The Witches of the Glass Castle (The Witches of the Glass Castle Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

mean?’
    ‘Nothing to worry about,’ Wendolyn assured her. ‘But if I told you now, I don’t think that you’d understand.’
    Mia looked fearfully at Dino, hoping for some form of comfort.
    ‘OK,’ he said evenly. ‘Read my fortune.’ It was a challenge more than a request. He lifted his untouched tea and knocked it back it in one swig, then thrust the empty cup into Wendolyn’s hand.
    Without batting an eyelid, she peered down into the depths of the cup.
    Mia held her breath while they waited. The room was silent other than the quiet crackle of a burning candle and the slight rasp of Dino’s breathing.
    ‘You’ve got an interesting path ahead of you, Dino,’ Wendolyn said at last. ‘And you’re going to have to make some difficult choices.’
    ‘What kind of choices?’ Dino demanded.
    ‘It’s not my right to say.’
    ‘But it’s your right to keep me here?’
    Wendolyn stood up slowly. ‘You’re free to leave whenever you please.’ She eyed the door meaningfully.
    Dino let out a sharp breath – the sound of a man defeated.
    ‘Well, then,’ Wendolyn said brightly, her breezy voice deflecting the tension. ‘Shall I show you to your bedchamber?’
    ‘Bedchamber?’ said Dino. ‘Don’t you mean bedchamber s ?’
    ‘No. There is only one.’
    Dino slapped his hand to his head. ‘Please don’t tell me we’re sharing.’
    ‘Yes, you’ll be sharing,’ Wendolyn confirmed.
    That didn’t sound so terrible to Mia. With everything that was going on at the moment, the last thing she wanted was to feel even more isolated and alone. At least now she’d have the company of a familiar face. However grouchy that face was.
    ‘Please,’ Din o said, his surly tone dissolving into desperation. ‘Please, I’m begging you. I can’t share a room with her .’
    Mia’s jaw dropped . ‘Hey! I’m not that bad!’
    Dino spoke only to Wendolyn. ‘I’m begging you,’ he said, his h ands clasped together. ‘You don’t understand.’
    She began to blow out the candles. ‘I do u nderstand,’ she said. ‘I’m afraid there is nothing I can do.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ Dino exclaimed. ‘This is your place! Surely there’s somewhere else you can put me?’
    Wendolyn opened the library door and ushered them back out into the long, narrow corridor. ‘I’m afraid not,’ she said.
    Fuming, Dino ran h is hands through his hair.
    Mia watched the display with a mixture of anger and sorrow. Why was the ide a of sharing a room so horrific to him? OK, so it wasn’t ideal, but they’d shared rooms in the past. As she trailed her hands along the indented carvings on the wall, she realised that his blame and resentment towards her had evolved into pure hatred.
    They walked on through the dark corridor until they reached a wide staircase furnished with the same dull-red carpet and a grand, mahogany banister. As Mia took the first step, a small brown sparrow fluttered past her. She gasped.
    ‘Everything OK?’ Wendolyn enquired, pausing her ascent on the staircase.
    Mia looked around her for the bird, but it had vanished from sight. ‘There was a sparrow,’ she explained, mystified.
    ‘Ah,’ Wendolyn smiled. ‘That’ll be the tea showing you a little glimpse into the future. Keep an eye out for sparrows; they must have some significance.’ She continued walking.
    At the top of the staircase, Wendolyn brought them to a tall oak door. ‘This will be your bedchamber,’ she told them. ‘You’re free to explore the grounds, but be cautious. Do not venture too near to the forest – it’s Hunter territory.’
    Dino looked at Mia, his dark eyes almost venomous. At that moment she noticed just how dark they were, especially in comparison to the pale grey of her own eyes. Looking at him now, she supposed they probably didn’t look much like brother and sister at all. Well, aside from their chocolate brown hair, and perhaps their smiles – although Mia hadn’t seen Dino smile in a while, so it was