Covet (Clann)

Then I’ll get a job.”
    “Doing what, genius? Folding burritos at a fast-food place? You think you’re going to be able to support the both of you on that? Because I can guarantee you her parents aren’t going to become your biggest fans anytime soon. Her dad looked ready to kill you in the Circle. And now that you two basically went and caused the death of her grandma, I can’t see her mother liking you much, either. The only way she’ll be with you is if she runs away from home.”
    “The Clann caused Mrs. Evans’s heart to fail, not Sav and me.”
    A long silence. “Savannah didn’t seem to see it that way.”
    I’m so sorry, Nanna , Savannah had whispered over and over while holding her grandmother’s body.
    As if Savannah blamed herself for Mrs. Evans’s death. “I’ll make her understand it was the Clann’s fault.”
    “Good luck with that when you’re grounded to your room till you turn eighteen.”
    Mom had taken my cell phone, house phone and computer, too. My left foot started to jiggle. “Let me borrow your phone.”
    “No way! Then Mom would take it away, too. And before you ask, you can’t borrow my laptop, either. I’m not losing my social life just because you’ve gone nuts over one of the few girls on the entire planet that you can’t have.” She hopped to her feet. “Face it, little brother. You’ve had your fun, but your fling with Savannah is over. The sooner you move on and find someone else, the better it’ll be. For the both of you.”
    She walked out the door then hesitated. “Oh yeah. And Mom sent you this.” She used a foot to push a wicker and wood tray with a can of soda and a sandwich on a plate across the threshold into my room. “PB and strawberry jelly. Your favorite.”
    Like I would eat that. Mom had probably laced it with more spells to make me forget about Savannah or something. “I’m not eating till they let me out of here.”
    A slow grin spread across her face. “Stupid, but admirable. I’ll sneak you in something to eat.”
    Could I trust whatever she brought?
    Her grin turned into a laugh. “It’ll be safe. Pinky swear.”
    “Thanks, sis.”
    Now if she could just find me a spell strong enough to bust out of this joint.
     
     
    SAVANNAH
    As I stumbled out of bed the next morning, I felt like one of my glass ballerinas, cold and brittle and way too breakable. My eyes were scratchy and so puffy I could barely open them at first.
    I desperately needed some caffeine.
    Dragging myself down the hall, I headed for the dining table, already looking forward to that daily cup of Nanna’s homegrown, old-fashioned steeped tea. Two things stopped me in my tracks.
    My father sat at the dining table with my mother. I couldn’t remember them ever sitting at a table together. They’d divorced when I was two and barely managed to speak nicely to each other over the phone since, much less actually sit down to a meal together.
    The other thing that made my muscles lock up was the realization that I’d never have Nanna’s homegrown tea again. At least not carefully measured out and steeped by her own hands.
    “Hey, hon, how are you feeling?” Mom hopped up from her usual seat at the dining table and went into the kitchen to fix a plate of something I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat.
    How did I feel? Like a traitorous, rule-breaking, lying murderer. “Fine,” I muttered, sinking into the chair next to Mom’s. Which left me facing Dad.
    I caught myself staring at him. Seeing him at Nanna’s dining table was too weird.
    Mom set a plate of nuked waffles in front of me. My stomach rolled over and threatened outright revolt as I stalled for time by cutting up the dripping, sticky plate of guilt into the tiniest pieces possible.
    Mom sat down, clasped her hands on the table, then exchanged a look with Dad.
    My instincts went on alert.
    “Savannah, we need to speak with you,” she began.
    My gaze shot to her face, then Dad’s. “Okay.”
    “Your father and I have been talking,” Mom continued. “And we both feel that you should live with him for a while. At least until you graduate from high school.”
    I stared at her, my brain scrambling to understand words I never thought I’d hear her say.
    “Over the next year as your vampire side continues to develop, you are going to need me nearby to teach you how to recognize and control each new ability,” Dad said.
    “Why can’t I just call you for advice?”
    “This is not just your mother’s