Page 122 of The Witch is Back

“I don’t think we have time for sex.”

“I like where you’re going with that. Maybe later. But this is a bit more...intimate.”

More intimate. She nudged him away, curious. “What?”

He took her hand with the one not holding the ring and held it, looking intently into her face. So much so she felt awkward under the probing stare. “You let me in just now. I want to do the same.” He squeezed her hand. “I know you still believe I left because I didn’t want to marry you.”

Oh, Goddess. She managed a weak smile. “Water under the bridge, Bastian. Come on, we’re gonna be late.”

He held firm. “There are things I want to tell you, Emma. Things I’m longing to tell you. But I can’t.”

“Okay then.” She tugged her hand. “Why don’t we—?”

“Emma,” he half scolded, half laughed, but she heard the nerves that rode under the two syllables. “Would you just stop for a sec? Just listen.” He took a breath. “I can’t tell you them because...” He froze as if he’d slammed into a wall. Annoyance made the navy of his eyes shimmer. “Well, you’ll see in a minute.”

“See what?”

“The truth. Please.” His gaze devoured her, pleading. “Trust me.”

“Bastian...”

“Emma.” He lifted her hand, kissed it. “Trust me.”

Her heart threw itself against her ribs in rapid movements. It was crazy to consider, stupid when they had somewhere to be, except... “Okay,” she said before she could think better of it. “I trust you.”

“This will make it right.” As nerves trickled into her belly, he pressed his forehead to hers and whispered, “See into my mind. Leviatus aperta.”

Emma had no idea what he was doing as the spell words dropped from his mouth but all of a sudden she was flooded with thoughts and feelings that literally slammed her back against the wall. When she opened her eyes with no idea when she’d closed them, she saw Bastian across from her, but they were no longer in her bedroom.

They were in one of the society gardens in New Orleans, she realized, disoriented. Party music played in the background and Bastian was slouched against a wall, except he looked younger. He still had the touch of innocence age robbed you of, his face open and vulnerable to anyone looking. He looked troubled.

What the hell...?

She began to ask the question. And heard the voices.

“...don’t know what to do,” a female voice hissed, the tone so low it was hard to tell who it was.

Emma watched as young Bastian’s head came up, not threatened but annoyed his solitude had been invaded.

She was beginning to understand what was happening. Bastian had allowed her into his mind to witness whatever it was he thought she should see. But why not just tell her? This magic came with risks for the one casting it. Worry for him clashed with fascination as she edged closer.

A male voice rumbled, but she couldn’t make out the words.

“I’m telling you, it’s in there,” the female insisted. “When Sebastian Truenote and Emmaline Bluewater wed under the full moon, there will be a Joining and the Truenote magic shall flow into the Bluewater veins.”

There was a pop in Emma’s ears and her stomach dropped away. Ice sheathed her completely as her head swung to the inner garden where the conversation was taking place. The figures were hidden but Bastian had heard what mattered.

He looked as sick as she felt. Stunned. His hands had fallen to his sides, both of them faintly shaking. Eyes glassy, he took a step back, as if in denial.

The voices were muttering, snatches of conversation but no real meaning. Either Bastian hadn’t heard them or they hadn’t been loud enough, but either way, he hadn’t heard what followed it.

He took another step back and stumbled on a decorative display of rocks. His feet hit the pebbles loud enough to shatter the intimate moment.

The voices cut off.

As if regaining his senses, young Bastian suddenly threw himself into motion, charging forward as if to confront them. Emma trailed him, sickness sour in her mouth as she knew what he’d find. Nobody.

She was tugged along behind him as if on a string as he whirled and ran to the house, searching for someone. His mom, she realized, when they came across a glowing Diana, a heartbreaking memory compared to her current state.

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