Page 35 of Witch's Fate

“But I’m meeting my friend tonight. He’ll come looking for me.”

“Tomorrow, then.”

“Yes, I think so. As long as I’m in the water. That’s the only way I can find it. And where my vision is best.”

“Excellent. We’ll meet you at Salem Harbor. We’ll be in a boat.”

“All right. But we need to do it at night. I can’t let them see me.” Her eyes went a bit wild with fear.

“Of course, Lucy. Of course. We’ll meet you an hour before dusk at the marina. Then you’ll take us.”

“All right.”

“Thank you, Lucy. If you’re asked, you thought you recognized us. You were wrong. We’re just here on vacation. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

She nodded and stood, still slightly dazed, but it was only visible if you knew to look.

“That was good,” Sofia said.

“It was. Let’s go.”

She followed him out into the cold night air, Kitty at her heels.

“We’ll head back to my house,” he said.

“Shouldn’t we get a hotel? Scotland is far.” The magical energy required to aetherwalk that distance was pretty large. It’d take her nearly a day to recoup and she’d rather have it on hand for spells and the like.

“Distance doesn’t matter for me. I’ll aetherwalk and take you with me.”

Of course. He could recoup whatever he spent directly and immediately from the aether.

“Fine.” She didn’t want to wander the streets looking for a hotel anyway. She held out a hand.

He ignored it and pulled her into his arms. His warmth suffused her immediately. The strength of his arms was impossible to ignore, as was the hardness of his chest. Her annoyance at his heavy-handedness made it easy to stifle her sigh of pleasure.

Sofia glanced down to see Kitty pressed up against Malcolm’s leg. A second later, they stood in his library. The fire was bright and cozy and she broke free of his embrace to rush toward it.

She soaked in the warmth as she rubbed her arms, grateful that the fire was enchanted to burn continuously.Kitty had sprawled out on the floor and was trying to toast her belly.

“I’ll get us something to eat. You can stay there. Get warm.”

She glanced over her shoulder to see him leaving the room. He’d bring her food while she waited in front of the fire? That was nice. Was he taking her words to heart?

Or was she crazy for seeing kindness where there was only more machinations?

Idiot.It didn’t matter how nice he was about the little things. He’d stolen her dagger. Kidnapped her. When it had counted, he’d left her. He’d chosen power over anything they could ever have together. That choice made it impossible for them to have a future. So what did it matter if he cooked for her and saved her from danger?

He returned ten minutes later with three heavy bowls full of fragrant stew. He handed one to her and put one on the floor for Kitty.

“Thanks.” She inhaled. Fates, this was just what she wanted after a long day. She ignored him and went to a big chair that sat to the right of the fire. It enveloped her in heavenly softness and she ate while staring into the fire. Kitty made contented purring and snarfing noises at her feet.

Malcolm took the chair across from her, but she ignored him.

8

Malcolm watched Sofia eat, entranced by the way the firelight gleamed on her skin and hair. She was so bloody beautiful.

And so pissed off at him.

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