Page 160 of Castings & Curses

Jessica approached Imelda, Ben in tow behind her. “I’m sorry for your loss, Imelda. Zelda has always been a loose cannon, and her number came up. Now take her body and all your people and please go.”

Imelda’s glare at Sage threatened to kill. “You will rue this day. Withyouat the helm of the western region, you’ll destroy us all.” She addressed the crowd at large. “You all made the biggest mistake of your lives.”

CHAPTER13

Sage rusheda silent and skittish Rafael to her bedroom, the safest place on the compound. Ricky followed and remained on guard in the hallway. She shut her bedroom door, locked it, and faced Rafael. “We’ll be safe here. My witches and warlocks will kill the chaos.” As much as she wanted to wilt to her knees in exhaustion and magic depletion, she needed to ensure Rafael was okay. “Did you feel the bond break? Like a knife slicing through an intestine.”

Pasty and sweaty, he nodded, balled his hands at his sides. “What did I do? How is she dead?”

Sage gloved his left fist in her hands and coaxed him closer. He didn’t resist. “You did nothing. She caused her own magic to lose control when it reacted to the magic she granted you.” Sage paused, wondering if Zelda’s magic also reacted aversely to her aether. She’d never seen the like, although she’d heard of witch-air smothering a person. “The witch-air stole the air from her lungs, deflating them. It smothered her. She brought this on herself.” Sage wasn’t a hundred percent convinced her aether didn’t play a part, and she knew she had to get it under complete control before her world crumbled around her.

“I still feel weird.” He recoiled.

“It’ll take time for the magic to dispel.” Sage tried to wrap her arms around him, but too much distance separated them. She dropped his hand, leaving her frigid, despite the fire roaring through her body. Magic refilled the crater inside her, a return to her new normal of rising aether and Rafael’s strange brew.

“Part of it’s normal,” he confessed, dipping his head to study his feet.

“I know.” Did she? He felt more magic than an unbonded warlock should. But she let it go. No sense in freaking him out all over again. “You’re reacting to all the magic on the compound. Everyone will suffer until my aether disburses.” She snorted, trying to diffuse the awkwardness. “I promise you’ll feel better.”

Tension fled Rafael's body by the drooping of his taut shoulders. He took a cautious step forward and plucked a vine from her tangled hair. “You’ve got vines in your hair.” He tried to pull another twig from her damp hair, and she winced from the sting on her scalp. “Sorry. Won’t come out. Damn, it’s like it’s… growing out of your head.” He chuckled, fighting his shock.

Smiling to set him at ease, she clasped his hand again. “It’ll die and fall out.”

Horror masked his face. Until the unthinkable happened and the mask slipped. He busted out in laughter so infectious they both sank to the floor, rolling and clutching their stomachs.

“Laughter’s killer medicine to recover from a shitshow,” she said between bouts of giggles.

“God, I hope so.”

“I promise you we’ll laugh a lot.” She rolled closer to him and they both lay on their sides facing each other on the dense wool rug. She inhaled the welcome scent of him.

“What about romance? And sex?” He cradled her face in his hands, his touch gentle and loving.

Feeling the depth of their connection, she gazed deeply into the warmth of his eyes. His tender and affectionate touch conveyed his desire and devotion. As he leaned in to kiss her, time stood still. His lips met hers with a longing that had been building for what felt like an eternity. The kiss was soft and slow, yet filled with an intense passion that took her breath away.

She savored the salty taste of his lips and the warmth of his body as they held each other in a tight embrace. The world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them lost in each other. As the kiss ended, he pulled back slightly with a soft smile and sparkling eyes.

“I can promise tons of romance,” she said, and twined her arms around his neck. The strength in his firm body pressed against hers and just his mere presence provided an anecdote to a disastrous day. “I can definitely promise lots of sex.”

“Ditto.” Easing back, he let out a frustrated groan. “Not yet. Not like this.”

Sage fake-pouted. “I know.”

“You need to bond me now. You need my protection more than ever. That Imelda bitch is gonna seek revenge.”

Joy overcame her, and her limbs melted onto the rug. Stars sprayed the air above their heads and rained down in rose petals all over them.

Rafael caught red petals on his palm and inhaled them. “Is that a yes?”

“Absolutely. Everything I offered stands. But we can’t until Z’s magic is out of your system.”

His shoulders sagged, and the rose petals fluttered from his hands. “How long?”

“A week maybe.” Before he reacted, she pressed her mouth to his again, and they kissed until her head stopped spinning, and a knock on the door interrupted them. She wiped a smudge of ash off his temple. “Take a shower. Rinse that hag off your skin. I need to end the festival. I’ll ward the room, and no one will bug you.”

“Sage,” he breathed out her name in the way she loved. “I think I’m gonna love it here. Or whereveryouare.” He pushed up off the floor and helped her stand, his hand warm and strong gloved around hers.

“Well, good. I feel the same about you.” Without an ounce of remorse or regret, she watched him saunter into her bathroom and close himself inside.

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