Page 41 of Plus-Size Mate

She had hoped that perhaps even one member of her coven might turn up in support of this spell, a spell that was going to protect them as much as the wolves, but it seemed there was not a single familiar face among the crowd.

What if my mom shows up late and tries to stop it?Winter thought. Her heart raced as she realized she actually didn't want that to happen.

As the noise of their howling died down, Jack turned to Winter and said, “I shall hand this back over to you with my sincerest gratitude.”

He bowed his head to Winter before doing the same to Eddie, and finally, he returned to stand beside Bonnie.

He wrapped his arm lovingly around his mate, who held their toddler son affectionately to her chest.

Could that be us one day?Winter wondered, looking at them before looking back at Eddie. She shoved the thought away. That didn't matter right now. What mattered in this moment was performing the spell to protect the town.

And so, without explaining herself, Winter began to light the candles that were set in a circle around her and Eddie, callingthe elements of air, fire, earth, water and spirit to protect them while she worked the spell.

All eyes were on her, watching carefully. Some murmured as if uncertain of what she was doing and if it was really such a good idea.

Winter had expected it. After all, magic users weren't exactly understood by those who didn't use it.

What she hadn’t expected was the admiring look upon Eddie's face as she returned to join him at the center of the circle.

“You've got this,” he whispered encouragingly, as if he sensed her nerves.

“Thanks,” Winter responded, smiling. Her cheeks were warm with embarrassment, and she hoped that in the light of the full moon he wouldn't be able to see it. “Let's just get this over with, shall we?” she suggested.

Gesturing to the book at her feet, she started to get down onto the ground, kneeling to look at the open pages before her. Silently, Eddie dropped down opposite her, looking down at the book, though she was certain he couldn't read Latin, let alone upside down.

Taking the goblet from beside the book, she added salt for protection and an amulet of acacia wood for love and purity before she placed it before Eddie and said, “Give me your hand.”

Eddie raised a brow at her. “Why?”

Winter held out her own and snapped, “Just do it.”

She was in no mood for questions right now.

Eddie, still looking hesitant, laid his hand in hers, palm up.

Swiftly, Winter produced the athame dagger she kept in her boot, and before he could react, she sliced down his palm. Wrapping his fingers around the cut, she tilted his hand to drip a few drops into the goblet.

“You could have warned me about that,” Eddie snapped when she released his hand and proceeded to cut her own palm.

Adding her own blood to the goblet, she closed her eyes, turned her head up to the moon, and started to chant the words she had memorized from the book.

She didn't have time to baby a werewolf right now. She simply wanted this over with as quickly as possible.

And soon it would be.

Opening her eyes the moment the chanting was complete, Winter dipped her finger in the bloody concoction and leaned over to smear it over Eddie's lips.

“What the fuck?” he demanded, trying to avoid it, but with her free hand, she grabbed him by the back of the head.

She felt how tense he was, knowing if he really wanted to, he could break free of her grip. Yet, he didn't. And once his lips were smeared, she smeared her own.

“Kiss me.”

Eddie stared at her, open-mouthed. “Excuse me?”

“Kiss me,” she ground out through gritted teeth. Rolling her eyes, she added, “It's the final step of the spell. Just damn well kiss me.”

Eddie glanced around them then, as if looking for someone to step in so he wouldn't have to finish this damn thing.

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