“Just... a lot of family history,” I said, hoping that would be enough to make her let it go. I wasn’t ready to open up about all the darkness that lurked in the corners of our lives. Especially not now, not with her standing there, looking so out of place in this world.

Emmet, of course, wasn’t making it easy. He leaned against the porch railing, arms crossed, eyes gleaming with amusement. “Speaking of family,” he said casually, “how’s Granddad doing, Jace?”

I clenched my jaw, trying not to let him see how much that question irritated me. Willow’s gaze snapped to mine, and I could tell she was still piecing things together. The longer we stood here, the more I could feel her suspicions growing.

“He’s fine,” I said, keeping my voice as steady as possible. “Like I told you earlier, Willow, he just had a fall. Nothing serious.”

She didn’t look entirely convinced, but she didn’t push further. And thank God for that, because how could I explain that I’d given our granddad my blood to heal him? The truth would blow her mind—and not in a good way.

“Well, if he’s fine, then that’s good,” she said softly, still watching me closely. “It’s just... the way Emmet talked about it, I thought it was worse.”

Emmet’s smirk grew wider, clearly enjoying himself. I wanted to hit him—hell, I needed to—but that would only confirm Willow’s suspicions. I had to keep everything under control.

“It’s not,” I said, trying to give her a reassuring smile. “I promise.”

She hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Okay. I guess I was just worried.”

I could feel the weight of her concern, and it made my chest tighten. Willow wasn’t just curious—she cared. She cared more than she probably should, considering everything she didn’t know yet. And that only made it harder to lie to her.

“Come on,” I said, stepping closer to her. “Let me drive you home.”

Willow blinked, surprised by the offer, but then nodded. “Yeah, that sounds good.”

As we walked to my car, I could feel Emmet’s eyes on me, like he was daring me to make a mistake. But I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. Not today. Not when it came to Willow.

The drive back to Willow’s house was peaceful, the tension from the mansion melting away as we moved further from it. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, trying to read her expression. She looked thoughtful, like she was still processing everything that had happened, but she didn’t seem upset. At least not yet.

I cleared my throat, deciding now was as good a time as any. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

She turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

I smiled, trying to keep it casual. “How about a real date? Just the two of us.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, and for a second, she just stared at me. Then, a slow smile spread across her face. “Are you asking me out?”

“Pretty much,” I said, chuckling. “If that’s okay with you.”

Willow laughed softly, the sound easing some of the tension that had been weighing on me all day. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

I handed her my phone as we pulled up to a stoplight. “Here, put your number in.”

She took the phone from me, her fingers brushing against my hand. I noticed the way she hesitated, the way her eyes flicked to mine, and then down to my hand.

“You’re cold,” she said, almost absentmindedly.

I tensed, pulling my hand back slightly. “Yeah, I guess so.”

She didn’t say anything else, but I could tell she was thinking about it. Damn. I’d have to be more careful.

Willow entered her number into my phone and handed it back with a smile. “There. Now you can call whenever.”

“Good,” I said, though I couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy. She was starting to notice things—small things—but I wasn’t ready for her to connect all the dots. Not yet.

We pulled up to her house a few minutes later, the familiar sight of her front porch bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights. I parked the car and got out, walking her to the door. As we reached the front steps, she opened the door and stepped inside—but something strange happened.

I stopped. My body physically couldn’t move past the threshold. My feet were glued to the ground. She hadn’t invited me in.

Willow glanced over her shoulder, probably noticing how I stayed outside while she went in. Her brow furrowed slightly, her curiosity returning. “Are you… coming in?”

I plastered on the most natural smile I could manage, though I could feel my pulse racing. “Uh, I’ve got a few errands to run. But I’ll be back at seven, okay?”

She didn’t seem completely convinced, but she nodded. “Okay. See you later.”

I watched as she closed the door behind her, my heart pounding in my chest. She hadn’t invited me in, and I couldn’t explain why that was a problem. But the way she looked at me before she walked inside—like she was starting to see through all the cracks in the surface—I knew I didn’t have much time before the truth came out.

Back at the mansion, I slammed the door shut behind me and stormed into the library where Emmet was lounging, flipping through an old book like he didn’t have a care in the world.

“You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?” I snapped, walking toward him.

Emmet didn’t even look up. “What? You’re mad I gave her the tour?”

“You brought her here,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “She doesn’t belong in this world. Not yet.”

Emmet finally looked up, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “She’s not a child, Jace. Sooner or later, she’s going to figure it all out.”

“I was planning to tell her when the time was right,” I growled, running a hand through my hair. “You’re trying to push her into it before she’s ready.”

Emmet shrugged, standing up and tossing the book onto the table. “She’s tougher than you give her credit for. Maybe she needs to know what she’s getting into.”

I took a step closer, glaring at him. “Stay out of this, Emmet.”

He smirked, leaning against the bookshelf. “You think you can protect her from everything? What’s your plan, Jace? To lie to her until it’s too late? She’s not stupid.”

“I never said she was,” I shot back. “But I’m trying to keep her safe. Something you clearly don’t care about.”

Emmet’s smile faltered for just a second, and I knew I’d hit a nerve. “I care more than you think,” he muttered, his voice lower now.

Before I could respond, I remembered something else—something I’d been meaning to ask him. “The animal attack at the party,” I said, my voice hardening. “Was that you?”

Emmet’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. “Me? You really think I’d be that careless?”

“I wouldn’t put it past you,” I said, narrowing my eyes.

He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Wasn’t me, Jace. Must be another vampire in town.”

That didn’t sit well with me, but at least he didn’t look like he was lying. Emmet could be reckless, but he wasn’t stupid. And if there was another vampire in Glen Haven, that was a problem.

“I’ll look into it,” I muttered.

“Do that.” Emmet’s smirk returned, that smug look I hated so much. “But just so you know, your little plan didn’t work.”

“What are you talking about?” I snapped.

His grin widened. “I mean, you might think you’ve got her all wrapped up in your little protective bubble, but I invited her to the mansion. I brought her in. She’s more curious than you realize.”

I clenched my jaw, anger flaring up again, but I forced myself to stay calm. “She’s going out with me tonight. For a real date.”

Emmet’s grin faltered, just for a second. “Is that so?”

“Yeah,” I said, feeling more cheerful than I should have. “So whatever game you’re playing, it’s not working.”

I turned on my heel, leaving Emmet alone in the library. He didn’t follow, and for once, I felt like I’d won something—no matter how petty it might have been.

By the time I went to pick Willow up that evening, I was feeling more confident than I had in days. I had a real plan tonight. Something thoughtful, something that would show her who I really was. No lies, no distractions—just me and her, getting to know each other.

When she opened the door, I was struck by how beautiful she looked. She wasn’t dressed up like she was going to some fancy event, but there was something about her that made me stop in my tracks. Maybe it was her smile, or the way her eyes lit up when she saw me.

“You look amazing,” I said, and I meant it.

Willow blushed, glancing down at herself. “Thanks. You clean up pretty well yourself.”

We drove in comfortable silence for a while, the soft hum of the engine filling the space between us. I’d planned a quiet, intimate evening at a little spot just outside town, far from the chaos of Glen Haven and the mansion.

As we talked, I learned more about her—her love for art, the way she’d sketch whenever she had the chance. I told her about my own interests, carefully skirting around anything that might raise red flags about my past.

But as the conversation drifted, I noticed her questions started to shift. They weren’t just casual anymore.

“So, Jace,” she said, her voice a little softer now, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.”

I glanced at her, my stomach tightening slightly. “Yeah?”

“Last night, at my house…” She hesitated, biting her lip. “Why didn’t you come inside with me?”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing for an answer that wouldn’t raise suspicions. “I had some things to do. Errands.”

Willow’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t push. Not yet.

But I could feel it. The walls around the truth were starting to crumble, and she was getting closer to figuring it all out.