Page 51 of Wedded Witch

The fury is rising in me, hot and fast. The idea of someone—anyone outside of my brothers and me—claiming her, trapping her in something so vile, sets my blood boiling.

“You’re on the run from him?” I ask, my voice barely controlled.

Swyn shrugs, her face pale. “He seems nice enough but…yeah, I ran. I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t—” Her voice breaks, and she closes her eyes for a moment, clearly fighting to hold herself together.

Kel’s hand tightens on her shoulder, his jaw clenched so hard I can hear his teeth grind. “Is he after you?” There’s a dangerous growl in his voice, something primal, protective.

“I don’t know,” she whispers, her voice small.

“You should have said something.”

”I barely know you guys, why would I turn up on your doorstep and dump my trauma on you? I don’t want to drag anyone into it. You’ve all got your own lives, your own problems. I don’t want to make it worse.”

Ri lets out a sharp laugh, though there’s nothing amused about it.

“You thinkthat’sthe problem? That you’re making our lives more complicated? That we give a shit about anything other than the fact that you’re on the run from some bastard who thinks he owns you?”

Swyn looks up at him, her eyes wide and filled with guilt. “I didn’t want to drag you into it,” she repeats, but the weight in her voice tells me she knows how futile that argument is now. “And I don’t know if he’s chasing me. He might be perfectly nice?—”

I step closer, my hand brushing her cheek, forcing her to meet my gaze.

“Swyn, you’re fated to us. Do you understand what that means?” My voice is low but intense. “You’reours. Not his. You don’t get to carry this alone anymore. We protect you. We share the burden.”

Kel nods, his hand still firm on her shoulder, a silent vow.

“We’ll deal with him. He’s not touching you.”

“And if he tries?” Ri growls, his fists clenching at his sides. “I’ll rip him apart.”

Swyn’s eyes well with tears, but she blinks them back quickly, her lips trembling.

“I never thought I’d… Well, I never thought anyone would fight for me. Not like this. My family has always been so obsessed with the curse, wanting me to have babies. They’ve never really cared about whatIwant.”

I reach out, pulling her against my chest, cradling her as her breath hitches. “We’ll always fight for you, clover, and put your needs first. You’re ours, and no one’s taking you away.”

For a moment, she melts into me, her body trembling against mine, and I feel that protective surge again, fiercer than before. She’s been carrying this fear—this danger—alone, and it sickens me. How could anyone think they had the right to control her?

But I know one thing now—whoever this Watcher is, he’s about to meet the end of his days if he ever comes near her again.

Swyn pulls back slightly, wiping at her face with a shaky hand.

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I just…I was desperate. I needed to break the curse before he caught up to me, dragged me home and…well, you know.”

Kel’s fingers tighten on her shoulder as he looks at her, his voice soft but firm.

“Swyn, we don’t care about the past. All that matters is that you’re safe now. You’re with us.”

Her eyes flick between the three of us, something like relief mingled with uncertainty. “But…I’m married to him.”

“We don’t care,” Kel tells her firmly.

“What about the curse? I don’t even know how to break it yet. And if I can’t... if I don’t...”

I shake my head, holding her gaze with intensity. “We’ll figure it out. Together. But right now, you need to focus on staying safe.”

Ri steps forward, his eyes blazing with anger and determination. “We’ll handle the Watcher. And the curse. You’re not alone in this anymore, Swyn.”

She nods, swallowing hard, but I can still see the fear flickering in her eyes. “I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to trust anyone with this. I’ve always had to look out for myself, my whole coven was against me.”

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