Page 149 of Night of the Witch
And when I open my eyes, I look up at him with all the strength I can find. “I’m ready to speak to the council.”
I’m not. At all. What will I say? That Holda showed me she made a mistake? That the very positions of power the council has enjoyed are what is stifling our people? That wild magic is actually no different from our magic, except that it’smorepowerful—
Otto’s brows bow inward. “Speak to the—what?”
Even Cornelia, who comes up alongside him, frowns at me. “You are in no shape to speak to the council, Friederike.”
I squint at her. “Then why are you here? I’m Holda’s champion. Don’t you need me?”
“Yes, but you did not think I’d put you to work so soon?” Cornelia asks, a laugh of disbelief. “I’m here to see how you are.”
“No business at all.” Otto points a threatening finger at her. “No updates. Not until she’s fully healed.”
“Updates?” I’m still half against him, one of his arms draped around my hips, and I push into his body. “What updates?”
“No.No.” He turns that faint reprimand to me. “Not until you’re better.”
“I will positively lose my mind if you expect me to stay in this cottage without speaking to anyone fordays.”
He seems to realize the absurdity of what he’s demanding, but he sighs, and all he says is, “If you’re certain.”
I touch his jaw, my thumb brushing across his full bottom lip. His presence goes from fortifying to infusing. It isn’t merely that he’s here—he’s herefor me, and he really does want to shield me from the fear that had built, the heaviness of these responsibilities.
An anchor. A protective wall. A soft place to fall.
This man has me utterly enraptured. How could I not be?
“Thank you for watching out for me,” I tell him, and my words are buoyant with how I feel the weight lifting under his protection. “How did I come to deserve you?”
“Oh, watching out for you is quite literally his calling,” says Cornelia with a grin.
I eye her. Otto flushes suddenly, pink spotting on his cheeks, and my gaze goes sly.
“What’s going on?” I press.
Cornelia winks. “I’ll let him explain. But I am glad to see you are up—take your time, champion. I do not want you back until you are healed.”
I reach for her, lips parting.
I should tell her what Holda showed me. She deserves to know, so we can strategize together, share this responsibility again—
But Cornelia gives my arm a quick squeeze. “Later, champion.”
And so I trust in that.Later.That we will have alater, that she will be waiting there to bear these burdens with me.
Cornelia heads back to the steps, where Liesel is talking animatedly with Brigitta and Alois.
I look back up at Otto. “What was she talking about?”
His hand moves against my spine, the ridges concaved to perfectly fit his fingers.
“The council has agreed to begin the bonding ceremonies again. Starting with us,” he tells me, and his head slants down to me, breath bathing my face from his unspooling smile. “I’m your warrior, Friederike Kirch. If you will have me.”
My breath hitches.
After everything, the idea of taking a bonding potion comes with an expected jerk of hesitation.
But it’s immediately soothed by the way his eyes dip through mine, full of such openness, such eager, unabashed desire that I’m breathless in the storm of him. And even though others are nearby, the force of his presence once again consumes me, and all the world falls away so there is onlyhim, onlyme, only the sudden, vital texture of his lips as I arch up to meet him.
