Page 5 of Our Dark Winter Wish

It’s hard to say.

Poppy. Poppet’s familiar. Her spiritual guide and protector.

She has taken to hiding up my sleeves and coiling around my neck when I sleep.

Her tongue darts out as she inspects the jar for herself but offers no signs that these things are in any way a danger. Not that I thought for a second they would be. Never mind Archie being just as obsessed with Ashe as we are, I highly doubt something like a colourful caterpillar could do much to harm the new earth goddess.

Shaw stashes the jar in his coat pocket and runs his finger down Poppy’s nose.

‘I’m glad you’re growing fond of her,’ he says, smiling down at the serpent. ‘Although watching you recoil every time you saw her was amusing, this is much better. She likes you.’

‘First of all. I never recoiled,’ I state in no uncertain terms. ‘And second, the only reason she keeps clinging to me like this is because Poppet wants her to annoy me.’

She slithers back under my cuff, returning to the warmth as she wraps herself around my wrist.

Will I admit that I am, in fact, honoured that she has taken to me more than the others?

No. I will not. Never.

But I will always welcome her on my wrist and act as if it’s the biggest imposition of my life.

We start heading back towards the cottage. That strange little house made of nature filled with four creatures that have known nothing but blood, violence and death for decades.

But not anymore.

Our days are filled with peace and laughter. Our nights with passion and rest.

Sometimes, I have no idea if the sun is up or not, but I’m making her squirm nonetheless.

‘Has she spoken to you about her flashbacks?’ Shaw asks me after a few minutes. He watches me cautiously.

‘Briefly. Why?’

‘She cornered me earlier today and asked me to do something I’m unsure about doing.’

‘The whole recovery by exposure plan?’ I reply. He nods with a solemn expression. ‘Yeah. She’s mentioned it to me, too.’

‘Thoughts?’

‘Well, my initial thoughts are no. She has a panic attack if she feels too much weight on her and gets flashbacks. I don’t want to experiment with putting my entire body weight on her so she gets past the trauma of her experiences. I’ve had enough of hearing her scream. Enough to last a lifetime.’ I watch Shaw as he walks. ‘She spoke to Archie too. About him choking her until she doesn’t panic anymore.’

Shaw looks at the ground. Of all the deaths she endured, I know his was the worst. His killing of Neve was long and excruciating. It’s the execution all witches fear most.

Death by three hundred cuts.

Ashe sees a blade, and I instantly feel the panic through our link.

‘She wants me to cut her.’ His words come out quiet and full of shame.

My response is far less gentle.

‘I don’t fucking think so!’ I scoff.

Not quite as supportive as I could be. Granted. But I’ve seen her bleed quite enough, and now I’m not drinking her blood, it’s far less attractive than it once was.

‘That’s what I said,’ he agrees, as if that’s obvious. ‘But that is what she asked me. If I would cut her.’

We share a sideways glance before I need to readjust yet again.

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