Page 74 of Magic and Medicine

When I discovered this shocking revelation, I hadn’t been at my best; I knew this. Unfortunately, surrounded by all my friends, each worrying about me, I couldn’t process the monumental weight of this change, and the situation was soon circling the drain, taking me with it. So after he left me in bed, I fought with my racing thoughts, the muffled conversation from the other room, and my fears. Surrounded by Leszek’s oak and elder scent, its fragrance, which had always felt like a soft, warm blanket, now suffocated me with its implication of forever, forcing me to flee its embrace.

I’d looked at Scarface, packed my bags, and waited for Michal to call me a cab. I knew he would tell Leszek of my leaving, and deep down, I hoped that the mighty Forest Lord would emerge from his office, give me an exasperated glance and say he would pick me up in a day or two because this was my home now. He never came out, though, not even to say goodbye.

It had been so long since I’d seen him, and even now, it was a struggle. Damian and Rysiek became so friendly with the wolves that they were considered a part of the pack and often came to me with news from Leszek’s world. After what seemed to be an argument about his boss’s attitude, Nina had kicked Adam out of her apartment - but not from her life - and each time we worked together, she huffed and cursed, regaling me with anecdotes of the idiot vampire’s behaviour. Even if, despite her harsh words, there was an undertone of satisfaction that he’d refused to be driven from her life.

All their stories painted the picture of a man who continued his life as if I’d never existed. It felt like all we’d been through was a random encounter, easily forgotten by the mighty Forest Lord, and the longer it went on, the harder it was to summon the courage to call him.

Only Kris and Kamil felt safe to spend time around; nothing in their lives reminded me of Leszek and his soft, auburn beard. I was grateful for their company when I felt particularly lonely. Not that I had much time for that feeling anymore.

I doubled my hours in the Emergency Department, much to the relief of the other doctors who had fewer shifts to cover. When I wasn’t working, I was learning magic in Sopot at the Coven’s Villa. I was grateful for their help, as they took me in like a lost sheep, training me mercilessly until I could control the visions and shadows I saw daily.

So many times I tried to put pen to paper and write to Leszek, asking him to meet me, explaining that I hadn’t run away and was scared of my new future; I just needed the time to think, only to realise how much I loved him. Several times, I gathered the nerve to contact him, but as more news of his busy schedule appeared, the more discouraged I was, and in the end, I gave up. Maybe it was better this way.

This was the second time I’d run away, hiding in my apartment, but he didn’t come to collect me this time. After so much time with no sign of him, I had the feeling he had given up on us. So, when I heard the knock, I assumed it was Kris, as he’d promised to pop in with some food. Instead, I got a boiling cauldron of jealousy bursting into my home, demanding answers, but I was so overjoyed at his presence that nothing else mattered.

‘Do you want coffee?’ I asked as he pressed his bearded cheek to my palm, exhaling slowly as if my touch soothed some deep, gnawing pain. I wanted to take it slow and talk through the issues that tore us apart, but some mischievous spark in my soul encouraged me to add, ‘Or are we going straight to bed?’

‘Sara…’ Leszek groaned, the gravelly timbre sending shivers down my spine, his arms surrounding me, crushing me against his chest. His chin rested on my head, and I felt a gentle tremor running through his body, contours blurring, and, for a moment, the image of an impeccable businessman was replaced by the savage god of the forest. When the tremor receded, he scooped me in his arms and, without hesitation, headed straight to my bedroom.

The snort of laughter as my lover saw my small double bed earned him a slap on his very firm chest, but that didn’t stop him from leaning in for a soft, tender kiss as he lowered my feet to the ground, holding me close as he spoke.

‘I am truly sorry, Sara. I have lived alone for so long, making decisions for my people’s survival, that I forget to seek permission. That is unforgivable. If you agree to help me, I know it is possible to change. So if you give me a chance, I will do everything in my power to make you happy, I…’ He spoke until I placed a finger on his lips.

‘You are in my bedroom, and I definitely remember inviting you. Do you think I’m still mad at you? I never was. You saved my life, for fuck’s sake; I almost died that day. I was scared, and that heaped another issue onto my already full plate. I didn’t want to die, but this immortality thing? I don’t like it. I don’t want to watch my friends wither and die while I’m still youthful and thriving. Frankly, it scares me, but we can’t do much about it now, can we? So, I will take it as it goes, one step at a time. I’m sorry, too. When I’m scared or overwhelmed, I run and hide, and I can’t promise it won’t happen again.’

Leszek smiled, his head dipping to my neck as he kissed it slowly. His lips trailed along my collarbone, then higher, teeth grazing against my pulse. Goosebumps covered my skin by the time he reached my ear, the soft breath caressing my earlobe when he spoke.

‘You can run and hide, but I will always find you. I belong to you, Sara, and I will make it my life’s goal to make you happy.’ His hands cupped my face when he gazed at me. Leszek’s face brightened with a dazzling smile before he leaned in, kissing the tip of my nose.

‘I don’t think you need to worry too much about your friends. Damian and Rysiek get on so well with the pack Tomasz is considering turning them. If they want to join the shifters, of course. It won’t grant them immortality, but their life span would be much longer. As for Nina? Adam seemed smitten by your scary friend, so you never know what will happen there.’

My hands ventured to his shirt, and I unbuttoned it, eager to touch him. Leszek’s breath sped up, and he grasped my hands, placing them flat against his chest. I saw the hesitation in his eyes before he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

‘I love you. I won’t force you to do anything you don’t choose.’

‘Like eternal commitment?’ I asked. His eyes darkened, and I saw the flash of pain.

‘Yes, like eternal commitment. As much as I want you to live with me and share my life, I will love you as you choose. However, I won’t let you run away again.’ So that was it; he gave me the freedom to choose our path, but in my heart, I already knew the answer. Still, it didn’t mean this hero would get the girl quite so easily.

‘About that…’ My hands moved, sliding down to his stomach, fingers tracing over firm muscles that tensed under my touch. ‘I can’t commit because we have never been on a date, and I am an old-fashioned woman who needs to be courted, so… if you want to have a second chance, I want a proper courting, my knight in shining armour on his white charger,’ I said, chuckling, amused by my own request.

Leszek looked at me like he didn’t believe his luck or my words. His face was so happy and so vulnerable. ‘You will have it all, my Firefly. I will throw the world at your feet together with my heart. My little seer, I don’t care how long it takes, so be prepared for a wooing from the pages of legend because nothing is more important than seeing your dazzling smile.’ The conviction in his voice raised goosebumps on my arms, and when he finished, his lips fell on mine, devouring me with sensuous passion.

My knees buckled, but he held me tight against him, peeling off the layers of my clothes with reverence, worshipping each part of my body that he exposed until I was naked before him. We didn’t turn on the light when he carried me to the bed. Only the pale glow of the moon highlighted our bodies. Leszek snapped his fingers, and my decorative candles burst into flame, adding a warm golden glow to the scenery. I tugged at his shirt, and he tore it off in one powerful move before stepping out of his trousers. My throat ran dry. He was already as hard as steel and bigger than I remembered. Leszek noticed my hesitation and stopped instantly, fingers tenderly stroking across my cheek.

‘Sara?’

That was my undoing. Leszek, the undying spirit of the forest, ready to stop at the merest hint of hesitation, caring more about my comfort than his pleasure. My hand drifted to the silken-covered steel of his cock, and I teased its length with my nails, enjoying the shudder travelling through his body. A barely audible moan escaped his mouth while a bead of fluid escaped the tip.

‘You looked bigger than I remember, so I may struggle a little,’ I said while my hand continued to tease and stroke. Leszek arched under my touch like a giant cat before reaching to stop me.

‘My self-control is not the best now. I missed you far too much,’ he panted, hands closing into fists when he tried to restrain himself. I welcomed this challenge. My lover wasn’t the only one to have missed this, and I was more than ready to be ravaged by my wolf.

‘Leshy, I don’t want your control. You will give yourself to me because you are mine. Now stop worrying and help me accommodate you.’

‘Sara…’

His eyes lost focus, and he growled like an animal when I pointed to the floor, demanding his obedience. The feral beast didn’t hesitate, dropping to his knees before me. He grabbed my hips, fingers digging into soft flesh while his mouth pressed to my mound. His tongue darted between my folds, and I moaned, enjoying the masterful strokes of his tongue.

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