Page 63 of With This Witch
“Ffffuuuucccckkkk.”
Fenella’s eyes find his. “Also, how does your love for her, or her love for you, impact her role as Premier Witch and the council’s forum?”
“They’ll claim we cannot stay on the council if we’re married as we will not be able to be impartial when it comes to council decisions. Though we’d both vote for the best of the community rather than to keep each other happy.”
“Can you? Or would you feel the need to side with her on every decision?”
While the question doesn’t surprise him, he is taken back by the nearly visceral reaction he feels internally at the thought of not doing what is best for the community. He may love Petra with every fiber of his blackened demon soul, but he will never allow that to determine how he carries out his role and how he makes decisions for the larger community. “I can wholeheartedly say that our relationship would never be an influencing factor on me.”
“Good to hear,” she says, patting his shoulder as she walks by to get another cup of tea. “Now, you haven’t been gone too long. Go back to her. Fix this,” she says, twirling a finger in the air, symbolizing the shitstorm that is circling him, “and then get her to break down her walls. Show her how she is loved. She’ll likely push against it initially but will come around.”
“Thanks, Mom,” he says, coming over to kiss the top of her head.
“Anytime, my son.”
“Love you,” he calls out behind him as he runs out of the house, into the night.
By the time he arrives home, dawn is breaking over the horizon. Lamplight is visible in the front room, but the rest of the house is in darkness. When he enters, his shadows move out, searching. They return to confirm his fears. The house is empty. Concern floods his senses. He knew that her biggest fear was losing him, that he would leave, and then he did exactly what she expected. He barely said anything to her before he left.
Dick move, Lachlan.
He enters the front room and sees a small, folded paper on the side table by the window. He opens it and reads:
Lachlan,
I will never be able to say how much I appreciate all you have done for me. I am truly honored to have been your wife, even briefly. I know someday you will make a wonderful real husband to someone, and I can’t wait to see how happy you become when that happens. I said the other night that I didn’t want to risk our friendship, and I think we have reached that point. I can’t lose you, Lach. I will go before the council at their next open session and offer myself and my power up and inform them that I am stepping back as a candidate. I would rather go willingly and on my terms than be exposed in front of everyone.
I am genuinely sorry for all the trouble I have caused you.
With affection,
Petra
Shit. Shit. Shit.
He runs his hand down his face and growls loudly. “The next open session. Fucking Hades, that’s today!”
This witch will screw everything up. Grog is too power-hungry and will never let her just sacrifice herself. It wasn’t just about her not becoming the Premier Witch. No, Grog wanted to humiliate the Roses and have Petra fail publicly. Lachlan has to stop her.
He takes out his phone, pushes her name, and holds the phone to his ear.
He knows it’s early and Petra is likely sleeping, but he hopes she will hear her phone vibrating and answer. He needs to talk to her. He needs to help her see the error in her plan. He just needs her.
The call rings and rings, but Petra does not answer. He tries again, but she still doesn’t pick up.
He looks at the time and figures she is either at her place or Daisy’s, so he doesn’t have to worry about looking all over the city for her. He decides to try her place first. He runs out the door climbs into his Jeep and squeals the tires as he pulls away.
Council opens at eight a.m., and it is currently 6:45 a.m., but it takes forty-five minutes to get across town to Petra’s apartment. He continues to call her on his drive over, but after the third attempt, the calls start going directly to voicemail. He leaves more than one, begging her to call him.
When he arrives at her apartment building, he checks the lot, but her car isn’t there. Thankfully, Daisy doesn’t live too far away. He pulls up to Daisy’s house and checks the clock on his dashboard: 7:53 a.m. He launches himself out of his vehicle and dashes to her front door, where Daisy meets him, tears streaming down her face.
She nods her head, letting him know Petra’s not there.
“I’m so sorry, Lach,” she says through tears and potentially snot.
“Why are you sorry? You didn’t do anything.”
“She’s not here. I tried to talk her out of it, but she…” She breaks down. The end of what she says is almost impossible to understand, but all Lachlan cares about is Petra. She can’t lose her power. He can’t lose her.
