Page 38 of Captive Witch

“A broom, yes, and a sandwich would be perfect.” I push my hair off my forehead and grimace at the explosion of herbs littering every inch around me. “I’ll clean the mess.”

She laughs softly. “Broom is in the corner closet, there,” she points to the closet behind her. “I’ll get your lunch together.”

Fifteen minutes later, the office is clean, and I’m finally in the car on my way to Rhode Island. My wolf is anxious in my chest, and I press the gas pedal to the floor, both of us desperate to see our mate. Sleeping alone the last two nights has felt like nothing I want to repeat, and I’m eager to have her beside me, hand wrapped in mine, beautiful violet eyes staring back at me. As much as I love driving, right now, I wish I could teleport straight to her.

Three hours feels like a lifetime.

Chapter fifteen

Adara

Folding a shirt, I stuff it into my backpack and check my phone. Gideon should be here soon, and although I’m excited to see him, it’s bittersweet to leave. Jules flops onto the bed beside my bag, sighing dramatically.

“It won’t be the same without you here. I wish you could stay,” she says, pouting.

I laugh, shoving my pajamas into my bag. “Yeah, right. ‘Hi, I’m currently being hunted by the coven and am mated to one of our most powerful enemies, please train me to use my magic better.’”

Her pout transforms into a mischievous grin, and she giggles. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Plus, Gideon would miss you, huh?” Waggling her eyebrows, she nudges my leg with her foot.

“Shut up,” I say, smacking her foot away. I finish packing and jump onto the bed beside her, snuggling into her side. “I’ll miss you too, though. I’ll be counting the days until the solstice.”

“Me too. It’s all Wren’s been able to talk about.” She turns her head toward me. “It’ll be safe for us to come, though, right? We won’t get you… hurt?”

I smile at her. “Gideon will protect us. The whole pack is so kind, and you’ll love Frank and Mila. Oh, and Jaz. She’s so fiery. Her and Wren will be best friends, I bet.”

“But what about you, Addy? If the coven is after you, I… I don’t want to lead them right to you.” Her emerald eyes fill with tears as she frowns at me.

“Hey,” I whisper, taking her hand and squeezing, “I’ll be fine. If they don’t know where I am by now, then that’s honestly a surprise.”

She sniffs, nodding. “I can’t lose you, Addy.”

“You won’t,” I say, wishing I could promise it were true. “Come on.” I sit up, pulling her up with me. “Let’s go find Wren and Kaylus. I hope whatever spell she wanted to try with him didn’t backfire too bad.”

Jules smirks. “She’s usually pretty good with birds. It was only that one time with an owl that it didn’t go quite as planned.”

Furrowing my brows, I cut my eyes at her. “Sorry, what? An owl?”

She laughs. “Yeah, she really wanted a familiar and swore that the owl was talking to her. It definitely was not, though.”

Shaking my head, I sling my back over my shoulder and follow her downstairs and out the front doors.

“At least Kaylus is your familiar, so he should be safe. She just wants to talk to him.” She wraps her arm around mine as we make our way to the forest on the back edge of the property. “She’s been studying that familiars spell for weeks.”

“You know, Chloe knows that spell,” I say, remembering how she used it to help Gideon.

Jules stops and turns to me. “No way, really? Do you think she’ll be there during the solstice?”

I shrug. “Probably. She’s become really good friends with Mila and Cali.”

“Ooooh! That isso cool!” she squeals, running toward the woods. “Wren! Wren!”

The black-haired girl pops up from a bush at Jules’s side, making her yelp. “What? Geez, he’s fine!” She throws her hand out to the side, pointing at Kaylus sitting on a branch looking utterly bored.

I cover my mouth to hide my laugh, but his eyes shoot daggers at me still.

“You don’t even understand what I’ve been through,”he says.

“Chloe knows the familiars spell,” Jules says, grabbing onto her friend’s arm and shaking her. “She could totally teach you! She should be there when we visit!”

---