Page 18 of Pure Magic
“How?”
She holds her hand out with her palm up. “Just choose.”
“What is the other choice?” I can’t deny there is peace in this void.
“You could stay here until you die and go to Goddess. In my world, you will wither away despite our efforts to keep you alive.” Her eyes shine with tears.
I take her hand. “I never wish to cause you distress.”
My bedroom in the coven house grows clearer as I blink the strange dream away. Sara Beth, Prudence, and several other witches surround my bed. William and Jonah stare down with concern.
I focus on Sara Beth. “What happened?”
The group lets out a collective breath.
Sara Beth says, “I’ll tell you what I know.”
William wraps an arm around Esme. “We’ll go now. I’m glad you’re back, Adam. We’ll check on you tomorrow.”
Similar farewells are issued from the remaining witches.
Prudence pats my cheek and grins before she ambles out my door.
When there is only Sara Beth and me left, she sits on the edge of my bed, and takes my hand. “My mother was a very controlling witch in life. Since her death, she has refused to speak to me, but she still pushes from beyond when she’s unhappy with my choices. She’s been very unhappy these last few years. She didn’t trust men, and I’ve allowed two to join our coven. My interest in you must have pushed her to desperation. I heard the laughter. Though it did me no harm, it was clearly paining you.”
My head still rings with the memory. I cringe. “It was terrible.”
Mother is with Goddess, and in life did no harm except to herself at the time of her death. She worked a spell and nearly burned down the coven house. She was killed by her own magic. I think she meant to frighten you off.”
As I push to sitting, the room spins for a moment, and then stills. “She was terrifying.”
“Do you wish to leave Windsor?” Is there regret in her voice?
Somehow the idea that Sara Beth would miss me softens my near-fatal experience. “Do you think your mother will do me harm if I stay?”
“Prudence thinks Mother probably used so much energy to force her laughter into your head that it will take her a long time to recover enough to return. Perhaps I can reason with her in the meantime.” Sara Beth’s cheeks turn bright red, and the color travels down her neck and chest, where it disappears below the edge of her dress.
“I would like to stay in Windsor, but I don’t wish to experience that again. It was like someone was hitting my skull from the inside.” I shudder.
“I’m so sorry.” She caresses my hand where it lies on my chest then lowers her head to press on top.
Her hair fans out on my chest. I comb my fingers through and revel the softness and this closeness that I’ve only dreamed of, but never really believed possible. “I’m fine, Sara Beth. I don’t want to leave you or this coven. I won’t run away because of fear. I’ll only leave if you send me away. This was not your fault.”
She shakes her head but keeps it pressed against me. “It was foolish of me to let feelings get involved. I knew my mother would disapprove. You must believe me when I say I never thought she would harm you or anyone.”
Cupping the back of her head, I urge her gaze to mine. “I know you’d never hurt anyone. I don’t know what your mother intended, but clearly, she wouldn’t have approved of me for you.”
With a humorless laugh, she says, “Mother thought men only good for one purpose, and that was getting with child. She would say even pleasure was better obtained on our own.”
Drawing her forward, I press my lips lightly to hers. A million stars burst behind my eyes in an electric display. It takes me a moment to regain my breath. “When you honor me with your body, Sara Beth Ware, I promise there will be pleasure.”
“You mean if.” Her chest rises and falls with heavy breaths.
I grin. “Call me overconfident.”
Shaking her head, she laughs. The sound is musical, nothing like the maniacal cackling that caused me pain. Hers is laughter I could get lost in for a thousand years. Standing, she tucks the covers around me. “You should rest now. If you need anything, just call out. Someone will hear you.”
In my mind I say, “I’ll be fine, Sara Beth. This was not your fault.”
