Page 29 of The Teddy Bear's Prize

As soon as I pass the threshold, the weight slips from my shoulders. The silence of Erika’s tempered emotions allows me to collect my own and order my thoughts.

“Where is this turkey?” I ask, looking across the countertops that nearly encompass half of the room.

“It’s still cooking,” she laughs, “I just know that look, I felt the same way when I came into my powers. The fates never stop whispering and I imagine it’s the same for you, being so in tune with emotions, but there are ways you can protect yourself.”

“I figured youwerea seer.”

“You catch on quick. Here, this is how my mother taught me,” she grabs a clear glass from the counter and fills it with water, walking over and placing it in my hand. “Pay attention to the surface of the water, imagine you are there surrounded by the clear glass. A barrier that keeps your thoughts and emotions inside, but others out. Focus on the water and how it settles.”

I look down at the glass, taking deep, even breaths. In my mind’s eyes I construct the wall, brick by brick, watching the water ripple. I blink and the water stills, as do my emotions.

“Better?” Erika asks.

“Yes,” I set the glass down on the counter. “Why are you helping me?”

“It’s about time for us to bury old grudges, don’t you think?” She walks towards the door, looking over her shoulder. “At the very least, for Mia’s sake.”

“For Mia’s sake?” I tilt my head.

“Yeah,” Her brows crease, “You don’t know? Shit. Okay, I should really get back out there.” Her mask slips momentarily, and I sense her embarrassment.

Before I can form a sentence, Erika slips back out into the party, leaving me alone. What should I know? Why does it feel like I’m missing something right in front of me?

As I step out of the kitchen, Mia gives me a cautioussmile and crosses the room to meet me, touching my arm, “Better?”

“Is the turkey a code for something?” I tilt my head.

“No, but Erika talked me out of a few panic attacks back in college. I figured yours might need magical intervention.”

“She is a good friend. You’re lucky to have her looking out for you.”

Mia nudges against me, “It seems like she’s looking out for you too.” She slides her hand around my waist to rub my back in slow circles.

When it’s time to eat, the group settles in the living room, scattered across the couch and the loveseat, while some people stand against the wall with their paper plates. Mia sits beside me, balancing a plate on her knees, while picking at the green beans with her fork.

“Excuse me.” Paolo says, clearing his throat and running his hand over his short dark brown hair, “I just want to make a toast to my partner and tonight’s wonderful host for pulling this together on such short notice.”

Erika smiles and folds in a mock bow, “Thank you.”

“The moment I saw her at Jimmy’s party last year, I knew she was the other half of my soul,” he watches her, “She radiated this,” he pauses, gesturing with his hand, “light that I couldn’t ignore. It’s likely the reason that you are all here tonight.”

Light.I remember the way Mia’s soul shone brighter than all the others. I have never seen its equal in all of my years. The answer has been there all along, a force more powerful than most magics. A bond that is not easily broken.

I listen to Paolo, but my attention wanders to Mia. She’s watching with a soft smile on her face that is so beautiful it threatens to break my heart.

She straightens and turns, her eyes finding mine. Her soft gaze is like a siren’s song, it always has been, calling me to her side. It resonates deep within my chest, in my—that is what Erika was trying to say. I just didn’t think that it would be possible, not after hundreds of years.

I know better than to meddle with fate.

Mia isn’t a witch, she is my soulmate.

SIXTEEN

Mia

How couldI have let this happen?

At the very beginning, I made a promise to myself not to get attached to Tobias. I could do casual, nothing had to come of our connection, just a little earth shattering sex between two consenting adults and then we could go on with our lives. But, no, I had to fall in love.

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