Page 34 of Destiny of the Witch

Ares picked up his pace until we were moving at a pleasant speed. Snuggled in my blanket and wrapped in Bastion, I looked up and watched the night sky. The stars were twinkling overhead, bright and full of promise. I could still vividly recall wishing upon a star as a child, but in that moment I felt like I had everything I wanted.

‘I love you,’ I said to Bastion softly before I could stop myself. ‘It snuck up on me, but there you go.’

He smiled. ‘I love you too. It didn’t sneak up on me,’ he admitted with a wry smile. ‘It struck me over the head and took me hostage.’

I laughed. ‘I think that’s the only thing that’s ever taken you unawares.’

‘Absolutely,’ he agreed. ‘Amber?’

‘Yes?’

He took my glass and set it down in the drinks’ holder. ‘I love you,’ he repeated sincerely, gazing into my eyes. ‘With everything I am.’

‘I know.’ Ismiled. ‘I can feel it.’

He lowered his lips to mine, at first a gentle brush and then a firmer press. I opened my lips to him and his tongue swept in, gaining ownership over my mouth as he had already gained ownership over my heart. Love swelled down our bond, so raw and strong that the word ‘love’ seemed inadequate.

I had fought this for so long, longer than I would admit even to myself. We had been through a crucible of fire that would have brought any two people closer together, but something far deeper had forged our bonds. This easy camaraderie, the blending of our two souls – it was nothing like I had imagined love to be.

I had thought it would burn and be all-consuming like the juvenile love that had burned between me and Jake, and to a degree it did, but what was between Bastion and I was more than that. It was in every glance, every touch. Though we were together every moment of every day, I had never grown tired of his presence. He centred me in a way I hadn’t known was missing from my life. He let me cry, made me laugh, and with him I could just be myself – every grumpy inch of it.

I realised I was crying. Bastion swept the tears from my cheeks with his thumbs. ‘Hey,’ he murmured with concern. ‘You’re crying, Bambi.’

‘Happy tears,’ I managed. ‘I never dreamed of loving someone like I love you.’

As I pawed at my own cheeks, a sudden thought came to me. Some people still thought that Bastion was acreature, to be tagged or even killed. They believed he had fewer rights than them. My mind boggled at that; he was the best person I knew, and some people thought he was no better than an animal.

I curled my fingers around his neck and pulled him to my lips again, kissing him fervently as I silently vowed that the evil witches weren’t the only ones I would take down. The Ante-Crea had better tremble in their bigoted boots because I was coming for them too.

Chapter 27

Like most things, education begins at home, so the next morning, I got up and tracked down Benji and, more importantly, Benjamin. They were in Oscar’s flat, having a subdued breakfast. ‘Are you okay?’ I asked my dad, when I saw the slight shake of his hands.

‘I had one too many drinks last night,’ he admitted.

‘Even after Edward spiked you?’ I said incredulously. ‘Are you crazy?’

‘I brought up a bottle of whisky and I kept it stoppered and in sight at all times,’ he reassured me.

‘He did,’ Benji confirmed. ‘He even took it into the bathroom with him. I chose not to drink, Am. The memories are too fresh.’

‘And imbibing alcohol also dulls the sense,’ Benjamin pointed out primly.

‘So you kept saying,’ Oscar grouched, head in his hands.

‘If you’d drunk less, my wizard friend, your headwould not feel quite so awful,’ Benjamin observed.

‘Yes, thank you, Benjamin.’ Oscar’s tone wasnotthankful.

I turned my attention to Benjamin. ‘We need to talk privately.’

One eyebrow rose. ‘Right now, Miss Amber?’

Oscar’s flat was far smaller than mine: a small, open-living space with a kitchenette-diner, one bedroom and bathroom. If I wanted privacy, we didn’t have too many options. ‘Yes, right now. We’re borrowing your bedroom,’ I said to Oscar. He nodded, head still in his hands.

‘Where’s David?’ I asked as we went into the bedroom.

‘He is returning to Edinburgh this morning. He was feeling anxious about leaving the Coven Council without a golem. He was also very excited to take a train. Ethan drove him to the station,’ Benji explained.

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