Page 11 of The Witch's Spell
I can’t help the laugh that slips out. “Well, guess things are going to get interesting tonight.”
“NO,” FAOLAN SAYS, VOICE FIRM and cold.
We just finished dinner, and Aurora asked Orla and Cathal to stay the night. Faolan quickly objected, and Aurora dragged him into the kitchen, where I’m enjoying another slice of sourdough, trying not to get crumbs on the counter.
“They’renotstaying.” Faolan’s voice is more akin to a growl than anything.
“Have you looked outside?” Aurora asks, propping her hands on her hips. Faolan towers over her, lips twisted into a scowl. But she doesn’t flinch away, doesn’t even bat an eyelash as he snarls. “It’s a blizzard outside. There’s nowhere for them to go.”
“They can stay at the inn.”
“That’s a thirty-minute walk on a summer day. You’d send them out in this weather? Truly?”
Without hesitation, Faolan nods. “Yes.”
Aurora rolls her eyes and presses her fingertips to her brow. “I know you don’t like him—I don’t either, frankly—but I wouldn’t feel right casting them out. Just one night, until the storm lets up, and then they’ll be gone. All right?”
Faolan looks from Aurora to me as if asking for backup. And typically, I’d be on his side, telling Aurora how dangerous it is to have strange shifters in the house. But to be honest, despite Faolan’s earlier quip, Ihavecome to trust him, and I know he’d never let Cathal lay a finger, or claw, on our witch. He’s become as much one of her protectors as Alden and I are.
So now I get to be entertained watching Aurora push him around. Best part of my day so far.
Harrison meows at my feet. As Aurora and Faolan go back to arguing, I rip a tiny piece of fluffy bread off the slice and hand it to him. He sniffs it, then snags it from my fingers.
Even he knows Aurora’s sourdough is like magic.
Faolan lets out a heavy sigh while dragging his hands down his face. His scruff has grown out a bit, darkening his chin and jaw. “Fuck.Fine.One night, and they leave as soon as the storm lets up.”
Aurora smiles victoriously.
“I mean it,” Faolan says.
“I promise.” Aurora reaches up to place a hand upon his cheek. “As soon as the storm ends, they’re gone.”
Chapter 8
Aurora
“THANK YOU AGAIN,” ORLA SAYS as I pass her an armful of blankets. “We appreciate you letting us stay the night.”
We’re upstairs, standing in the doorway leading to what will soon be the baby’s nursery. For now, it’s mostly empty, save for the few items I’ve already collected in preparation: a box of newborn clothing from Mrs. Bluewren, a few wooden toys from Welma at the library, and the socks and mittens I knitted using the beautiful yarn Alden purchased for me. There’s still no cradle yet, but I know Alden will get around to it, and I’m not going to push him. He’ll make it when he’s ready.
“Of course. We couldn’t send you out into that storm.”
Orla arches a chestnut brow. Her yellow eyes shine. “I’m sure Faolan would’ve loved to throw Cathal right out the door.”
I blink, surprised by her candor. Before I can say anything in Faolan’s defense, Orla sighs.
“I hope the two of them can get along someday...” Her voice is low; she’s probably trying to shield our conversation from Cathal, who’s currently getting a fire going in the hearth in the room. “I don’t like seeing them at odds like this.”
Nor do I, but I can’t help but to feel that Cathal is to blame. He’s the one who exiled Faolan, who left malicious scars all over his body. Instead of saying this, I reach out and place a hand on Orla’s arm.
“If you need anything, I’ll be in the room downstairs.”
Orla nods, then eases back into the second bedroom and closes the door with a soft click.
Before heading back downstairs, I step into the main bedroom, the one that I used before pregnancy made the stairs so uncomfortable for me. Rowan is sprawled in the bed, shirtless, reading a book with one hand while petting Harrison with the other. When he sees me in the doorway, he smiles. It still makes my heart race.
The guys have started a rotation, switching out who sleeps with me in the room downstairs and who sleeps up here and on the couch. I feel bad that we still don’t have enough beds for everyone, but the guys don’t seem to mind much. I’m always impressed by how comfortably they sleep on the plush couch in the parlor. The only complaints thus far have come from Faolan, but that’s just because he still doesn’t much like sharing me.
