Page 84 of Kiss and Spell

He was, as the humans said, busted. Xavier stiffened, then faced Whitney. She was dressed in her housecoat, her gossamer wings fluttering behind her back. His stomach clenched. The last time her wings fluttered like that, Royce almost got turned into a field mouse for lying about stealing a slice of tea cake. His brother spent a week with mouse ears sticking out of his hair.

“Good morning,” he said.

Whitney narrowed her eyes. “How was your evening or—rather your morning?”

He forced an easy smile. “It was nice.”

That was a lie. It wasn’t nice. It was wonderful. It was… perfect.

He lowered his head. It had been difficult to leave Ursula once again.

Since their intimate movie viewing, Xavier spent his nights at Ursula’s apartment.

Yesterday, they’d come back from a late dinner, sat down on her couch, and discussed their lives. He enjoyed listening about her misadventures with beauty spells and how she ended up with butterscotch-blond hair for an entire year. She asked him about the Realm, so he’d told her stories about fae dancing on morning dew and an endless summer where no one grew cold or tired. She nestled in his arms and fell asleep. He watched her slumber for a long time and finally understood the phrase “sleeping beauty.” Xavier pressed a kiss against her forehead and held her close.

He pulled himself back to the present.

Whitney folded her arms over her chest. “Should I even ask where you were?”

Guilt rolled through him. “I’m fine. I was safe.”

Concern creased her brow. “I know that you’re grown, but you’ve… got to be careful. You’re my responsibility. I promised your parents I’d protect you. This isn’t home. This town might be filled by magic, but you’ve got to watch who you cross here.”

“I’m okay. I’m not a kid.”

Whitney’s wings lowered. “I don’t care how old you are. You’re my godson and you’re my family. You can always be honest with me.”

He should’ve told her the truth weeks ago, but he didn’t know what to say. The weight of his lies and his deception hit Xavier in the chest. Whitney deserved to know the truth. He needed to come clean and hope that she would understand why he kept this secret from her.

“I broke the enchantment.”

Whitney threw up her hands. Her voice echoed in the stairwell. “I knew you were hiding something. So, how is Ms. Paige? I hope she didn’t gloat to all the Realm about being your perfect kiss.”

Xavier shook his head. “I never kissed Lady Paige.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Then, beloved, how did you break the spell?”

Blood pounded in his pointed ears. “I kissed Ursula.”

Whitney’s wings froze. She gently nudged him toward the kitchen. “Come on. I’m putting on the teapot. You’re telling me the whole story.”

Four cups of tea and three slices of buttered faery bread later, Xavier had told Whitney his entire tale. Well, he didn’t tell her all the intimate details. Whitney didn’t need to know about how Ursula sang to her plants or how he loved to trace the birthmark on her stomach with his fingers. He lifted his teacup to hide his grin. There were some memories of her that he wanted to keep in his heart for himself.

Whitney gave him a guarded look. “I received a letter from your father yesterday.”

Father didn’t believe in using modern technology and steadfastly used ink and a quill pen to communicate. Half of his letters could have been an email or a well-worded text.

Xavier let out a sigh and put down his teacup.

“Was he wishing me a blessed Beltane two weeks too late?” he joked.

She didn’t smile. “The Faerie Queen is touring the kingdom and your father wants to show that you were successful in completing your task. He wants to know if you’ve found your perfect kiss and broken the spell. If you have, then I’m supposed to send you home immediately.”

The tips of his ears ached, and he drew in a deep breath. He wasn’t ready to go back yet. Maybe not ever.

“I can’t go now. I have a woodworking class,” he announced. “We’re making a tea caddy.”

Whitney furrowed her brow. “Xavier.”

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