Page 51 of Untraced Magic
A grin broke over his face. “Now that I can arrange.” He pulled me to my feet. “It’s about time you introduced me to your coffee machine.”
A light laugh left my lips as I pushed away tears, motioning toward the kitchen. I raised myself until I sat on top of the kitchen counter, studying themale witchwho was currently going about his way in my kitchen.
Who knewtheywere even a thing? When I pictured witches in my mind, I saw broomsticks and crooked noses, not ordinary people living what appeared to be ordinary lives.
I watched as corded veins ran the length of his arms, straining as Tyler’s fingers fumbled over the buttons on my coffee machine. I stifled a giggle. He couldn’t work a coffee machine, but I was certain he knew how to use those hands on a woman.
He looked sideways at me, a brow raised at my subtle laughter.
I couldn’t help myself. “Can’t you just click your finger, and a coffee will appear for us?”
Tyler shook his head. “We can’t just use magic whenever we please. It takes time to replenish, so we use it sparingly.”
I grinned, a boldness suddenly finding me. “As in… when you have a young lady wearing nothing but your shirt in the middle of the night?” I teased.
He pointed a knowing finger in my direction. “Thatwas an exception. There are rules you should know.”
I leaned back, my palms resting on the kitchen counter. “Rules?”
“Our magic is governed by our covens; they have rules around the use of magic.”
I knew little about covens, remembering them only vaguely being mentioned in movies. “Covens…” I repeated, deep in thought. “Will I have one?”
Tyler gripped the counter, turning his head to mine. “Yes, assuming you’re a witch, you will. Our coven is named after one of the founding families of this town. The Cutters. Our coven is called Cutters Coven.
How original.
I chewed my lip. To think somewhere I could have my own coven, that I was a part of something bigger than just me.
“Will I have the same coven as you?” I asked.
His knuckles turned white as his grip tightened. He grimaced. “Unsure.”
I couldn’t be certain, but he seemed to be avoiding looking at me, and an uncomfortable feeling churned in the pit of my stomach.
I sat up straight, my own hands gripping the side of the counter. “Is that a problem?”
He held my gaze, pausing as if questioning his next sentence. “It really depends on which one you belong to, if I’m honest.”
“Why is that?” I said, my eyes narrowing with interest.
He looked to be choosing his words carefully, and maybe he was, for my sake.
Tyler focused back on putting together the coffee. “You’re expected to live with the coven you were born into.”
I started to speak before suddenly realizing what that could mean for me. For us. That Cutters Coven would most likely not bemycoven.
I fidgeted uneasily with my necklace. “Where is the next closest coven from here?”
Tyler finally swung his gaze to mine, in a way that reminded me of the time he had backed me into the wall outside of Jinxed. His irises mirrored equal parts angst and… was that dread?
“That would be the coven at Port Fallere, Sacred Souls, but we try to keep a healthy distance between us.”
The feeling of unease churned my stomach further. I wondered what had happened in the past for them to feel this way about another coven.
“Why is that?” I asked out of pure curiosity.
Tyler’s jaw went rigid. “Sacred Souls are known for their misuse of magic.”
