Page 24 of Witch

Kana didn’t know how long had passed when Ember pulled away again. He ran his thumb just below Kana’s lower lip, and it came away wet.

“I’ll walk slowly,” Ember said as he stood with a pointed glance down at where Kana’s pajama pants tented. After a moment to adjust his own pants so they were more comfortable, he then took a couple of deep breaths before heading to the door.

Ember closed the door softly as he left, and Kana let out a heavy breath. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the couch cushion, trying to think unsexy thoughts, which was difficult when all he wanted was to chase after Ember, drag him back to their bedroom, and finish where that kiss had been leading. Instead, he rubbed his sleeve over his mouth to dry it and tried to focus on the witches he would be seeing in a few minutes.

“What do you think they want?” Kana asked. He opened his eyes and looked across the room to the armchair where Mika and Sora had been curled up together, but the chair was empty. An imperious mew sounded from near Kana’s feet, and a second later Sora, followed by Mika, hopped onto the couch. Sora kept climbing until he could sprawl behind Kana’s head on top of the couch’s backrest, while Mika contented himself by curling up in Kana’s lap.

Can’t be too bad, if they’re coming here. Mika’s voice sounded like he was standing at the other end of a long tunnel, but Kana could actually hear him.

Ember will squash them if they try anything. I’m not worried, Sora added, his own voice just as distorted, yet such a wonderful thing to hear again after so long.

Kana reached behind to give Sora’s chin a scritch and ran his other hand down Mika’s back.

“I hope you’re right,” he replied with a sigh. He wished his magic would return to full strength sooner, but he could barely communicate with his familiars. Casting any magic was still beyond him, and the vulnerable feeling in the pit of his stomach was growing with every minute that passed. At least his hard-on had faded, although that definitely wasn’t the sort of silver lining Kana usually looked for.

Thankfully he didn’t have to wait and worry too much longer. Ember pushed the door open and walked inside but stood there while Diana and another young witch Kana didn’t know helped an old woman through the door. They escorted her to the armchair, and once she was seated, the young witch stepped away to stand near the wall and Ember joined Kana at the couch, standing by the armrest. Diana turned to Kana.

“Hello, Kana,” she said after scrutinizing him for a long moment. Kana focused on her because something in the pit of his stomach was telling him to avoid looking at the old lady. “It’s good to see you’re doing better.”

“Looks terrible,” the old woman snapped out, and Kana automatically turned his head to look at her. Despite the thick wrinkles and bowed spine, she radiated authority. Her deep-set brown eyes were sharp with intelligence, and Kana didn’t think she missed any aspect of how weak and helpless he was at the moment.

“This is Crone Hecate,” Diana explained. “She traveled here from Salem to see you.”

Hecate? Kana thought with a mental gasp as he fought to keep his face blank so his shock wouldn’t show. According to the reading he had been doing about how the Salem coven was structured, Hecate was allegedly the most powerful witch in their circle.

“He’s no Horned Lord,” Hecate cut in, thankfully before Kana had to decide whether to reply to Diana with any niceties. “I’ve never heard of a man with power like his.” She leaned forward to study him more. “He could very well be our absent Maiden Lucina, but he is male. I do not believe the more stringent members of our circle would accept him in that role.”

“I’m not interested in joining your coven,” Kana quickly cut in before the conversation could spiral away any faster. Him, Lucina? Ridiculous. He was a male witch with hunter parentage, which was why he was so strong. What would Hecate do, Kana couldn’t help wondering, if she went out on a limb and declared him Lucina, and then two minutes later a baby girl was born to fill that spot in the coven.

Hecate laughed, a dry cackle. “You see, Diana? He can’t be our Lucina. Perhaps he was meant to be Seattle’s, but their blindness was their undoing.”

“Kana can be the werewolf pack’s instead,” Diana added with a smile at Kana and Ember.

Hecate looked from Kana to where Ember was hovering protectively behind him and cackled again. “Yes, yes. Let the werewolves have him.” She focused her attention back on Kana, her brown eyes piercing. “But, Kana, you are allowed to join our rights and holidays as a very welcome guest. Diana will be remaining in Albany for the foreseeable future, and she will see to it.”

Hecate waited and Kana knew he wasn’t going to be allowed to skip the niceties this time.

“I appreciate the offer and will gladly accept,” Kana replied. He couldn’t remember the last time he had celebrated any of the holidays properly, so it would be a nice change. Especially if he was only a guest at those events, rather than the pariah he had been in Seattle.

“Wonderful. I will be staying in Albany for a few more weeks to ensure the offshoot branch of our coven is settled properly. I hope to see you again before I return home.”

Kana nodded. “Let us know when you’re leaving, and I’ll make sure to come visit before then.” Hecate had welcomed him and accepted him for who he was as both a male witch and as Ember’s lover. He refused to be rude to her after that.

“We will do that.” Hecate turned to look at the young witch. “Help me up, Clara.” Clara hurried over, and with Diana’s help, they got Hecate to her feet. “Nice to meet you, Kana,” Hecate finished with a nod.

Ember gave Kana a brief look before he hurried to get the door. He left, escorted the witches back out of the building, and returned a few minutes later.

“That went well,” he said as he sat on the couch at Kana’s side. Mika squirmed out from underneath Kana’s hand and moved over to lie in Ember’s lap.

“I think so,” Kana agreed. “Sounds like the witches aren’t a threat any longer.”

Ember laughed. “More like the coven doesn’t want you as their enemy. Lucina or not, you are incredibly powerful. Having you as their ally is more beneficial to them.”

Kana sighed. “As long as it means there is peace in the city, I don’t care.” Kana didn’t want to think about the witches any longer. That problem was done with as far as he was concerned. He was much more interested in resuming where their kiss had left off and exploring the limits of Kana’s admittedly reduced endurance.

Kana reached out to gently grip Ember’s hand, running his thumb along the tender skin of Ember’s inner wrist. Ember’s worried frown immediately faded, replaced with a heated smirk and fire in his eyes. He turned his hand to slide his fingers between Kana’s and bent closer to kiss. Kana gladly met Ember halfway, giving everything of himself into their embrace and taking everything Ember gave in return.

Surrounded by the love of Ember, Mika, and Sora, and the love he felt for them, Kana eagerly went where this one instance would take them, knowing it was one wonderful moment of many more to come.

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