Page 30 of The Witch's Rite
As the men take a much-needed break and enjoy their lemonade, I walk over to the henhouse. They’ve got the basic skeleton of the structure put together, but it still needs walls, a roof, and probably a bunch of other stuff only Alden knows about. Thank goodness for him and his carpentry skills; Brookside wouldn’t be the same without him.
Placing a hand on one of the planks of wood, I imagine what it’ll look like when it’s finished. I think I’ll paint it a happy color, probably light blue, like a beautiful summer sky. I think Lucy would appreciate it too.
With a small smile, I turn away from the henhouse, and a sudden rush of dizziness comes over me. Stumbling, I put a hand to my brow and close my eyes, willing the world to stop spinning around me.
“Aurora?” comes Rowan’s concerned voice.
But I’m still fighting off the dizziness and can’t yet open my eyes.
Boots thump hurriedly through the fresh grass, and then there’s a hand on my low back.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Rowan asks.
“I...” Slowly, I open my eyes. Rowan is standing beside me, a concerned crease in his brow. Alden has put his lemonade down and looks ready to run over and catch me if need be. “I’m not sure. A wave of dizziness just came over me.”
“You should sit down,” Alden says.
“I need to go check the bread first.”
Without another word, Rowan stoops and sweeps me into his arms. I let out a surprised breath, then wrap my arms around his neck. He’s firm and warm, his arms like sturdy branches as he carries me toward the cottage.
Before Rowan can ask, Alden goes to the kitchen door, and he holds it open so Rowan can carry me into the kitchen. It smells deliciously of sourdough, and my stomach grumbles at the thought of a fresh slice.
“Have you been eating enough?” Alden asks, stepping into the kitchen behind us as Rowan eases me into a chair at the kitchen table.
“I think so. I’ve been a bit tired lately, but that’s all. I think it’s from the heat.”
Alden crosses his arms and narrows his eyes at me as Rowan fetches the mitts and pulls my baking dish out of the coals. When he removes the lid, a rush of steam rises up and curls around his face.
“Looks perfect,” he announces. “Where do you want it?”
“There,” I say, pointing to the place on the counter I already prepared for it. He moves the dish, and I let out a long sigh, feeling the tiredness creep back up on me.
“Perhaps we should take you to see Niamh,” Alden suggests.
In addition to being our oracle, she’s our healer as well. I remember going into her apothecary when I was a girl, remember all the tiny glass vials filled with ground herbs and shimmering powders I had no names for. I’ve not yet stepped foot into her shop since I returned to Faunwood.
“I’m not sure that’s necessary,” I say, casting Alden a comforting smile. He looks so troubled, standing there looking down at me with his arms crossed. “But if it keeps up, I’ll pay her a visit.”
Alden’s response is little more than a grumble.
“How about a bite to eat, then?” Rowan offers. He’s already carefully removing the loaf from the dish, and the fresh-baked bread continues to steam in the golden sunlight streaming through the window.
“Let it cool for a moment,” I tell him. “I could use a glass of lemonade though.”
Rowan eases past Alden, then out the door, going to fetch the pitcher from the table beside the garden. After the door whispers closed behind him, Alden crosses the small kitchen and sinks into the chair across from me. His brow is still furrowed, and he reaches out to take one of my hands in his. I trace his skin with my thumb, lingering on the calluses from his hard carpentry work.
“You’ll tell me if the dizziness continues?” he asks, dark brown eyes so intense it’s as if they cast a spell over me, holding me in place.
Maybe he’s a warlock and doesn’t even know it.
I curl my fingers through his, then lean forward to press a kiss to the wrinkle in his brow, hoping to smooth it out. “I promise.” Sitting back, I smile at him and use my free hand to brush a smudge of dirt from his temple. “I’m certain I’ll feel better soon.”
Chapter 19
Rowan
AURORA RECOVERED QUICKLY FROM HER dizzy spell yesterday, but I still didn’t feel quite right leaving her. So, for the first time, I stayed at the cottage even though Alden was there too. Before anything could becometoouncomfortable, I announced I’d sleep on the couch in the parlor, and that’s where I’m at when I stir awake the following morning.
