Page 56 of The Witch's Shifter
“Wyland, good to see you,” I say, reaching for Selene’s husband’s hand.
“You as well,” he replies, placing his palm in mine.
I smile, then turn to the trio of witches standing beside me.
“Lady Silvermoon, you’re looking absolutely radiant,” I say, causing Evelyn’s cheeks to turn pink. She’s wearing an ankle-length black dress that shows off her polished boots, and a cloak of deep maroon hugs her shoulders. In the sunlight, her amethyst eyes are arresting, and glancing at her two daughters, I start to see where they get some of their looks.
The well of beauty runs deep in this family.
“Selene.” I reach for her hand and press a kiss to her knuckles, then turn my gaze to my queen.
The braids I twisted into Aurora’s hair this morning are still mostly intact, though some wispy hairs have escaped, making Aurora look like she’s been dancing with fairies or twirling barefoot through a pumpkin patch. Maybe she has been. The thought makes me glance down, but she’s still wearing her boots—for now. I won’t be the least bit surprised if she loses them later and I have to scour the village in search of them. On second thought, the brownie living in the bakery would probably snatch them up. He and I have had anumberof conversations about stealing the villagers’ footwear.
“We were just about to pick pumpkins,” Aurora says, sliding her arm through the crook of my elbow.
“Wonderful. Did you tell your family about how you saved the pumpkin patch from utter devastation?”
Selene gasps. “You did what?”
Aurora’s cheeks flush with color, and she looks toward her boots bashfully. “There was a thornbug problem—”
“Thornbugs?” Selene makes a face. “They’re the worst. Mean little things. Pretty though.”
Aurora nods. “I found an elixir recipe in one of Auntie’s spellbooks, and Alden and Rowan helped me relocate them.”
I’m watching Evelyn’s face, so I see the distinct downward twitch of her lips when Aurora mentions her aunt. Does Evelyn’s bitterness have something to do with the relationship Aurora had with Lilith?
Evelyn catches me staring, and she wipes the expression smoothly from her face, as if it were never there to begin with. I just smile in return.
Together, the seven of us—including Fletcher, who’s bound to Selene’s back with a silver strip of fabric wrapped around and around her upper body—head toward the pumpkin patch. Villagers drift through the sprawling vines, pointing out pumpkins and laughing as they search for the perfect gourd.
Will we pick pumpkins like this every year? As a family? It’s been so long since I had one, I’m unfamiliar with such traditions. But I’d like to make new traditions together, with Aurora, with our child—even with Alden and Harrison, though I’m not sure yet about Faolan.
My gaze slides down to Aurora’s belly. She has one hand on her bump, and I wonder if she might be thinking the same thing.
Tom, the gardener, spots us almost immediately. He makes his way over and peels his cap from his head.
“Ms. Silvermoon, I can’t thank you enough for saving my patch. To think this all would’ve gone to waste without you.” He clucks his tongue and shakes his head. “Would’ve been such a shame.”
“I was happy to help,” Aurora says, sounding a bit shy to have all our eyes on her. She tucks herself against my arm as if she can shield herself from everyone staring.
“You pick as many as you want,” Tom says. “It’s the least I can do for all the help you gave me.”
With that, he gives us a nod and drifts off, leaving us to explore the patch in peace.
I look up at Alden, then at Wyland. One of my brows arches playfully. “Biggest pumpkin wins?”
They exchange glances with each other, then break into smiles.
“You’re on,” Wyland says.
Alden rubs his hands together. “Good luck, knight.”
After pressing a kiss to Aurora’s cheek, I push the sleeves of my tunic up. “Not going to need it.”
Chapter 30
Aurora
