Page 56 of Charmed

I hesitated to ask the question that was coming far later than it should from a friend. “How are things faring since your union?”

They both sighed as we settled in our seats and Xander took his daughter so his wife could pour our tea. “Most of the court remain wary of Xander considering his background, including the advisors. He’s been able to do frustratingly little in his new role.”

I cast him an uncertain glance. I’d always admired Xander’s hardworking nature and the focus he’d rendered his royal duties, something I’d always lacked when it came to my own. As someone who fiercely clung to the magic that forged my identity, I couldn’t imagine what it’d been like for my friend to have his own purpose suddenly stripped away.

I’d never understood how he’d been willing to give up all for the sake of love, sacrificing his dreams and ambitions just to be with his heart. Yet watching them in this moment, rather than experiencing loss he seemed to have instead discovered a new dream for himself.

His smile was reassuring, though it did little to dim the discouragement lining his expression. “While I have yet to earn either the trust of the courtiers or official duties to which to dedicate my time, thankfully Taryn’s family has at last come to accept me, which allows me time to not only assist her with her own responsibilities but be a husband and father.”

He gave his daughter nestled in his lap an adoring snuggle, his expression softening upon noticing his wife’s worry. He stroked her cheek.

“Please be assured that I’m very happy in the life I’ve chosen with you and don’t regret it for a moment. I promise.” He pressed a reassuring kiss to her brow.

Though her worry lingered, she hastily tucked the emotion away and returned to her duties as hostess. She stirred in cream and sugar and handed me a cup of tea. “While we welcome your visit, it’s admittedly unexpected midst the magical competition currently taking place that I know you were planning on entering.”

Xander’s eyes bulged. “Don’t tell me you’ve failed.”

I shook my head. “I’ve successfully completed all the tasks required of me, but find myself inexperienced in the next realm of magic I’m being tested on, so am here in pursuit of your expertise.”

Taryn frowned. “But we’re unfamiliar with magic of any sort except…but of course, we do have experience in one area.”

“Relics.” Xander leaned forward in his seat. “Is the next challenge a relic hunt?”

“Of a sort. I’m required to not only find a relic, but break the curse placed upon it and create an entirely new one, all within the span of a week.”

His eyes widened. “You’re being asked to do something that took Taryn and Iyearsin such a short span of time? The competition is more intense than I could have ever imagined.” He shook his head in wonder.

“Time isn’t the only pressing issue—even if I finish within the dictates of the challenge only to come in last, or if the quality of my magic doesn’t measure up to the others, I’ll be disqualified.”

My anxiety rose. I’d already lost a day deciphering the challenge and in travel, which left me only a handful of days to see it through…this time without the companion I’d come to rely on. I took a hasty sip of tea, but its warmth did little to soothe my rising panic. The only one who could…

Once more my mind drifted to Maeve, thoughts made more difficult to suppress midst my current tumult of emotions. When I managed to once more tuck thoughts of her away, it wasn’t soon enough to hide them from Taryn’s keen observation.

“Are you thinking of a maiden?”

At these words Xander choked on his tea, startling his daughter in his lap. She was easily soothed when he propped her on his shoulder and rubbed her back. The moment her cries settled, his shocked attention riveted to me.

“Is Taryn correct?”

“Of course not.” But my cheeks warmed for seemingly no particular reason, and suddenly with the fire popping cheerfully in the hearth the room felt much too warm as I busied myself with arranging some papers I’d brought with notes on relics.

His eyes narrowed, taking in my nervous fidgeting and innocent expression with prying scrutiny. “I recognize that look—it’s the same distraction I felt whenever I missed Taryn.” His arm wound around her shoulders to nestle her against his side, as if the memory of their separation made him yearn to be close to her.

My heart leapt in a sharp longing that nearly stole my breath, but I did my best to conceal the emotion. “You pined for a woman you loved. I have no such feelings for anyone; you know I’m too busy to be bothered with a relationship.” Yet for some reason the sentiment I’d confessed to him many times throughout our friendship now felt almost…insincere.

“I initially believed the same thing,” he admitted. “I expected a loveless arranged marriage created as a duty to appease my father…until the day when love collided with me. Literally.”

His lips quirked up as he gave Taryn a searing sidelong glance. Her cheeks pinked but she seemed pleased with herself. “How else was I to get your attention?”

“Are you really taking credit for the workings of fate?” he asked. “If we hadn’t metbeforerealizing we were supposed to be enemies, our story might have turned out quite differently.”

“I disagree. We were meant to be together and would have found another way, I’m certain of it.”

The two exchanged a tender glance filled with a deep love that they could have only forged through much tribulation.

I awkwardly cleared my throat. “About the relics…”

Taryn’s attention immediately returned to me. “As important as your competition is, I refuse to be so easily distracted from my curiosity. I too recognize the look of when a man is thinking of a woman.”

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