Page 36 of The Forty-Year-Old Virgin Witch

I closed the cabinet door and faced the wolf. He was slouched over the back of one of the kitchen chairs, leaning precariously forward on just two of its legs. His face was twisted with anxiety, as if unable to imagine a world where two individuals didn’t have to fight over a woman like a possession.

To be fair, the werewolves I’d met in my travels either talked obsessively about their mate, or how they were looking for their mate. I was more surprised he was able to consider the possibility of sharing his. I had to admit his control was unmatched.

“Aggie is fine with it, so I shall be as well. Until she tells one of us to leave, it really isn’t up to me. If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t be here.”

It seemed simple to me, but he turned away with a furrow in his brow. I flung a dish towel over my shoulder and moved toward the door upon hearing Aggie’s approaching footsteps over the stone path. I opened it right before she could knock, and Luka was there to take her empty bags. Her smile was blinding at our help, and I felt myself beaming back automatically.

Was this what companionship was like? Mooning over every simple thing the other did? Then again, It didn’t seem like a horrible way to spend your time, if not the most productive.

“Afternoon, boys. What’s wrong, Luka?”

It was amazing how well she knew us after such a short time. My vampyre eyes could see the tension around the wolf’s eyes, but my witchling could feel it. Luka stumbled over his words, and I clucked my tongue in irritation.

“The full moon is tonight, and he wishes for me to take you away.” I said quickly.

Luka shot me a grateful look, and I vaguely wondered if I had gotten two companions for the price of one in this deal. I didn’t have to bail him out so easily, but I also didn’t want to watch him stumble through the explanation that he could possibly force himself on her tonight. That wouldn’t be pleasant for anyone.

Aggie frowned, her lips pursing adorably. She tucked a single hair behind her ear.

“Why would I need to be taken away?”

Luka’s eyes begged me for help again. Dear God. How could I delicately put this?

“Aggie … Luka doesn’t want to … hurt you.” I gave her a pointed look, and she went red as she understood.

“Ridiculous. I thought you said your wolf thinks I’m your mate?”

Luka nodded, confused. Then again, that did seem to be his default expression. Aggie turned away, satisfied.

“That settles it then; we will all go to the forest tonight. It’s been a while since I’ve stretched my magick, and the forest should be safe to do so.”

Aggie paused at the look of unease on our faces. “Oh come on. His wolf won’t hurt his mate.” She said it with such conviction that I looked to Luka for confirmation. Then again, by the challenging tone Aggie threw at him, perhaps she was trying to prove something. The wolf swallowed heavily.

“I mean … I would hope not. Karl is stronger and faster than me, so it isn’t like he couldn’t get you out of there if things got too out of hand.”

Too out of hand. What a troubling way to phrase ‘will try to rape you.’ Aggie glanced at the fading light from the kitchen window.

“Let me change, and we’ll get going.”

???

We departed, walking through Aggie’s back garden and into the woods. Then we kept going. Not a single word had been said since the short argument, though the wolf had left and gone on ahead of us. It wouldn’t be too hard to follow the traces of his magick in order to track him down. What Aggie didn’t know was that we were going far away. Very far away.

“Are you angry?” I ventured, watching with interest as Aggie stomped through the woods with more force than necessary. Saplings and bushes alike were trampled under her feet bare, her magick protecting her from the elements. She ignored me, which wasn’t the best sign.

“Well, um … this is the part where I’ll have to carry you,” I said. “We’re meeting up in a different forest, close to a well-known coven so any magick flares won’t seem odd. Especially on a full moon.”

Aggie paused, and slowly turned to face me. Her expression was unreadable.

“If that’s alright, that is.”

I tried to gauge her reaction and failed.

“What coven?” she asked instead, continuing her progress through the woods, but with less ferocity.

“Don’t know their name, but we’re going nearly to the western coast. Near Bude.”

Aggie nodded, not seeming adverse to the idea. I caught up to her, putting a hand lightly on her shoulder. When she turned, tears glistened at the corners of her eyes. I drew back, immediately concerned.

---