Page 81 of With This Witch
“Ok. We each have questions and will work through them as we go. This should take about an hour.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Councilor Amare will begin,” they say.
“Thank you, Councilor Clellugs,” Amare starts. “Mrs. Grace-Rose, can you start by telling us how you met Lachlan Grace?”
“I first met Lachlan about two and a half years ago. I was with my friend, Daisy Hale, and she was looking for a new place of employment. We entered the Bittersweet Acorn together, where she was putting in an application. As you know, Mr. Grace owns that establishment and was there that day, setting up. Walking in Bittersweet Acorn that day was the first time we met.”
“Thank you,” Councilor Amare states, finishing writing her notes before continuing. “Next, please tell us about your relationship with Mr. Grace. How did your relationship start, and when did it become more romantic?”
Petra picks up the water pitcher on the desk before her, pouring herself a glass and takes a long sip. The action allows her to collect her thoughts and prepare to say something that won’t harm her.
“As I mentioned, we met at the Bittersweet Acorn, and after Miss Hale was hired that day, we began to see more of each other as I would attend the establishment a few evenings a week to attend events and be able to see my friend. As I frequented his business more often, we began to converse and ultimately became good friends. We would spend time together outside of the Bittersweet Acorn, going for coffee or visiting farmer’s markets regularly as friends tend to do. I began to develop feelings for him about a year ago but didn’t think the feelings would be reciprocated. I have since learned that he had been interested in me for some time. I would say we moved from friendship to a romantic relationship a few months ago when all of the Premier Witch conditions started,” she answers. Most of what she has said is true; the timelines may be slightly smudged, but they don’t need to know that. If she were completely honest with herself, she would say she’s been linked to him from the moment they met, she just didn’t realize it.
Councilor Amare nods as all the council members quickly jot down their notes. The shifter representative, Councilor Knight, speaks next, followed by the faerie, werewolf, and goblin representatives. Because Lachlan is not present due to his involvement and the Premier Witch seat is empty due to the loss of her Gammy, that leaves the final round of questions coming from the troll representative, which means Councilor Grog has the last stab at her.
She looks him squarely in the eye, doing her best not to show any fear or discomfort of facing him despite all that he has been doing and organizing against her. He smirks at her, looking like he thinks he has her trapped.
“Hello, Mrs. Grace-Rose. Thank you so much for joining us today,” he says, a sneer evident on his stupid lumpy face. “I only have one question for you.”
She perks up a bit, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She’s almost done; she can get through this.
“Please tell the council why you and Mr. Grace decided to get married. I want to remind you that you are here because the ramifications of this marriage are being called into question, so lying would not be prudent.”
Petra releases a slow, calming breath. She could lie and say it was love, even if it was unknown. But she decides to go with the truth, hoping that it will bring the council members to her side, helping them to see the position she was put in and that it was the only way she could see to respond to an impossible challenge. She feels her newfound power well up inside her, giving her the confidence to say what she needs, knowing it is right.
“Thank you for the reminder, Councilor Grog,” she says, looking him in the eye, showing no fear. “I would like to remind the council that Councilor Grog set this challenge to marry, and refused to let me hear the full set of terms before I accepted. As you know, I had thirty days to find a spouse. As discussed in this meeting, I was already in a relationship with Mr. Grace, albeit afriendship, and now I was faced with this impossible task. I was not instructed that I had to find love, but that I had to get married. The fact that the acceptability of this marriage is being questioned is frankly absurd, as that was never part of the conditions. I had a dear friend offer to help me. After some personal struggles and wavering on this offer, I finally accepted, knowing it was the right choice so I could be the next Premier Witch. If you were in my position, I would be interested to see how you would have responded to this ridiculous stipulation. I may not have married for love initially, but I have found it. My relationship with Mr. Grace has only grown since we married. I adore going to bed next to him every night and can’t wait to wake up and share the new day with him. We complement each other. He provides strength for me, and I soften his edges. And as council members, we would continue to provide balance in a position that often requires us to choose sides. We would make our individual choices based on what our community is telling us and what we each believe would benefit the community. We do not agree on everything, and I can assure you that would continue as council members. Whether you accept this marriage or not, my world has changed forever by having Lachlan Grace in it. Thank you.”
The sneer on Grog’s face vanishes, and if they could, Petra is sure there would be steam billowing out from his ears.
“Thank you, Mrs. Grace-Rose. That is all. Again, thank you for coming in. We still have a few more interviews to go, but we should have a decision for you in a few weeks. You are free to go,” Councilor Clellugs says.
Petra stands, wiping her hands down her thighs. She makes to step down from her stand and instead is pushed through a portal, ending up on Lachlan’s—no, their—front step.
Home.
CHAPTERFORTY
Lachlan
Abreeze flows through the trees, rustling branches. These quiet mornings spent with his coffee, book, and Morris have become some of Lachlan’s favorite moments. He’s learned to cherish tranquility and peace after years of chaos in the underworld. He sips at his coffee, turning the page of his book, content in the home and the life he and Petra have created here.
Petra joins him a little later, having fallen back asleep after Lachlan rose to meet Morris’s demands for food. She opens the sliding door, garnering his attention, and while she’s only in shorts and a sweatshirt, her hair in a messy bun on top of her head, she is the picture of beauty. She tiptoes to his seat as he opens his arms, welcoming her. She slides onto his lap, wrapping an arm over his shoulders, leaning in and delightedly kissing him good morning before turning and stealing a sip of his coffee.
“Good morning, love.”
“Good morning, peach pit.” She smiles, happiness radiating from her like the morning sun. He dramatically rolls his eyes at her new attempt for a nickname.
“What has you so happy this morning? It can’t be me because I have yet to have my dick inside you,” he says, his cock twitching beneath her, earning him a giggle.
“I’m just happy to see you, sugar plum. As good as your dick is, not everything revolves around it, you know,” she responds sarcastically.
“But I love it whenyouare wrapped around it.”
She rolls her eyes at him and makes to leave, but he wraps an arm around her, keeping her in place, letting her feel what she does to him. She squirms in his lap, laughing brightly, the sound filling his soul in a way he never expected to experience. He laughs along with her, unable to keep the unbridled joy inside. It bubbles up from his core, escaping in fits and starts as he wraps his arms more firmly around her center, nuzzling into the crook of her neck.
She finally relents, gasping for air as she feigns disappointment, pouting that plump bottom lip out. He places his hands on either side of her face and nips that perfect lip with his teeth. She moans, leaning into him, meeting his mouth with hers. She opens her mouth, brushing his tongue with hers, deepening the kiss. She pushes her ass into his crotch, and he growls hungrily. As he gets worked up, his dick at full attention, hoping to slide into her soft heat, she breaks the kiss, leaping off his lap and heading inside.
