Page 78 of Love's a Witch
“No, Knox. It’s wrong. You’re doing a great job with Briarhaven, and despite your whole hero complex you’ve got going on, the town is lucky to have you. Your folks should realize that.”
“Thank you,” I said, oddly touched. I hadn’t been seeking compliments from her, but her approval meant something to me. It settled around my shoulders, a warm blanket on what few insecurities I did have, and I beamed at her. “I think you’re finally warming up to me.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Sloane sniffed and then took a bite of her toastie, made with thick sourdough and oozing with melted cheese. I was certain Blue would be pestering her for a bite if he were in here. “You still want me to leave town.”
“Och, not anymore, lass. I want to reverse the curse. I’d be a much happier lad if you stayed.”
“Seriously?” Sloane arched an eyebrow at me. “It could take months, nae, years before the curse is fixed. Look what’s happened already. You can’t possibly say you’re willing to put up with this nonsense for much longer.”
Nobody else had.
The unspoken words hung between us, but I could read the underlying meaning as loud as if she’d said them. My mind flashed back to the sullen-faced girl, her parents screaming inside, and realized that nobody had really stood up for her before. Which meant Ihad to. Sloane was mine, and I realized I needed to show her that not everyone would leave the moment they faced a hardship.
“So?” I said, keeping my tone light, suspecting she needed it. “We figure it out.”
Sloane stood abruptly, outrage on her face, and threw her hands in the air.
“Why does everyone keep saying that? Like it’s so easy? We spent years here and nothing came of it except my parents almost killing each other. Who is to say the same won’t happen again? I have the same magick as my mother, Knox. It misfireseverysingle day. I have no idea what will come, no control over anything, and I’m supposed to just… to just… to justacceptthat?” Sloane’s lower lip wobbled, and I went to her. Pulling her against me, I tilted her face up with a finger to see her eyes swimming with unshed tears.
“Why don’t you let go for a little bit?” I asked, brushing my lips lightly over hers.
“I can’t.” Sloane half sobbed against my mouth.
“Why not?”
“Because if I do… it could all fall apart. Who will take care of everyone? Of me?”
“Your sisters are adults. They can manage. And I’ll take care of you.”
Sloane reared back, blinking up at me, but I held her tight against my waist.
“You? You’ll take care of me? Listen, buddy, I don’t need a—”
“I know, Sloane. You’ve proven to the world you don’t need anyone to rescue you. But what if you let go… just for a little bit?”
“What happens then?” Suspicion rose on her impossibly lovely face.
“Why don’t you find out? What say you, Sloane? It’s just you and me in here. There’s nowhere to go. Nobody needs you for anything right now. This is about you. What do you want? Right now, in this moment?”
I could see the flames of the fire reflected in her eyes, and I waited, the moment drawing out, tension snapping back and forth between us.
“I want you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONESloane
As the words left my mouth, I could already feel it, a loosening inside of me, like a knot untying. How nice would it be to hand the control over to someone else, if even for just a moment? I felt safe here.
Knox had been there for me, repeatedly, every time my magick had gone astray.
But it was more than that.
Hewas more than that.
Knox wasn’t just a fixer; he was steady. He showed up for people, for this town, and even for a family that had left him behind. We were not so very different, him and I, even though I was certain the bed he was about to lay me down on was covered in sheets of silk. His eyes had darkened, something unfathomable and yearning swimming in their depths, and need rose inside me, demanding an escape.
I wanted to feast, but when I reached for his neck, wanting to pull his mouth to mine, he angled his head back.
“Nuh-uh, Sloane. I’m the one in charge now.”
