Page 22 of Love At First Roar
Miriam smiled knowingly. “Settled, then. The cottage is yours as long as you’d like. And if a certain lion gets overly grumbly, tell him he can answer to me.”
Callum’s scowl deepened, but he said nothing, clearly choosing battles more carefully when the older woman was around. Miriam chuckled softly, squeezed Cora’s hand reassuringly, and headed down the path back to the inn, leaving them alone in the sunlit doorway.
Callum lingered a moment longer, silent but watchful, before turning to go. “Don’t do anything reckless,” he growled softly, striding away without waiting for a response.
“Goodbye to you too, sunshine,” she muttered under her breath, watching his broad shoulders disappear down the trail.
She shut the door firmly, turning to face her new home with determination. It was small—just one main room with a hearth, a nook for sleeping, and a quaint kitchenette. Shelves lined the walls, already filled with jars of herbs Miriam must’ve placed, their labels curling in tidy script. Pots of violets and rosemary sat cheerfully in the windowsills.
Cora drew a deep breath, magic tingling in her fingertips. This was her space, her chance to carve out peace in Hollow Oak. She needed this—not just the cottage, but the quiet it promised, the chance to remember who she’d been before Elric’s darkness had sunk claws into her soul. She needed to prove she could belong here, that she wasn’t just a cursed fae bringing trouble.
She rubbed her palms together lightly, whispering softly, “Right. Let’s make this feel like home.”
Closing her eyes, she let her enchantment flow—soft, gentle tendrils of fae magic weaving through the room. It was simple enough: peace, comfort, a little warmth. Harmless.
Mostly harmless, anyway.
A rustling sound made her eyes snap open. A broom leaning against the hearth shivered to life, swaying uncertainly on its bristles. Cora eyed it warily.
“You’re just supposed to help tidy,” she warned quietly. “Don’t get ideas.”
The broom twitched innocently. She sighed, smiling faintly. “Behave.”
But as the afternoon passed and she arranged cushions and brewed tea, she noticed the broom growing increasingly… friendly. It swept near her feet, nudging her ankles playfully,humming with a suspiciously flirtatious energy. Cora narrowed her eyes.
“Oh, no,” she muttered. “I enchanted a flirt.”
A sharp knock at the door startled her. She opened it quickly, heart jumping when she saw Callum standing there again, expression thunderous. “Everything alright in here?”
“Perfectly,” she said brightly, smiling with exaggerated innocence. “Just unpacking.”
He eyed her suspiciously, but stepped inside cautiously. Immediately, the broom perked up, swishing toward him with alarming enthusiasm. It swept around his boots, brushing gently, practically purring.
Callum stared down incredulously. “What the hell?”
Cora winced. “Minor enchantment hiccup.”
He growled softly, stepping back. The broom followed, relentless in its attentions. “Minor?”
“Okay, it’s a bit friendly,” she admitted sheepishly. “It wasn’t intentional.”
“You enchanted your broom to flirt with me?” His voice dripped disbelief and irritation.
“It’s supposed to clean!” she insisted, trying not to laugh at the sheer absurdity. “I swear!”
The broom nudged insistently at Callum’s calves, brushing dirt from his boots with affectionate vigor. His jaw ticked tightly, eyes narrowing dangerously.
“Fix it.”
“Right, right,” she said hastily, holding back a giggle. “Sorry.”
She knelt quickly, fingertips brushing the broom handle as she murmured softly, coaxing the magic into submission. It settled reluctantly, swishing once more at Callum’s boots before going still, leaning innocently against the hearth again.
He glared down at it suspiciously. “I’m watching you.”
“See?” Cora smiled hopefully. “No harm done.”
He snorted softly, turning back toward the door. “Keep your magic on a tighter leash.”
