Page 88 of Charmed

A thrill rippled over me at hearing Alden referred to as beingmywizard. Once more my thoughts drifted to where they’d never fully strayed, causing another attack on my still wounded heart weak from missing him.

Memories from our time together played across my mind, each blended stroke of the bright and solemn moments together creating a picture that I’d initially believed to be about my apprenticeship but that instead told the story of unexpected love…with a prince more interested in magic than in romance.

Corbin still awaited my answer, his dark eyes round with curiosity. “I am thinking of Wizard Alden.”

“Because you miss him?” Once again he was far too perceptive. My longing curled around my heart, squeezing it so painfully it was all I could do to manage a nod. “If you miss him, then you should summon him with your powers.”

The idea was far too tempting. Though Alden had assured me I could seek his help should I need it, I knew he had far more pressing concerns vying for his attention than the whims of his former apprentice.

“He’s too busy.”

Corbin tilted his head. “But no matter how busyyouget, you always make time for me. Because you love me.”

There lay the difference. Though I’d come to believe we’d become friends, I couldn’t delude myself into thinking my interests were of greater worth than Alden’s dreams…an explanation too painful for me to offer my brother, so instead I gave him a snuggle.

“I’ll always make time for you.” I kissed his cheek.

Only this precious emotion could give me the strength to push through my pain when he innocently asked for stories recounting my adventures with Alden that now hurt to speak of. The words took on a form of their own as I wove them together, breathing life into the memories I both savored and wanted to keep locked away forever.

Silence settled over us once I eventually ran out of stories. Corbin studied me more closely than he had before. “You must miss hima lot.”

I swallowed the emotion clogging my throat and nodded.

“Because you love him?”

Love…it was a word I still hesitated to associate with Alden, a spell that would only escalate my already unbearable yearning for him.

I couldn’t answer, but it seemed Corbin didn’t need one. He patted my hand. “If you can’t bring him here, then perhaps you should go to him.”

I shook my head. “I couldn’t…you need me.”

“You can love both me and your wizard at the same time. That’s what I like best about hearts; no matter how much we love someone, there’s always room for more.”

Whatever curse had shrouded my senses seemed to lift with the spell spoken with his innocent childlike wisdom. Just because Alden now filled my heart didn’t mean I had any less to offer my dear brother.

I wrapped him in a tight embrace. “Thank you, Corbin.”

His eyes brightened. “I can summon him for you.”

He screwed his face in concentration and pressed his hands together, as if he were trying to hold onto a magical force. My indulgent smile immediately faltered when a knock sounded on the door.

Corbin lit up. “It’s him! He was quick; he must have been waiting because he missed you too.” He blinked down at his hands, as if fully realizing what he might be capable of. “DidIdo that?”

I was too shocked to respond. I’d never felt any magical presence from my brother, but couldn’t deny that the arrival of our guest was too perfectly timed to be a mere coincidence.

I rose and peered through the window, whose vantage point couldn’t offer a glimpse of our unexpected visitor’s face but did provide just enough of their familiar flowing blue robes for me to know who it was, as if my own acute longings had worked their own magic in order to summon him.

I gasped and allowed the curtain to fall back. No, it couldn’t possibly be him, not when he was occupied with his new position.

“Is it your wizard?” Corbin asked excitedly from the bed.

I drew the patched curtains back just enough for another tentative peek. The blue robes remained, too vivid to be even the most carefully crafted illusion. Suddenly I couldn’t bear the anticipation a moment longer.

I nearly tripped over my skirts in my haste to reach the door and wrench it open, where I found the prince—his familiar bright grey eyes, dark hair, and dimpled smile I’d come to adore. By the excited dance of my pattering heart, it was unmistakably him.

For a long moment I could only gape at him, my mind whirling with questions ofhowAlden could be here when he was supposed to be undergoing rigorous training for his new position. He stared back at me just as fervently before shyness tugged at the edges of his emerging smile.

“Hello, Mae.”

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