Page 94 of Wedded Witch

A vision of what might have been flashes in my mind—what if they hadn’t made it through? What if the storm had taken them away? The thought sends a shiver through me, and I realise just how much they mean to me.

I just called them my guys for freaks’ sake! I need to get a grip.

As we survey the damage together, I find myself lost in thought once more. What if I had to leave them? The idea weighs heavily on my heart.

I have a life back home, a family that I should return to, responsibilities I’ve ignored for too long. But the thought of leaving this place, of walking away from Kel, Sol, and Ri, fills me with an ache I can’t quite define.

“Swyn?” Sol’s voice breaks through my reverie, pulling me back to the present. “You okay? You’ve gone a bit pale.”

“Yeah, just thinking,” I reply, forcing a smile. But deep down, I know I need to confront this feeling. I can’t run and hide forever. I owe it to myself and to them to be honest.

As we continue to clean up, I can’t shake the gnawing sense of guilt. I realise it’s time to come clean with my family, to let them know where I am and what’s going on.

Taking a deep breath, I pull out my phone, my fingers trembling slightly as I dial.

The call connects, and after a few rings, my mother answers, her voice bright and filled with surprise. “Swyn! It’s so good to hear from you! We were just talking about you.”

My heart races. “Hey, Mum. I?—”

“Oland’s been giving us updates about your honeymoon,” she gushes, the words dripping with excitement. “He said you two were having a great time in New York, planning to visit the ancestral coven. Is that true?”

I blink, taken aback. “What? He…he told you that?”

“Of course! He’s been so protective of you, checking in every chance he gets. You should be grateful,” she replies, her voice softening. “But are you okay? You sound different.”

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just a bit overwhelmed, I guess,” I admit, the guilt washing over me like a wave. I’ve been hiding here, diving headfirst into something without thinking about the consequences.

There’s a moment of silence on the other end, confusion settling in. “What do you mean, overwhelmed? Where’s Oland?”

“He’s here, but it’s complicated,” I say, my throat tightening. “I—I’m safe, but I didn’t want you to worry. There was a pretty bad storm here last night. I just thought I’d better tell you.”

More silence, then, “Oh sweetie, we wouldn’t worry. You’re with Oland. We know you’re perfectly safe. Honestly,” she laughs. “As if that man would allow a single hair on your head to come to harm. He’s quite besotted with you.”

“Umm, yeah…” I mumble, my mind racing.So much for honesty, Swyn.“He’s a great guy.”

“The best. We just want you to be happy. But you have a life here, and a duty to perform too, so I hope that by the time you both return, you’ll have some happy news to share with all the coven!”

As her words sink in, I realise that Oland has been looking out for me, even from a distance. My heart swells with a mixture of warmth and guilt.

I never meant to drag him into this mess, to let him carry the burden of my secrets. But then her wordsreallysink in and I experience a flash of anger.

Towards her, not him. Everything is alwaysduty, duty, duty. Curse this and curse that. Make a baby, Swyn. Time’s ticking!

I’m sick of it.

“Mom, I’m sorry Oland has just come back with breakfast for us. I need to go,” I say, my voice cracking.

“Say no more. Breakfast in bed!” She giggles. “Do what’s right for our family, sweetie,” she replies softly. “We’re here for you, when you have the news.”

The call ends, and I stare at my phone, the weight of my emotions crashing over me. My mother is…well, exactly the same as she always was. A lot. And Oland…

Oland knows where I am. He’s been watching out for me, and I can’t help but feel conflicted. Guilt twists in my gut.

Then I remember the storm, the danger that lurked in the shadows, and I can’t shake the worry that comes with it. What if Oland was hurt? What if the chaos of the storm had found its way to him?

I take a deep breath, glancing at Sol and Kel, their faces determined as they assess the damage. I need to focus on the here and now, but the fear of what might come next hangs over me like a storm cloud, heavy and unyielding.

Why does my heart suddenly feel conflicted? Like it’s not being split in three pieces, but four?

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