Page 85 of The Witch's Spell
“Do you think... you could visit again? Tell me more stories about Auntie?” Aurora says quietly.
Ciaran’s lips pull into a gentle smile as he holds Aurora close. “I’d be honored. And I think Lilith would like that.”
And there are suddenly a few other pairs of misty eyes about the room, including mine.
Chapter 40
Aurora
“LOVE YOU,” I WHISPER TO Lydia as she and James step off the front porch and into the softly falling snow.
“Love you too, sis,” she says back, her cheeks already turning pink in the cold. She reaches for James, tucking her mittened hand into the crook of his arm. Then she turns back around and says, “Oh, and you too, Alden.”
Beside me, Alden huffs out a half-hearted laugh. “Yeah, love ya.”
We watch Lydia and James until they’re swallowed up by darkness and the stillness of the night.
“That’s the last of ’em,” Alden says, easing a warm arm over my shoulders and pulling me in so he can place a kiss atop my head.
Lord and Lady Highcliff headed back to the inn first, followed by Orla and Cathal. Ciaran left a short while ago—only after I made him promise to return on Lughnasadh andtell me more stories of Auntie. And now, with Lydia and James gone, Brookside suddenly feels almosttooquiet.
“What do you say?” Alden whispers, lips still pressed to my head. “Ready for bed?”
I wiggle closer to him. “Almost. But first...” I pull away and look into his eyes. “Presents.”
Harrison, Alden, Rowan, Faolan, Thorne and I all sit in the parlor, stuffed and sleepy, cuddled up in warm socks and wrapped in handstitched blankets. Lucy, Marigold, and Whisper are in the cottage as well—Rowan didn’t want to exclude them, so they’re pecking around in the kitchen, cleaning up the crumbs from our full day of baking and eating.
Before we gathered here, everyone crept off to their hiding places to pull out their gifts, and I have a big basket full of goodies sitting in front of me.
“Okay, Harrison, you’re first.” I reach into the basket and pull out a tiny pouch pulled taut with a drawstring. “I made them for you this summer, knowing how much you miss them over the winter.” After loosening the pouch, I pour a few of the dehydrated berries into my palm.
“Starberries?” Harrison asks, his tail and ears perking up. He takes one from my palm, crunching it loudly, and then nibbles down two more in short order. “Thank you,” he says, crawling into my lap and pressing his head against my chin. “You’re my favorite human.”
“And you’re mine,” I say, pulling back and stroking a hand down his head. “Just don’t tell the others.”
Harrison flicks his tail and grabs the tiny pouch in his teeth, then jumps up onto the couch with it, guarding it closely.
“Okay, next up...” I reach into the basket and pull out another bag. “Alden.”
His eyes widen as he holds out his hands to take the gift. He opens the bag slowly, a smile tugging his lips up as he reaches inside and lifts out the pair of mittens I knitted him.
“I used the yarn you got me,” I say. “I made some for the baby as well, so next winter, you’ll be twins.”
“Thank you.” He pushes up from the rocking chair to press a kiss to my lips. Then he reaches down to the floor beside the chair and picks up a small wooden box. “I made you something too. Well, a few somethings.” He holds out the box, and I take it in nervous hands.
Everyone—including Harrison—watches as I settle the box into my lap and carefully open the hinged lid.
And inside are six beautifully carved wooden figurines. I hold them up one at a time.
“A rabbit for you,” Alden explains. “A bear for me. A stag for Rowan—our Horned God. A wolf for Faolan. A cat for Harrison. And a fox for Thorne, because he was clever enough to send that fog back to where it belongs.”
Tears swim in my eyes. Not wanting to damage the gorgeous wooden carvings is the only thing that prevents me from slinging myself across the parlor and into Alden’s arms.
“They’re beautiful,” I say. “I’ll treasure them always. Thank you.”
Alden smiles softly. “You’re welcome, little witch.”
I give Rowan his gift next, and we all share a collective laugh when he pulls it from the bag and holds it up.
