Page 73 of Witch Unbound
Bramble’s eyes snapped open, and her scream pierced the night.
Lauris took a step forward, but Minerva pushed out a hand to stall him.
“You must not interrupt,” she snapped.
Lauris halted, shoulder muscles knotting, as if it was taking everything he had not to shove Minerva aside and gather Bramble into his arms.
Bramble bucked and cried out again, twisting and writhing on the bed of blossoms.
“She’s in pain.” Lauris curled his hands into fists.
“Rebirth is painful,” Minerva said. “Hold your peace.”
Bramble’s body pulsed with light for a moment longer and then the glow ebbed. She relaxed against the flowers, chest rising and falling as she took in hungry gulps of air. Her eyes rolled in her head before snapping into focus.
She sat bolt upright and glared at Minerva. “Who the feck are you?”
I sagged in relief. Bramble was back.
Chapter Seventeen
Ilooked out at the grove from my perch on the stone platform above the brook. Wren and Rune sat on the blossoms surrounded by even more tiny orbs, and Bramble was perched on a mushroom, talking to Minerva. I couldn’t see her face, but her posture was stiff, almost confrontational. The fae, pixie, whatever she was, had asked for Bramble to hear her out as payment for saving her life. It was a private conversation, but damn, what I’d give to eavesdrop just a little.
Movement drew my attention away from the pair and to Lauris, bounding across the steppingstones to get to me. After how angry he’d been with me, I was a little surprised to find him seeking me out.
“I’m sorry.” Lauris lowered himself beside me on the rock platform above the brook. “I shouldn’t have been so hard on you.”
Was he serious? Bramble had died because of a decision I made. That was a fact. She was alive by luck, by chance, whatever. He’d every right to be upset, but he was looking at me with an earnest, almost sheepish expression, silver eyes gleaming with sincerity.
“Lauris, you have no need to be sorry. You had every right to be upset. I acted rashly. Maybe if we’d waited a little, the outcome would have been different.”
“No, it wouldn’t have.” He pressed his lips together for a moment. “Minerva says the dead forest feeds on flesh and blood. It would have held Bramble in its grip and slowly devoured her. You forced it to make her death quick. What you did was a mercy.”
The pressure around my chest eased with his words. I hadn’t fucked up. I hadn’t been wrong. “And now she’s alive. She’s okay.”
He looked over at Bramble and his expression went all soft and gooey.
Oh boy. “How long have you been in love with her?”
He tucked in his chin and smiled wryly. “I don’t know. I only just realized I was.”
“Are you going to tell her?”
“And risk getting my nose broken?” He snorted. “No thank you.”
I chuckled. “She’s not that bad.”
“Are we talking about the same pixie?”
He had a point, but, “I think she likes you too, Lauris.”
He looked sharply my way. “You do?”
“Yeah, so when this is over, why not take a risk?”
He gave me a half smile. “Why not?” His attention traveled back to her, and this time she looked up at him, as if sensing his regard.
She smiled sweetly and then gave him the finger.
