Page 62 of Unbearable Attraction
More than held. The ward network absorbed his attack and transformed it, turning his malice into protective energy that strengthened every barrier he'd tried to break. The corruption he'd spread through the sacred sites began to reverse, his own magic turned against him by the collective will of a community that refused to be conquered.
Edmund staggered as his power rebounded, his perfect composure completely shattered. "You're a fool," he gasped, his voice hoarse from magical exertion. "You could have been a god among necromancers, and you chose to be a small-town nobody."
"I chose to be happy," Leenah said simply. "I chose to be loved. I chose to belong somewhere. Those aren't small things, Edmund. They're everything."
"This isn't over," he panted, his expensive suit now hanging in tatters. "You think your little sanctuary can hide forever? There are others like me, others who understand that power should be controlled by those capable of wielding it properly."
"Let them come," Leenah said quietly, feeling the absolute certainty of her community around her. "We'll be ready."
As Edmund's barriers finally collapsed and his legal documents burst into flames, consumed by the very magic he'd tried to use to enforce them, Leenah felt a deep sense of completion wash over her.
Not just the completion of their defense, but the completion of her own transformation. The fiercely independent necromancer who'd arrived in Hollow Oak six years ago was gone, replaced by someone who understood that true strength came not from standing alone, but from choosing to stand together.
"Is it over?" Luka asked, moving to her side as the magical chaos finally began to settle.
"This part is," she replied, leaning into his solid warmth. "But Edmund was right about one thing. There will be others who see what we've built here as a threat to their idea of proper order."
As the spirits began to fade back to their realm and the townspeople started cleaning up the magical aftermath, Leenah looked around at the community that had become her chosen family. Whatever challenges lay ahead, she knew they'd face them united.
The way it should be.
40
LUKA
Three days after Edmund's defeat, Luka knelt in the sacred grove with dirt under his fingernails and hope blooming in his chest. The ancient oaks were healing faster than anyone had expected, their bark already beginning to cover the ugly symbols Edmund had carved into them. Nature, it seemed, was eager to forget the corruption that had briefly touched this place.
"Hand me that sage cutting," Leenah said from where she crouched beside the disturbed earth around the stone circle. "The spirits are asking for something to cleanse the last traces of his magic."
Luka passed her the bundle of herbs Twyla had brought from her private garden, watching as she placed it reverently in the spot where Edmund's dark magic had tried to take root. The moment the sage touched the soil, a warm breeze stirred through the grove, carrying away the last bitter scent of corruption.
"Better?" he asked.
"Much." She sat back on her heels, dirt streaking her jeans and a satisfied smile on her face. "You can actually feel the balance returning. Whatever Edmund did here, it's fading fast."
They'd been working together to repair the grove since sunrise, their combined magic slowly healing the damage Edmund's occupation had caused. It was careful work, requiring patience and gentle touch rather than raw power. But Luka found he enjoyed it more than the dramatic magical battles they'd been fighting lately.
"You know what I keep thinking about?" Leenah said, brushing soil from her hands.
"What's that?"
"How he offered me all that power, all that knowledge, and I didn't even hesitate before saying no." She looked around the grove with obvious contentment. "A year ago, I probably would have been tempted. But now..."
"Now you know what actually matters," Luka finished, understanding exactly what she meant.
"Exactly. Turns out unlimited magical power is pretty meaningless if you don't have anyone to share it with."
The simple statement hit him harder than any declaration of love could have. Here was a woman who'd been offered everything her ambitious family had ever dreamed of, and she'd chosen him instead. Chosen them, chosen the community they'd built together, chosen the quiet happiness of belonging somewhere.
His bear rumbled with deep satisfaction, recognizing the moment as significant in ways his human consciousness was only beginning to understand. This wasn't just about romantic love anymore. This was about building something that could last, something that could weather whatever threats the future might bring.
"Leenah.”
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
She grinned, dirt still smudging her cheek. "I love you too. Though if this is leading up to some kind of mushy declaration about our bond, you should know my hands are literally covered in earth right now."
