Page 19 of The Witch's Rite
I lower the letter with trembling hands and a pattering of my heart in my chest. Selene is coming to visit! And for Samhain no less! I’d already planned on a special ritual in hopes of connecting with Auntie, but with Selene here, we’ll have twice the power and twice the chance of getting through the veil.
So caught up in my joy, I’m surprised when a shadow falls over the garden table. Looking up, I find Alden standing there, his dark curls pulled back in a knot atop his head, his brown eyes vibrant in the summer sun.
“What have you got there, little witch?” he asks, dropping his tool belt to the ground before taking a seat across from me.
“Selene is coming to visit! Here, look!” I pass him the letter, my mind already running with ideas of how to prepare for my sister’s arrival.
A furrow forms in Alden’s brow, and he arches an eyebrow as he glances up at me.
“What?” I ask.
“What did you tell your sister about me in your first letter?”
A wave of embarrassment goes through me, and it warms my cheeks. I was so excited that I forgot the first few lines in the letter. “Oh, um... just that you were nettling, I think.” I flash him an innocent smile.
“Nettling?” He sets the letter on the table, his fingers drumming out a rhythm on the surface.
“I mean, in my defense, youwere. All that mumbling and grumbling...”
I can tell he’s trying to hold back a smile even as he lets out a heavy sigh.
“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped,” he says, pushing up from the table with a grunt.
“What can’t?” I tip my head back to look up at him.
Without answering, he stoops and sweeps me into his arms and tosses me over his broad shoulder.
“Hey!” I squeak, dangling from his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. “What are you doing?”
“Taking you to the river,” he says, already heading in the direction of the woods.
“What? Why?”
“I’m sonettling, I’m going to toss you in.”
“No!” My protest comes out as a squeal. “That water is freezing cold!” From upside down, I spot Harrison sitting on the stairs leading up to the kitchen door. “Harrison, help!” I call out to him.
But instead of helping, he trots along behind us, looking much too smug about this situation. I try to send him a glare, but bouncing around against Alden’s back, I’m not so sure I achieve it.
“I’m so going to get you back for this,” I grumble to Alden.
His back rumbles with a laugh. “Whatever you say, little witch.”
Chapter 14
Alden
AURORA WENT INTO THE VILLAGE for tea with my sister, so I’ve got the cottage to myself—mostly. Harrison has been lingering, watching me from windowsills and sunlit stairs. Sometimes he’ll share the couch with me, but he still seems unsure of my presence, even if he did let me scratch his chin the other day. That’s why I’m surprised when he looks up at me from the doorway and lets out a tiny meow.
I look over at him from where I’m reading in the rocking chair by the window. “What is it?” I ask.
He glances in the direction of the door, then meets my eyes and lets out another pointed meow.
“Oh, you want to go out.” I dog-ear the page I’m on, then set the book down. I push to my feet and cross the parlor to the foyer. Harrison runs to the door ahead of me, and as soon as I open it, he darts out and disappears. Aurora usually leaves a window open so he can come in and out, but she must’ve forgotten.
Which gives me an idea.
Maybe I’ll earn Harrison’s affection yet.
