Page 70 of With This Witch
“Anytime. So tell me what’s going on.”
Daisy doesn’t continue, allowing the silence between them to grow. Petra stays quiet, giving Daisy the space she would want when trying to find the words and courage needed to share something important. Having been friends with Daisy for as long as she had, Petra knows that sharing personal information has never come easy for her, especially after how she has been treated after her family was banished. Petra understands that desire to hold on to every piece of yourself and not to let others in. She also understands the desire not to harm those who have become close.
Lachlan comes in with trays of soup, sandwiches, and drinks. He didn’t linger, considerate as always, but the look he gave Petra as he left was filled with longing.
After finishing her bowl of soup and half of her sandwich, Daisy finally feels composed enough to open up. “First of all, you better keep him. That was delicious.”
Petra smiles and nods in response, not wanting to interrupt Daisy.
“Second, I’m sorry. I know this is taking a while.”
“Take your time,” Petra reassures her, running her finger along the seam of the pillow in her lap as she sends out her power, pulsing around the room, sensing the atmosphere, trying to gain an insight into what may be coming, but Daisy is shielding herself, not giving anything away.
Finally, Daisy blurts out, “I’ve been jealous of you!”
Petra is taken aback. “Jealous? Ofme?”
“The look on your face,” Daisy says with a chuckle, “says that was the last thing you expected me to say.”
“It is!” Petra exclaims, playfully smacking Daisy’s leg. “Why would you be jealous of me?”
“I know you see the things that have happened in your life as so much negativity, but I see you surrounded by love and compassion—and yes, some challenges too, but you have so much support that it barely fazes you. Then you’re handed the Premier Witch title because of tradition. It’s a lot, watching from the outside.”
Petra nods. From the outside, it appears she has everything so easy. Being a Rose means she has lived a life full of privilege even if sometimes she feels the exact opposite. But she can see how it looks to Daisy.
“You have said in the past that you just want a quiet life, but I don’t think that’s true. I have watched you repress your magic, not really using your full power, all in the name of pushing against who you are. You are so strong and have much to offer this community, and you don’t see it. Instead, you see the expectations and rebel against them. A witch with your talent and perspective needs to be making changes. We have so far to go as a community, and I say this as someone who has been on the perimeter of it for so much of their life. I see how much turmoil and dirty deeds are happening behind the scenes. No one expects the social pariah to be paying attention, but I see it all. Watching you be so flippant from the outside has been hard, and I’ve always felt smaller, less than, in comparison. You didn’t even want to tell me about all the stuff with the council initially. Like you didn’t trust me.”
Daisy sits up, scrunching her legs into her chest and resting her chin on her knees. The look she gives Petra is filled with years of second-guessing her self-worth as she watches her best friend seemingly get handed everything. A burst of hurt spreads from Petra’s heart to her fingertips, working out in sparkling wisps around Daisy’s hand.
“I’m so sorry, Daisy. I never meant to make it seem like I didn’t trust or value you. It’s been a lot for me lately, and I needed to process it. I needed to think through what I was going to do. I do want to be the Premier Witch. I can see the impact I could have to help others, to help people like you, who our community has cast aside. I want a better, more accepting world for all of us. And to be honest, I think you could be a great addition as a consultant when I take on this role.”
Daisy’s eyes widen with surprise at that suggestion. She shifts her head lightly side-to-side and buries her face in her knees. Her shoulders rise and fall as she lets out a sob. Calling back the calming sensation, Petra places her hand on Daisy’s back and rubs soothing circles. Her breathing becomes more even as her shoulders relax and the tears stop. Daisy raises her head, wiping the tears away with her shirt sleeve. When Daisy looks at her, Petra sees tentative excitement grow, sparking something new within her.
“I assume you would like that?” Petra asks, a gentle laugh floating out of her.
Daisy nods quickly while a smile forms on her lips. “Does that mean you will fight to take Premier Witch?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I’m fighting for it. I mean, I hope there’s no bloodshed,” Petra replies, grimacing, “but you’re right, I need to accept my role and acknowledge the privilege and power I have. I plan to take what is rightfully mine, regardless of what these old farts want to throw my way to prevent that from happening.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE
Lachlan
Petra and Daisy have been in the living room most of the afternoon. After Lachlan brings them lunch, he isn’t sure what to do with himself because, well, the only thing he wants to do is filthy things with Petra. Of course, he couldn’t do that with Daisy in the house. Thus, he resigns himself to cleaning, and eventually, when that is all done, he opts for a workout, hoping it will take some of the edge off. As he lifts heavy weights and runs on the treadmill, he keeps coming back to the meeting they are to have with Sloan this evening.
They agree to meet with her, yes, but the logical side of his brain is saying they need to approach it carefully. She said she wants to help them, but she has proven to be anything but trustworthy in the past—so why the change of heart now, he wonders? What are her motivations? What does she get out of boosting Petra to Premier Witch?
As these thoughts swirl around his mind, he realizes they should chat with Gladys. She’s been left out of many of these details, and she almost certainly has connections that can help them uproot the current council of cowards.
He finishes his workout, sweat running freely down his chest, making him glisten like a vampire in the sun. He picks up a towel and dries his face, making his way to the living room to check in on Petra and Daisy and to suggest she reach out to her Gammy.
When he walks into the room, the chatter stops abruptly. Daisy covers her eyes and yells out, “Oh goddess, put a shirt on!” before making retching sounds. Petra, however, licks her lips slowly, her eyes flaring with heat. While he came here with different intentions, he’s not unwilling to let her ogle him, even with her friend pretending to barf next to her. As she continues to stare, her cheeks turning a gorgeous flush from what he can only assume are the filthy thoughts running through her mind, his dick twitches and begins to stiffen.
Not the time!he tells himself, moving his towel down to hide the growing bulge in his shorts. Petra notices his intentional movement and smirks at him.That little witch.He returns the look, hoping it sends the message that she’s gonna be in trouble for that later.
“If you guys are done eye-fucking each other…” Daisy interjects, breaking their stare down.
Lachlan clears his throat. “Sorry,” he says sheepishly. “We should probably get ready to go.”
