Page 83 of Untraced Magic
Tyler’s grip tightened on mine. So hard I almost pulled away.
Arthur turned to the council, where they huddled closer, murmuring under their breaths. A full minute passed and still they whispered, hushed tones that I could not decipher.
“What’s going on?” I whispered to Tyler, fearful of the answer.
His head dipped slightly, his stare remaining pinned to the council table. “No one from Sacred Souls has ever stepped foot in this chamber. I don’t know,” he said through clenched teeth.
Arthur finally cleared his throat, looking directly at me. “The council is undecided. We will reconvene in two weeks with ananswer. This is not a decision we can make in a manner of minutes, based on the severity of the situation.”
I didn’t know how to feel, but I guess it was better than a straight-out no. I didn’t want to leave Cutters Cove; this was my home. The only place I’d made friends, and Tyler…
“Please,” I cried out, wrenching my hand from Tyler’s grasp. I moved to the front of the room until I stood directly in front of the council. “I will be forever in your debt if you would just let me stay here.”
Colton’s father gave me a dismissive look, his hand waving in the air. “Two weeks.”
I felt like a fraud. Worthless. Port Fallere. Where even was that?
Tyler steered me away. “Let’s get out of here,” he said, leading me to the stairs.
Colton rushed to my side as we walked back up the steps and outside. “I’m sorry, I’ll talk to my father—try to sway his decision.”
His forehead gleamed, frown lines confirming his frustration.
I smiled grimly. “Thanks. I’d really appreciate that.”
He nodded to Tyler. “I’ll leave you guys to it; I’ve got somewhere I need to be.”
I turned to Betty. “Thank you for what you said up there.”
Her blue gray eyes warmed. “I would do it again in a heartbeat, my dear. Don’t worry, we will sort this, I'm sure.”
I nodded, even though I didn’t share the same certainty.
“Where is Port Fallere?” I asked, looking between her and Tyler.
Tyler’s hand flexed around mine, and Bettys hands found my shoulders. “Over the border, my dear.”
I turned to Tyler for further explanation. “The ranges,” He pointed to a line of mountain peaks, cutting into the horizon in the far distance. “It’s the border between both covens.”
It looked like forever away. I could never live that far from Tyler.
Betty placed her hand on my forearm. “Don’t think about that for now. There’s no point worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet.”
All I could manage was a nod.
***
Pacing to the shower, I stripped off my clothes, letting the hot water subdue my worries. Would it all boil down to this? Would I be asked to leave?
I purged the thoughts, forcing them to the back of my mind.
Whether I was ready for it or not, this new life would slam me in the face at the stroke of midnight tonight.
A nervous laugh squeezed from my lungs at the irony of it, and I rested two hands on the wall of the shower, letting the water soak every strand of my hair.
Right now, Tyler was the only thing keeping me together, stopping me from losing my mind. He’d ducked back to his place to get changed and would be back shortly, said he’d organized a birthday surprise to cheer me up.
If I was honest, I could tell he needed it too. I knew he was worried about me, tonight in particular.Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the shower and dried my hair, pulling on some jeans and a sweater. I hadn’t celebrated my birthday since my parents died. It just didn’t feel right. In some ways, Tyler taking the lead and celebrating it with me was like ripping the band aid off via distraction. It suited me just fine.
