Page 109 of Love's a Witch
Of course you are. You’re a Fireheart.
“Thanks. That would have been helpful a while ago, you know.” I laughed down at Blue, but then slipped him a piece of cheese. “He knew what I was all along. I should have just asked him.”
“Ah well, sometimes things have to come to light in their own time, don’t they?”
I looked across the table at this impossibly handsome man, who was so consistently certain that things would always work out for him. And I had to admit that maybe there was something to be said for just believing that the world wasn’t out to harm you.
A sweet trill came from outside the window, and I looked across and saw a stunning goldfinch popping about. The loch stretchedout, glimmering among the verdant hills in the distance, a swipe of blue paint on a master’s canvas. Briarhaven spread before me, colorful cottages and stores clambering over one another, tendrils of smoke curling into the air from chimneys, people bustling on the pavement. Life was so charming here, especially now that the snow had stopped. It made me realize that I’d spent my childhood years so busy trying to avoid the potholes that I’d forgotten to look up at all the beautiful scenery surrounding me.
It was time for a change.
And not just on a trial basis.
Sloane MacGregor, Fireheart witch, was finally going to learn to grow some roots.
EPILOGUESloane
I thought Mandy had banned her from calling emergency meetings?” Nova opened a bottle of champagne and poured the four of us a glass each. Broca stood at the door, ushering in the Charms, who came in looking decidedly different not all bundled up and covered in snow.
“I guess Broca does what she wants,” Lyra said, leaning forward to wave at Diedre, who immediately veered off to commune with her folders at the table.
“I can’t believe you’re a Fireheart witch,” Nova said. We waited to cheers until Broca returned to the couch and took a glass. She was standing more, her enforced physical therapy slowly giving her more mobility, and now her daily walks could be taken outside instead of on the treadmill.
“I don’t fully understand what that means, but I’m pleased about it too. I think. I just have so much to learn.” I leaned back against the cushions with a soft sigh, the glass of champagne still in my hand. The black crystal dragon figurine I’d coveted from Raven’s shop sat on a side table, eyes glittering red in the sunlight, a gift from my sisters for solving my part of the curse. “But the good thing is that Knox has a massive library and Henry has already pulled some books forme. I’m going to throw myself into research mode and see if we can uncover anything else about our past.”
“Particularly since the ritual only broke the curse for you.” Lyra bit her lower lip, her eyes worried as she gestured with her glass. “You know what else we realized, last night after you left?”
“What’s that?”
“Someone in that room had family ties to the original witch that cursed us.” Nova’s eyes were serious on mine.
“Oh… butof course.” I hadn’t even thought about that, but I realized they were right. That was why Knox’s one-fell-swoop approach had worked so well. Instead of trying to figure out which family had cursed our ancestor, he’d just included everyone. It was an expedient, though some may say sloppy, way of achieving his goal.
“Because the way the ritual was worded, it did seem to indicate that everyone involved in the curse should be a part of the unbreaking,” Broca agreed, her expression thoughtful.
“It was clever on Knox’s part, indeed,” she added.
“And because we just have one piece of the quartz heart, it does mean it’s likely a ticking time bomb on when the next curse kicks in.”
“Something like that.” Broca moved to the door when a knock sounded. “Felicity.”
“Och, she’s out of the hospital?” Putting my glass down, I sprang up and rounded the couch to greet Felicity. Raven stood at her side, carrying Felicity’s emotional support tote, and a white bandage stood out on Felicity’s forehead. She used crutches to help her inside, but the color was back on her cheeks, and her eyes were bright.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I said, gently pressing a kiss to her face.
“Thank you for your help,” Felicity said, and I waved it away, guilt filling me. Had it not been for the snow, she wouldn’t have been hurt.
“I didn’t do anything. Raven healed you. This was all my fault. It was the snow that caused all this.”
“No.” Felicity shook her head. “No, it wasn’t, Sloane. I was being stupid. I dropped my phone and reached for it. I know better.”
“Wait, that’s what happened?” I’d been convinced the snowstorm had caused her car to skid out.
“I mean, the snow didn’t help the situation, but it wasn’t the cause. I was being reckless.” Felicity pursed her lips. “A lesson I likely won’t forget.”
“We are all learning and growing, aren’t we?” Tam appeared behind Raven, water bottle in hand, running shorts on.
“Ladies. To the table?” Broca waved us over, and we all sat.
