Page 24 of The Witch's Cottage
This makes me sit up and turn so I can look into his eyes.
“It was years ago,” he clarifies. “Nothing recent.”
With a sigh, I scoot around so I can face him, my legs draped to one side beneath my long cotton skirt. I pull his hand gently into my lap and turn it over, using the firelight to study the lines on his palm. I had a chiromancy course at the academy, but the divination method never clicked with me. Selene, though, is incredibly gifted at it. I try never to let her see my palms lest she tell me something I don’t want to hear. Knowing her, she’d probably say things just to frighten me. Once a nettling older sister, always a nettling older sister.
“What happened?” I ask, not looking up to meet Alden’s eyes. I feel braver looking down at his warm-brown skin against mine. “Is that okay for me to ask?”
“Of course it is.” He lifts his hand from my lap to push a tendril of hair behind my ear. I capture his palm against my face, then turn my head so that I can press a kiss to each of his calloused fingers. When I’ve kissed each one, I take his hand in both of mine and hold it firmly.
Alden sighs.
“Her name’s Belinda. We both grew up here.”
There’s a long pause. I don’t push or rush him, instead taking the moment to feel the fire warming my cheek and the firmness of Alden’s hand in mine. I could sit with him like this for days and not tire of it—though I’d certainly need some snacks and hot tea.
“We were childhood sweethearts, I guess you could say. Just took to each other.” His lips just barely quirk up in the corner, making me wonder if he’s remembering a fond memory of her. “I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. We were happy. Or I thought we were. But before we could have the ceremony, she said she wanted to move away, leave Faunwood for someplace bigger.” He reaches up with his free hand to run his fingers through his long wild hair. “She wanted me to go with her, but I couldn’t. This place runs through my veins. It’s the only home I’ve ever known.”
Feeling his hand tighten in mine, I begin stroking the backs of his fingers softly, soothingly. It seems to work, for he releases the fist he was starting to make, and his shoulders droop.
“I told her I couldn’t leave, and she decided to leave without me. Went to Wysteria in search of a big life.”
Gently, I whisper, “And did she find it?”
“As far as I know. Came back for Yule two years ago witha new husband and a child on the way. She seemed... happy. Content.”
“Do you miss her?” I ask.
It takes Alden a moment to answer. While I wait, I turn his hand over and press my palm to his, marveling at how much smaller my hand appears nestled within his larger one.
“I don’t think so,” he says at long last. “What I miss is having someone. Someone to talk with, laugh with, bicker with. Gets lonely when it’s just me and that cabin.”
Finally, I find the strength to look into his eyes.
And he’s staring right at me.
“Maybe . . .” I swallow down the lump in my throat and try again. “Maybe I could . . . be someone . . . for you.”
Heat rushes into my cheeks, and I glance quickly away. But then Alden’s warm hand is cupping my chin, tipping it up so I’ll meet his striking dark eyes.
“Silly little witch,” he whispers, leaning in so close our noses brush. “You already are.”
And then he kisses me.
Chapter 14
Alden
I’M SITTING ON THE TOP porch stair, knife in hand, working on the final details in the wooden cat I’ve been whittling for the past week. It’s somehow taken on a bit of a smug look, and I blame it on Aurora’s cat, Harrison. I’m pretty sure cats can’t smile, but I swear that one can damn near smirk.
I’ve just carved some texture into the cat’s fur when the sound of dirt crunching under boots catches my attention. I look up, heart squeezing, already hoping to see a head of green hair appear walking down the path.
But lucky for me, it’s my sister.
A breath eases out of me in a sigh, and I go back to whittling as she walks the rest of the way to my cabin.
“Hello to you too,” Lydia says. She tosses her shoulder bag down next to me before taking a seat. “Scoot over.”
“I was here first,” I mumble, but still, I yield some space, making room for her to cuddle up beside me.
