Page 81 of Boss Witch

“Already? That’s impressive. You must’ve formed a firm bond.”

To her amusement, the mouse popped out of Gavin’s shirt pocket, and though Clem didn’t hear anything, Gavin was nodding. “Yes, that’s true.”

“I can’t hear him. You know that, right?”

“He says he’s guaranteed to live a long, happy life, as his energy is tied to mine,” Gavin explained. “I still think two names is a bit excessive for such a small creature, but…yes, fine. I’ll try to do better. He’s accusing me of sizeism.”

Clem swallowed a laugh, reminding herself she and Gavin were only temporary allies, nothing more.Focus on the issue at hand.

“The other crew will likely double back once they see the messages proliferating. They might try to take revenge—­”

“They’ll have to come through me,” Gavin cut in. “I’ll defend you and the rest of your coven.”

Clem blinked at him, hardly able to believe he’d said that so easily. “You knew?”

“That you were protecting people you love? It’s the only thing that makes sense. I suspect I met your coven at the party, likely a last-­ditch effort to convince me you’re a mundane. Otherwise you never would have…” He paused, his gaze dropping to his lap.

How did you plan to finish that sentence? Been with someone like me?Clem let it go because she had too many conflicting emotions, all swirling in a chaotic flurry.

She stood, tidying up the spell components without responding to the sentence he’d failed to finish. That encapsulated their relationship, so many things they’d never dared to say, and perhaps never would. Her heart ached over it because she’d never—­

Oh. Oh no.

She’d never loved anyone like this. It made no sense. Why him of all people? Even now, she wanted to hug him because he was so weary, broken, and tormented.

I shouldn’t, right?

I can’t.

Even if he’s changed his ways, he’s still done terrible things. He should have known that hurting people was wrong even without learning that he’s from the group he’s been persecuting.

That’s the basics of being a decent person.

Still, she wanted to cry over the awful impossibility of it, and she wanted to punch something over how irrational her heart was being.I don’t want to love him.

“What’s wrong?” Gavin asked.

“Why does it have to be you?” Clem whispered. “Why you, English?”

“What?”

“After seeing how my mother lived, I’ve kept my heart intact. I didn’t want to end up at the mercy of my emotions, spinning from rage to heartbreak on a dime.”

“Clem—­”

“No, I wasn’t asking for a response. We have to weather this crisis before we talk about…”Us.

She couldn’t bring herself to say the word because her vulnerability to him was like a raw wound, and she couldn’t even claim she’d gone into the situation unaware of who and what he was. No, her eyes had been wide open.

And yet, I still fell for him.

She had so many conflicting emotions because part of her understood he’d been educated in a corrupt system, but still.Why didn’t he know it was morally wrong? Why didn’t he stop until now?

“I have so many regrets,” he said then. “If I could change everything—­my whole fucking life—­I would. I’d erase all the hate I put into the world. But I can’t. It’s done, and it doesn’t matter how I feel about it. The only thing I can do is atone for my crimes and spend the rest of my life making it up to the community I harmed.”

Clem froze. “Then that means…”

“Yes. After the dust settles and I make sure your coven is safe, I plan to submit myself for judgment to the witch’s council.”

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