Page 28 of Spirit Witch

“This is real, right?You and me, this is real,” I said, hating the needy tone of my voice, but unable to hide it from him.

“This is real, I promise you,” he said.“I lost you once, never again.You are mine.”His hold tightened on me, and his mouth closed over my neck again.

“Judge, you’re going to make me drop my mug,” I told him, leaning back into him, pressing my ass against the hard bar inside his pants.

“Then I will get you another,” he said, spinning me around and walking me backward until we were leaning against an enormous tree, and sheltered by its low-hanging branches.

“I can’t wait to have you alone, so I can really kiss you.To touch your body again.To have you naked and writhing against me.Need you, Nizhoni,” he growled against my lips, crushing me with his kiss.

When he finally lifted his head, we were both panting, and I wondered how fast we could get to my room.But Mabe was calling my name, and I figured I owed them a little of my time.

“Come on,” he said, pulling me along gently by the hand.“Let’s join the others.”

Judge found an unoccupied chair and sat down, tugging me on his lap.It was the first time I could remember sitting on a man’s lap in public, or private for that matter, and I had to admit it was not altogether uncomfortable.His large hands held my hips as we exchanged stories and quips with the others.It was hard not to love this.This feeling of community and camaraderie was just what I thought we all needed.Everyone together and in a jovial mood, just enjoying each other’s presence.

“So, when did this all happen?”Maia asked, leaning forward and gesturing between me and Judge.

“Actually, I knew Judge back in the human world,” I confessed, waiting for them to blow up at me.Instead, they all stared, waiting for me to continue.

“It’s, um, complicated,” I mumbled, shoulders sagging at the thought of lying, even if only by omission.

“What do you mean, complicated?”Tana asked, bold as only a fire witch born with a set of brass balls could be.

“What do you think she means?”Maia asked her, rolling her eyes.

“OMG!Is this like your origin story?I wanna hear it!”Jade yelled, clapping excitedly.

I snorted and rolled my eyes, cheeks burning in my embarrassment.

Judge chuckled and squeezed me close, dropping a kiss on my neck.

“Let’s just say it was fortuitous that Fin came looking for a Lorekeeper when he did.You see, she is right, before you knew Enid, and before she came to Westwood Academy, I knew her.Something happened, and it took her out of my life, and I have been trying to find her for the past couple of years,” Judge supplied, surprising me.

All eyes turned to him, and I found myself looking back as well.I was eager to hear his version of our origin story, though I’d heard it already.

“No, I won’t tell you, because I do not know the whole of it.So, don’t bother to ask,” he told them before they could ask the questions.

I had already tried to make him answer, but Judge would not tell me anymore than that.He wouldn’t be moved on this one thing, and I felt bad trying to force it.He’d already told me my memory was foggy for a reason and until I broke through on my own, it would just stay buried.For a dream boy, he could be plenty jerky sometimes.

“Now, I will tell you that Enid and I went to the same parochial school together.She was this tiny, lavender-eyed cutie, and I had the biggest crush on her.I lived with my grandfather then, and he was training me in my duties as the next Dusek Clan Lorekeeper, along with my Spiritwalker tasks.I’d only just taken the helm when Fin and Mabe contacted me,” he said, and nodded at Fin.

The Enforcer was well aware of who Roald Dusek was and had been instrumental in finding Judge.I supposed I owed him a huge thanks, but I was unable to articulate it at that time.

“I’d been looking for Enid a long time when they came looking for me,” he said, his cinnamon bark gaze with gold swirls glowing as he looked at me.

“Good thing we did!I’ve never seen her look so happy.And I mean, she was always pretty, but wowza.Gettin’ a little somethin’ somethin’ agrees with you, Enid, cause you look really beautiful,” the blood witch teased.

Giggles and wolf whistles called out.I buried my head in Judge’s shoulder, giggling in my embarrassment and excitement.His chest shook with his own laughter, but he held on to me, tucking my hair behind my ear and kissing me softly.

“It’s true, I mean you were always pretty, but that mousy brown color never suited you,” Maia pointed out.

“What are you all talking about?”I asked.

“Here, look,” she said, handing me her compact mirror.

I opened it slowly, noting with embarrassment the way my hands were shaking.I’d never really liked the brown hair and dull skin, and with five roommates as beautiful as they were, it was kind of a thing.Like yeah, they always called me pretty, but I just thought they were being nice.Again, I was not vain.I mean not any more vain than the average person, er, witch.But still, I was not ready for the changes in my reflection.

Holy shit.

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