Page 56 of Happily Ever Witch
“Oh, I’mpositivehe could’ve.” He must have been pulling his punches, because Scarlett wasn’t his real target. Knowing him, it had been a big, tantrum-y show for Marrok’s benefit. “I watched him evaporate a guy’s bones earlier. Dark magic is his go-to problem-solver.”
Scarlett was the cleverest person Esmeralda knew and now she was thinking hard. “Are yousurethat he’s your True Love? It’s not some trick he’s pulling?”
“He’s not tricking me. Believe me. He’sdesperatefor a way out of this arrangement.” The man was pissed as hell over her “disloyalty.” “Trevelyan doesn’t think I’m Bad enough for him.”
Scarlett snorted, because she’d been hearing the same criticism all her life. “If he’s your True Love, then thereisn’ta way out. Not unless you both agree to stand before a wizard and formally dissolve the match. Does Trevelyan want to do that?”
Esmeralda wasn’t kidding herself. “He’d probably go for it, if I offered.”
“He hasn’t suggested it, though?”
“No.”
“It seems like a pretty obvious solution to the problem. If he hasn’t mentioned it, maybe he doesn’t think thereisa problem.”
Esmeralda hadn’t considered that. “He did say,” she cleared her throat, “that he planned to keep me.”
“Doyouwant to keephim? That’s what really matters.”
“I’m not sure.” Esmeralda rubbed at her forehead. “I mentioned he’s horrible, right?”
“Yep.”
“And selfish. Arrogant. Oblivious. Prone to childish dramatics. Thinks he’s always right.” She closed her eyes, because the list went on and on. “He told me to teach him how to be a better True Love, so I’m seeing if he can be salvaged, before I decide what to do next. Right now, I’m not very hopeful.”
“Why do I hear a ‘but’ coming?”
“But, I’vealwayswanted my True Love, Letty. You know that. I just can’t give up without a fight. And I have heard him in my head before. Trevelyan’s voice. I just didn’t know it was him.”
“Your magic is strong, Ez. But it’s sometimes… twitchy.”
“I know, but not about this. Not abouthim.”
Scarlett mulled all that over. “He said you should teach him how to be better?”
“Yes. And how not to break me.”
“Well,” Scarlett’s tone turned grudging, “it’s not a terrible sign, if he wants to learn.”
“And he never bores me.” Esmeralda hated being bored. “And he flips the hell out whenever I even hint about dating another man. And he promised not to sleep with any other women.”
“You’re sure he’s sincere?”
“Yes.” Esmeralda didn’t doubt his word on that front. “If Trev didn’t want the deal we made, he’d say something. He’s not afraid to advocate for himself, that’s for damn sure. It was actually his idea. He hates sharing. Like… a lot.”
Scarlett made a “huh” sound, gears turning in her head. She’d always been good at strategies. “I’m not thrilled with this, as you can imagine. Maybe he refrained from evaporating my bones, but I still don’t like the man. If he’s yours and he’s attempting to be better, though, I willtryto reserve judgment.”
That was more than Esmeralda would have done in her place, but Scarlett was always too Good for her own good. The Trevelyan news seemed to be calming her down, as a matter of fact. She must have a new plan.
“Wonderland is a dangerous place.” Scarlett went on, as if confirming Esmeralda’s thoughts. “Trevelyan is at least some protection for you there, because he’s an absolute, literal monster. You’re his True Love, so hehasto look out for you.”
Esmeralda rolled her eyes. “No, he doesn’t.”
“You don’t think he’ll keep you safe?” Scarlett was startled by that idea. Possibly because her True Love was a protective, doting, sweetheart to her.
“We’ve established an ‘every dragon and witch for themselves’ kind of relationship.” Esmeralda shifted uncomfortably. “I can look out for myself, though.”
For some reason, she didn’t mention Trevelyan’s powers were still healing. He wouldn’t like Letty knowing about that and it wouldn’t matter in the long run, so it seemed best to just keep it quiet.
