Page 114 of Happily Ever Witch
“Well, maybe somedifferentallies would be less asshole-ish.”
“Or maybe allies would all turn on me.” Green eyes had narrowed in brooding thought. “Just like Marrok did.”
“Trev…”
“I don’t want to talk about him.” He’d interrupted, as if suddenly guessing where this conversation was going. “The wolf is the whole reason we’re here. You realize that? He put me in a mystical coma andthatmade it easy for the Queen of Clubs to kidnap me to Wonderland. It’s all his fault.”
“I’m pretty sure you were threatening Letty, when he put you in that coma.”
Trevelyan had scoffed, like that was silly to even mention. “She was just a way to get to Marrok. If I’d wanted toactuallyhurt Scarlett, I would have actually hurt Scarlett. I didn’t.”
Esmeralda had met his gaze, because it was important that he hear this part. “I love Letty. She is my chosen sister.”
“I didn’t hurt her.” He’d insisted.
“Youthreatenedher. I can’t have that. You wouldn’t like it, if I threatened Maid Marion.”
He’d opened his mouth. Then closed it again, like he was considering her words. “Alright.” He’d conceded.
“You and Marrok have a history together. I get it.” Esmeralda had stressed, in case he was working some angle she’d missed. “But Letty is not part of that mess.Do not threaten her. Not for any reason. Promise me. One of those thousand-percent dragon promises.”
“I won’t threaten her. I promise you a thousand percent. She is in no danger from me. I think I could like Scarlett, as a matter of fact. If you wish, I’ll tell her so myself, at Marrok’s funeral.”
Esmeralda had scowled at him. “That’s not funny.”
Trevelyan’s mouth had twitched. “It’s alittlefunny.”
“Someday, being so terrible is going to get you into trouble that you can’t get out of on your own. Having allies would help you survive. That would be cool, right?” She’d tried one more time to get him to see reason. “If you don’t like dragons or wolves, you can expand your horizons to some otherspecies.”
Like maybe a witch.
Trevelyan grunted, missing the subtext. “I don’t like any other species, either.”
Esmeralda had let it drop, at that point. Nothing she could’ve said would sway him and she didn’t want to argue in circles. Sooner or later, he’d realize why their sex was “more” and why their magic linked up so perfectly. Until then, she’d have to do this on her own.
Gazing down at him in the early morning light, Esmeralda found herself smiling.
Wild things wanted death or freedom. That’s what he said to her by the fireplace and it applied to them both. Finding your True Love was a confusing time in any girl’s life. The bond was so all-encompassing and powerful you could get lost in it. You needed to makes sure you were stillyou, even when you were connected to him. You needed to make sure you were true to the very core of yourself.
And Esmeralda’s core was her family. Every single exasperating one of them.
She kissed her thumb and then pressed it to Trevelyan’s cheek.
“Ez.” He murmured, but didn’t open his eyes. He always slept soundly when they were together. His magic sensed she was there and posed no danger to him. With her, the dragon was content and satiated.
She felt the same way around him. All her life, his voice had been in her head when she was scared, comforting her through her fear.
With me, you are always safe, my darling. I love you more than magic itself.
Some version of him had soothed her throughout the worst terrors of her childhood. She’d heard him in her head a hundred times. Esmeralda didn’t know how that was possible, but it didn’t matter. Her True Love’s voice had reached her, when she’d needed him most.
“With me, you arealwayssafe, my darling.” She whispered.
She wasn’t giving him the rest of the words. Not unless he said them first. She wasn’t a masochist. Of course, knowing Trevelyan he’d probablyneversay them, just to piss her off. Even Avenant was a more sensitive True Love than Trevelyan and her other honorary brother had spentyearsbitching about Belle, before he set his mind to winning her. The dragon was not going to profess undying love to her anytime soon.
Jackass.
She reluctantly walked out of the room, leaving her big, stubborn, wild thing peacefully sleeping. Five minutes later, she’d written that idiot dragon a note, packed herself a lunch, and was back in front of the creepy mirror.
