Otherworldly Discipline: A Witch's Lesson Read Online Free

Because I won’t get down on one knee and worship you?” She obviously had no idea how angry he was. “Well, think again, Buster! That’s never been me. You can take all this magical voodoo shit and all that ‘this is your destiny’ crap and shove it right up your ass for all I care!”
    He didn’t respond; just hauled her up the stairs and propelled her into the study before shutting the heavy oak door behind him. “What I think is absolutely astounding,” he began, “is how completely selfish you are.”
    She tensed and cocked her head to the side as if he was a spider she needed to squash. “Say what?” she replied, putting her fingers across her chest. “I— I’m selfish?”
    “Yes,” he said surely.
    “I’m selfish?” she echoed again. “Well, like, excuse me for living! In case I haven’t made it very, very clear to you, let me attempt to make it crystal.” She slowed down her voice to say as pedantically as possible, “ I don’t want to be your stupid apprentice! I don’t care about anything you do. I don’t want to learn what you have to teach me. You’re a bully, Moriarty’s an ass, and my paren ts are, like, complete morons —”
    “I don’t know how you can even begin to disrespect your parents after doing all that they’ve done for you. They’ve never raised a hand to you or let you know a moment of grief,” he lectured. All he could remember from when her foster parents had taken her on is how worried they were that the evil forces that had killed her parents would come after them as well. Yet they raised her, anyway. “If you—”
    “—and all of you are living in the wrong century. You’re all so damn backwards that you think you can keep me here like an indentured servant—”
    “—had the slightest measure of respect, you would thank them. They saved your life, and they only want the best for you. Now I’m the only one that can provide what you need. You have powers that nobody will be able to wield with the power you can develop! I’m the only person that can teach them to you, but you’re so cocky you’d rather throw it all away so that you don’t have to answer to anyone.”
    “—that you have the nerve to threaten like I’m some child! Your arrogance is so legendary that you could do reality TV. And no,” she replied when she saw his mouth open again, surely to repeat what he’d ju st been arguing, “I’m not cocky. You’re the damn cocky one. You’re so stubborn you don’t even know what to do with yourself when someone dares not to kiss your ass— ! ”
    Ashcroft was very much used to being the most important person in the room wherever he went. The sensation of being talked over was not one he had ever gotten used to, nor did he care to ever become used to it.
    The lights in the room flickered and darkened, and then the room shook slightly, causing her to jump back with confusion before she closed her mouth, silent.
    “I think we need to start over,” he said with a low, gravelly voice. “Either you stop this childish squabbling and take a seat so that we may have a discussion, or you continue to harangue me whereas you will end up listening to me while over my knee.”
    She opened her mouth, horrified, and then closed it again . She swallowed deeply and then seemed to again find her courage enough to speak. “We’re not discussing anything ; you’re attempting to lecture me,” she clarified. “If you were listening, you’d know I don’t appreciate being threatened by you.”
    He ground his teeth. Yes—she was attractive even as a blonde—her turquoise eyes always seemed to glisten all the bluer when she was angry. But he didn’t let her put him off this time. He had argued with great Kings of Elves and Men and had earned their respect, and damn it; he would get it from a teenage girl. “I’m not threatening you, I’m promising you ! Things are going to change around here, young lady. I mean it—I deserve and demand your