Page 61 of Charmed

With one look, I could see what was actually going on in my heart…or in Maeve’s. The questions filling my heart grew, yearning to be answered. Was more than a mere love potion at work? And if my feelings had not been manipulated by magic, what did it mean for our future? Again my hand crept to the scarf, but my enchantment held true.

With an effort, I turned my thoughts away from my dilemma and simply focused on Maeve and what winning this competition would mean for her. I could detangle my emotions another day, but for now, Maeve was depending on me to exert my knowledge of magic to break this curse.

I drew in a wavering breath and chanted a spell of compulsion, directing it towards the object I held. I felt the relic tremble, resisting my pull, but to my surprise I could feel my spell take effect. The curse’s strength apparently lay in its ability to ensnare victims, and it had little power to resist a counterspell. With one final tug, the curse separated from the relic, accompanied by a rush of wind and smell of acrid smoke.

I sat still, holding the now silent relic. Was the curse truly broken? I mentally reviewed my notes. The curse had been tied to the relic, so separating the two should have shattered it. I ran my fingers over the smooth surface as I waited for my scarf’s enchantment to run its course. After the hour passed, I felt it loosen and reached up to pull the cloth away.

The relic lay harmlessly in my lap, the curse broken…although its power remained. I looked at it hesitantly, wondering if I dared use it. After a moment I set it down firmly. Perhaps later I could experiment; for now I had a mission to complete. No, two missions—to enchant this object with a new charm…and to find my apprentice.

As if thinking of her once again acted as the inspiration I needed, I smiled and took up the relic. The hours passed as I labored, but at last the relic held a temporary new enchantment: the simple but useful ability to reflect anything one needed to find. It wasn’t powerful enough—especially with my currently depleted magic—to cast a spell with long-distance effects, but if a person misplaced something close at hand, the relic would reflect an image of it lying wherever it had been left.

If only I could demonstrate it for Maeve now. I hoped time would stop every errant thought of my apprentice and how much I missed her conversations…yet whatever charm she’d cast to hold me captive refused to relinquish its unyielding grip. If I wanted any peace, I needed to see her.

Could I afford the time it’d take to find her and appeal to her stubbornness enough to check on her and her brother and possibly convince her to return? Magic would need to be my ally if I hoped to accomplish such a feat…and right now my inexplicable distraction had only proven time and time again that magic and I weren’t currently on the best of terms.

CHAPTER19

MAEVE

The anxiety cinching my heart eased at Corbin’s weary smile. I’d spent most of the endless night tending to my brother at his bedside so Mother could capture some much needed rest, passing the hours with stories about frog transformations and a magical competition, weaving it like a fairytale rather than an actual account of my most recent adventures.

I omitted certain details—such as the feel of Alden’s lips against my head as he’d kissed me to break the curse, a memory that had since become my most precious recollection, nevermind he hadn’t meant anything by it. Even without dwelling on that moment, it hurt to speak of these recollections when they only made Alden’s absence more acute, but the pain was well worth the sacrifice to bring my brother joy; even if he didn’t possess enough strength to laugh, amusement lit his eyes, and my heart warmed to see his pleasure.

When I’d emerged from Alden’s conjured portal, I hadn’t known what would await me and had braced myself for the worse. I’d been fiercely relieved to find Corbin doing much better than the dark imaginings anxiety had caused to twist my thoughts.

The money I’d sent through Alden’s charmed circle back when I’d first received word of Corbin’s condition had been sufficient to purchase the necessary herbs to rescue him from danger. Mother’s second letter to the palace had been a reassurance of his condition and an admonition for me not to interrupt my training to come, but I didn’t regret my visit…especially now that my presence was no longer needed by Alden’s side.

A different sort of ache encased my chest, but I forced the emotion away and took Corbin’s hand, so small and clammy within mine. He exerted all his strength to give me a reassuring squeeze, as always doing his best to be brave.

“I’m glad you came home to see me.”

“Me too.” I dipped the cloth I’d been using to sponge his burning brow into the basin on the nightstand and wiped his damp cheeks before resting it against his forehead.

“How long will you stay?” Hope filled his small voice, his silent plea for me to stay longer.

I didn’t have a clear answer. Technically several months remained in my apprenticeship, a contract I wasn’t entirely certain Alden would maintain after my unintentional interference in the competition and my sudden departure. His easygoing nature made me doubt he’d break it for such a petty reason, but should he remain in the competition, the upcoming challenges would prevent him from training me indefinitely.

“I promise to at least stay until you get better.” It was the only definite timeframe I could offer.

Corbin managed a weak smile. “I’m glad. I’ve missed you.” His eyes fluttered closed, and soon his soft, rhythmic breaths of sleep filled the room. I stroked his hair back and pressed a kiss to his brow.

“Sweet dreams.”

Despite the weariness clouding my senses, I didn’t want to sleep…yet I was reluctant to leave his side. I hesitated in the doorway and looked back at Corbin’s frail form curled beneath his layers of blankets, his thumb stuck in his mouth and his expression relaxed.

Mother slept in the nearby bed, her own exhaustion heavy enough that she hadn’t been pulled from sleep by our quiet conversation, but not deep enough that she wouldn’t awaken should Corbin need someone during my brief absence. Her presence gave me permission to step outside.

The second dawn I’d spent away from Alden caressed the trees in rosy golden light and glistened in the morning mist to warm my cheeks, the lingering morning chill refreshing after being cooped up in Corbin’s stuffy room all night. I wearily leaned against the side of the house and closed my eyes, allowing the calm of the morning to envelop me. For all its stillness, it didn’t lessen the anxiety cinching my heart that had followed me from my brother’s bedside, a burden I could never fully rest from.

My eyes snapped open when I suddenly detected the presence of magic that had grown as familiar as my own. The air tingled and portal appeared, followed by my dear wizard adorned in his robes, vivid green to match my old frog form. For a moment I could only stare in disbelief that my yearnings to see him had seemingly acted as its own summoning charm.

“Alden?” My tone was hesitant, the part of me that remained unsure whether he was really here. Even at his confirming nod I kept my distance; as happy as I was to see him, my heart felt unprepared for the unexpected encounter with the one who’d cast a spell upon me.

He hesitantly stepped forward, his movements almost shy in his uncertainty. My mind scrambled for a reason to explain his presence before settling upon the worst.

“Did you not pass the potions’ task after all?”

“I passed, and have made progress on the next task. But…I wanted to see you. I was worried.”

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