Page 24 of Carnal Magic
I suddenly realized I had a hat on—at the table. In the south, ladies generally didn’t take their fashionable hats off even to eat, but I wasn’t sure if that etiquette extended this far north or not. To be safe, I took off my witch hat—but then didn’t have any place to put it.
“Allow me, ma’am.” Austin took my hat and carried it like a newborn kitten to the entryway table.
I smoothed my hair self-consciously. Everyone was looking at me as we waited for Austin to come back to his seat. He winked at me, not bothered in the slightest. Then he took my hand. Drew offered his to me. Hesitantly, I joined my hand with his, though I couldn’t resist a quick check to make sure Amy wasn’t offended. Sitting between her sons, she gave me a look of panic.
Oh shit. I didn’t want to cause any problems. Especially between them.
“I’m so sorry,” she said quickly. “Do you mind if we say grace?”
I let out the breath I’d been holding and relaxed my shoulders. “Not at all. I’m not churchy myself, but it doesn’t offend me.”
Sam muttered something about bursting into flame. I was pretty sure Amy kicked him under the table. Or maybe that was Emerson. Or was it Harrison? I couldn’t tell the boys apart.
Drew said a quick, standard blessing and released my hand. Austin wasn’t so quick to let go of me, though he did pull our joined hands off the table.
Onto his thigh.
I let him keep my hand as the dishes started to circulate family-style around the table. He was a good-looking man. Polite. A little brash, but I liked his confidence. I wasn’t sure what his career might be, but with connections to the Woodwards, I imagined he had all kinds of opportunities to succeed.
It could be fun dating Amy’s brother. Double dates. More family dinners. Movie nights. Walk down Main Street to have pie. Have a couple of kids, who’d enjoy regular playdates with their cousins. Holiday dinners. Vacations at the beach.
All very pleasant and admirable things.
Not the kinds of things I wanted.
A year ago, maybe even as recent as a night or two ago, I would have been thrilled to date a man like Austin. I’d certainly dated plenty of perfectly average, mediocre men. Even before I stepped foot on the mountain, I’d already decided I didn’t want the white-picket-fence life.
How could I possibly be satisfied with average, mediocre sex after tasting the explosive adrenaline burst last night?
Did I want to be terrified again? Not all the time, no, of course not. But that edge of fear was thrilling. Exciting. Arousing.
Not ordinary and average and fuckingboring.
I pulled my hand free.No offense, Austin.
16
Iparked in front of Martha’s cabin, lights still on and engine running.
My cabin. Not Martha’s. And I really couldn’t call it a cabin any longer.
Like the legend of the Winchester mansion, the house was changing, both its size and appearance, to match its new inhabitant. The rustic porch railing of twisted and curved cedar branches was now black wrought iron, and the casual lofted cabin had transformed into a two-story Creole Townhouse with soft sky-blue stucco and white trim. Long, narrow windows marched across the front of the house, framed by emerald green shutters. The second story had a matching balcony with wrought iron details. All the lights were on inside, inviting me to come in.
Come home.
Stay, Arwena. Stay.
“How the fuck am I going to explain this overnight renovation to visitors?” I grumbled as I turned off the engine and got out. Though I had a feeling the house had that covered. People would see what they wanted to see.
Or whathewanted them to see.
Energy flowed up out of the ground around the house. Tendrils of shadow, illuminated with ultraviolet power. An entire cauldron of energy simmered beneath the house, bathing every brick, stone, and leaf in magic.
Martha’s gum tree still stood like a sentinel. Her energy grid hummed in the full moon above, still shining with her intention. It didn’t try to keep the dark flow of power out. It merely… softened it. Gave me space to think and breathe, as she’d asked.
That same energy pulsed inside me. Restless tension tightened my muscles. Urging me to do… something.
I could go inside. Take a nice long bath in my new gorgeous soaker tub. Slip into my dreamy bed. And dream.
