Page 12 of Love At First Roar
Cora’s eyes sparkled. “It smells like mischief.”
“It usually is,” Edgar replied.
Callum scowled. The Tansley brothers had known her all of thirty seconds and already acted like she was their favorite niece.
She thanked Edgar, tucked the sage bundle into her satchel, and turned toward the winding path that led past the lake. The cobbles gave way to packed earth and flowering weeds that curled up at the edges like they were watching her feet pass.
He stayed just behind. Quiet. Careful. Still irritated.
Cora hummed to herself as she walked, fingers grazing the tall ferns growing along the fence line.
“How long are you planning to follow me?” she asked suddenly.
Callum didn’t flinch. “Council orders.”
“You could just walk next to me, you know. Pretend we’re not enemies.”
“We’re not friends either,” he said.
She stopped. He nearly walked into her.
“Did I do something to you?” Her brow furrowed, not angry, just curious, which was worse somehow. “Or is grunting and glaring your love language? Because since you saved me, I haven’t been able to tell.”
Callum exhaled slow. “I don’t trust what I can’t place.”
“And I don’t fit in your boxes.”
“No, you don’t.”
She tilted her head, the corner of her mouth twitching. “Well, I’m not here to be categorized.”
“Good,” he said, stepping around her and walking ahead. “Because Hollow Oak doesn’t need more unpredictable magic messing with the Veil.”
Her soft footsteps crunched the dirt behind him. “Maybe it needs a little unpredictability.”
Callum didn’t reply. His lion growled in his chest, unsure if it wanted to argue or circle her until she stopped poking at his temper.
They reached the curve of the trail where Moonmirror Lake came into view. The water shimmered silver-blue, clear as glass, and reflected the sky like it had a secret to keep. He always found comfort here. Not peace, exactly, but stillness.
Cora slowed. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s Hollow Oak,” he said simply.
She looked up at the trees surrounding them. “You say the forest is alive… Do you ever wonder if the town itself is?”
“It is,” he said without hesitation.
She blinked, a little taken aback. “Really?”
“The Veil's not just magic. It’s tied to the land. To every tree and stone. It watches.”
“So it let me in for a reason.”
“Maybe.” He paused, eyes narrowing. “Or maybe it’s testing us.”
The words had barely left his mouth when the trail shifted.
He felt it in his boots first. A ripple under the ground like something uncoiling beneath the surface. Cora took another step, and vines shot up from the earth, snaring her ankles. Her startled yelp pierced the air.
