Page 47 of Wedded Witch

“I didn’t mean—” The words catch in my throat.

I don’t even know what I’m trying to say. I didn’t mean to push her like that. I didn’t mean to make her faint, for fuck’s sake. I didn’t mean to care this much about her in the first place. I didn’t mean to meet the one I’d be fated to spend all of eternity with.

My brothers don’t get it. They don’t understand. They’re yet to experience what it’s like, but when they do, when they meet their fated match, they’ll realise why I’m so out of sorts.

I kick open the door to our living room and lower her onto the couch, brushing the hair away from her face, my fingers trembling. She’s too pale.

“Swyn, come on. Please, wake up. You’re scaring the shit out of me,” I mutter the words under my breath, my heart pounding in my ears.I didn’t mean it, I didn’t mean any of it.

Of course I didn’t mean it. It was a shock. To see my intended running from my naked brother. To discover she slept with him and kissed Kel…it was all too much. Not that excuses what I did.

Sol looms over me, shoving me hard in the shoulder. “Ri, what the hell is wrong with you?”

“I don’t know!” I bark back, but it comes out more like a plea than a shout. “I don’t know, okay? I just—” I look down at her, my chest tight. I can’t think straight. Can’t focus on anything, but the rise and fall of her chest.

“Just wa

e up, Swyn. Please. I swear, I’ll never say another shitty word to you again. Just... please, sweetheart.”

“You’re such a hypocrite,” Sol growls. “Calling her ‘sweetheart’ now? After all the crap you’ve been throwing at her? You’re unreal, man.”

“Do you think I don’t know that?” My voice breaks as I snap at him. “Iknow. I’ve been an asshole. But I—” I pause, looking down at her again.I didn’t want this.

I didn’t want to meet my mate. I didn’t want to care. But I do. More than I’m ready to admit. I brush her cheek with my thumb, voice lowering and taking on an edge of command.

“Come on, princess. You’re tougher than this. Don’t let this knock you down.”

Kel’s standing in the corner, arms crossed, frowning hard. “This is why you don’t push people, Ri. She wasn’t ready for whatever the hell you were trying to throw at her. You think she was just going to take it?”

I grit my teeth, barely holding back a string of curses that we’d all regret.

“Kel, just shut the fuck up.”

“You better hope she’s okay. Otherwise, I’m?—”

Kel’s words cut off as a soft sound escapes Swyn’s lips. I freeze, my breath catching in my throat.Thank god.

She stirs, her brow furrowing, and after what feels like an eternity, her eyes flutter open. I can’t stop myself. I exhale hard, relief crashing into me like a wave.

“Swyn?”

Her gaze is unfocused, disoriented, but at least she’s awake. She blinks up at me, her voice weak, barely a whisper. “Ri?”

I swallow thickly, trying to keep my voice steady. “Yeah, sweetheart, I’m here. You’re okay.”

Her brows pinch, confusion flickering in her expression. “You... you called me sweetheart?”

“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it,” I mutter, my voice rough, but the tight knot in my chest is already unravelling. She’s alright.She’s going to be alright.

“What happened?” She asks, blinking slowly and glancing around the room. “Where am I?”

“You fainted, princess. But I caught you.”

“You caught me?” Her voice is soft, barely above a whisper, and she’s looking at me like I’ve just grown a second head.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the panic that’s still clinging to me like a second skin. “Yeah, I caught you. What, you think I’d just let you hit the floor?”

Swyn blinks at me, then glances around the room like she’s piecing everything together. She’s pale, but her colour’s slowly coming back, and I can’t stop staring at her face, just to be sure she’s really okay.

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