Page 24 of The Witch's Spell
My presence here seems a burden enough; I don’t need Aurora trying to brew me pain potions while I’m taking up space on her couch and eating her delectably sweet and tart blackberry jam. No, she’s done quite enough already. I’ll try to hold off as long as I can. Hopefully the fog disperses promptly so I can be on my way.
“But thank you,” I add quickly when Aurora’s face falls just a bit, subtly enough that I would’ve missed it had I not been watching carefully. “That’s very kind of you.”
My arm is draped over the top step, and Aurora surprises me when she reaches out and places her hand over mine. Her skin is warm and soft, like the underbelly of a kitten or the silky midnight feathers of a raven. Her touch is so unexpected, I just freeze, unsure how to respond.
Until the red-haired one, Rowan, appears from around the corner of the cottage. I pull my hand away quickly, not wishing to create any further problems for Aurora.
“The piles are ready,” he says. “I’ll grab your cloak and boots.”
Aurora and I exchange a look. Neither of us voices our doubt.
“Help me up?” Aurora says, reaching out a hand. Rowan takes it and eases her to her feet with a gentleness even I take note of. “Let’s light some fires, shall we?”
Chapter 14
Aurora
ALDEN TAKES A BREATH AS he holds a lit torch aloft. The fire flickering upon its end is warm and inviting, as if it wishes to part the fog and help guide our way through the gray. Even so, I twist my fingers into my thick cloak and worry at my bottom lip.
Please work, I think.
Thorne stands back from the rest of us, one shoulder leaning against a sturdy pine. He’s rubbing a lock of his white hair between his fingers, mouth pressed into a firm line.
I hope we’re wrong about this. I hope the fires chase away the fog and we can get back to our lives.
“Here goes,” Alden says.
He steps forward and holds the torch toward the stacked pile of firewood. After a moment, the wood catches, and the fire starts slowly eating away at it, devouring it one flickering flame at a time.
Alden turns and hands the torch to Cathal. “Light the others, would you?”
Cathal nods once. Then he turns and vanishes into the trees on quiet feet. Orla stays, arms crossed over her chest. She’s still wearing one of my dresses, but my boots are too small for her, so she’s borrowing a pair of Rowan’s. They look big on her, though she doesn’t seem to mind.
I turn my attention back to the flames.
It doesn’t take long for the fire to grow large and start putting out heat. The warmth washes over me. It’s so comforting, I close my eyes and tip my head back, pretending for a moment that winter is over and spring is slowly unfurling, chasing the cold from the land so that flowers may bloom once again.
I love all the seasons, but I think spring might be my favorite. To me, it represents hope, the opportunity for something new. And my fingers want so badly to dig in the dirt again, to press seeds into the soil and be connected to the earth. When I’m away from the garden for too long, I start getting anxious. I suppose that’s just the earth magic within me.
“Look,” Rowan says.
My eyes open.
The flames have grown larger yet. The fog, lingering in the trees only a pace or so from the bonfire, appears to recede as the heat washes over it.
My heart leaps in my chest. I glance at Thorne, who meets my eyes, looking just as surprised as I feel.
Maybe we were wrong. Maybe thiswillwork.
Hope flares inside me as the fog continues to curl back, like it reached curiously toward the fire only to learn that the flames burn.
If this works, we’ll have to tell the villagers. They can light fires all along Faunwood’s borders, chasing the fog back to whence it came.
“It’s working,” Alden says. His voice is warm, relieved. “Look, you can see the trees now.”
He’s right. The fog was so dense we could scarcely see through it, but now it’s thinning out enough that the trees on the other side are becoming visible once more.
Beside me, Rowan reaches for my hand. In the firelight, his hair shines, like perhaps it’s made of flames as well. His profile is sharp and beautiful, and for a moment, I remember how he looked with antlers atop his head and leaves woven through his hair.
