I knew little about the Delvaux family. Only what I had been able to read in books and what my father had told me when I was little. The Delvaux family hated my mother. She was the trashy beauty who stole their son from them then took all he had. I didn’t blame them for that. They had no idea the extent of hate they should have toward her. She had done much more than take all my father’s inheritance at his death. I was sure she’d caused his death.

My sisters had a different father- Zephyr. He was a powerful warlock who had visited briefly over the years and had never required they take his last name, although he didn’t use a surname. Both my sisters used the Kamlock name like it was something to be proud of.

I was different. Not all of my blood was tainted with darkness. I had my father in me and I was thankful for that difference. I was also thankful he’d wanted his last name on my birth certificate.

“You’re twenty now, Catalina. Refusing your birthright is just delaying it. Why keep it up?” Leanne placed a cigarette between her lips, knowing I didn’t allow smoking in my room. She snapped her fingers to light it up, and when nothing happened, she glared at me accusingly; yet, she didn’t attempt to light it again.

“I’m not delaying it. I’m denying it.” I didn’t wait for her to say more or try and get me worked up. She was good at that, using her calm tone and sweet smile to say the exact things to piss you off. Her red hair reminded me how much of our mother was in her. She looked more like momma than Geneva or I did; she was just better at concealing her inner bitch.

I walked out of my room and left her there to stew in her own pot of strife she thrived on and headed for the doors leading onto the back terrace. I wasn’t going downstairs and walking out into the backyard until I was sure I needed to. Geneva could very well be overreacting about the weather. Opening the double doors located at the top of the stairs leading to the third floor, I walked out onto the terrace. Inhaling, I closed my eyes and tasted the rain that would come. Exhaling, my mood went even more sour. I hated when Geneva was right. It was going to rain later today. There was no doubt about that.