Page 80 of With This Witch
“I’m happy to hear that.”
“Thanks. Don’t misunderstand me: do I wish things may have come together differently? Absolutely. Marrying a woman out of obligation was never my goal or plan. But I’m happy with where we are, a couple of months in.”
“You mean you didn’t have it planned out to offer yourself to a random woman who was being forced to get married so she could claim top witch status? How strange.”
Lachlan laughs heartily. His brother jokes, but the smile on his face is unbreakable. Petra brings a light to his life he never thought possible. She is sunlight casting his shadows aside.
“How about you? How are things? What brought you out here?” Lachlan rambles off.
“I’m doing okay. I’ve signed up for a 10K race next weekend. You should come and watch,” Declan says.
“Doc says that’s okay? You’re all healed, and what not post-surgery and physio?”
“Yep. Doc and therapist signed off about a month ago. The therapist was helping me get back into running shape. We worked on it through physio and built the training I’d need into the plan.”
“That’s awesome! I’ll be there,” Lachlan says enthusiastically.
“Also…”
Here it is.
“As you know, I’ve been specifically asked to weigh in on the community forum,” Declan says.
“Yes…”
“Well, I’m just a little worried that I’ll say something to fuck it all up. I’m not good with these council things like you are.” Lachlan scoffs. “And I don’t want to say something dumb that will ruin everything you two have been working for.”
“Be honest. They aren’t looking to trap you. They want a general community opinion on whether or not Petra and I would be able to remain impartial when on the council together. You know us both. Share what you know.”
“They won’t try and shut my shop down or retaliate in some way if I side with you two?”
“Not at all. I understand your concern—both for yourself and for us—but none of this will fall back on you, I promise,” Lachlan says, hoping he is being reassuring.
“Okay,” Declan responds, still sounding unsure, but he doesn’t continue, so Lachlan lets the topic fall away.
A loud howl from the hallway announces Morris’s presence before he enters the room. Morris strolls over to Declan and jumps onto his lap without ceremony. Morris lays down, curling his paws underneath himself, turning into a loaf and drifting off to sleep as he purrs softly.
“I hope you didn’t have any other afternoon plans,” Lachlan says. “He’s not pleasant when he’s woken up. Or when he’s hungry. Or most other times.”
“I guess I’m stuck here then?”
“Yep. I’ll get you another drink, and then we can put a movie on. Get comfy,” he laughs, shaking his head as he leaves the room.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE
Petra
“Welcome, Mrs. Grace-Rose. You understand why you have been summoned here this evening?” Councilor Clellugs asks.
“Yes,” Petra responds. She sits on a witness stand in the chambers, wearing a reserved light-gray knee-length pencil skirt, cream blouse, and black heels. Her hair is pulled back into a tight bun adding to the refined look she was going for. She hopes she appears poised and collected, yet her insides twist, sending shivers up her spine.
“Good. Shall we begin?” the councilor asks, looking down the line of members. They all nod in response. “Good. Good. For the record, Mrs. Grace-Rose, as you know, you have been summoned to this forum because you were provided with an ultimatum back in the fall wherein you were required to marry as a means of fulfilling tradition and demonstrating your commitment to the council and larger community. Upon doing so, you would be deemed a worthy candidate and promoted to Premier Witch, giving you a seat on this council, replacing your grandmother upon her passing, and allotting you the power and responsibility with the mentioned title. We, the council, are concerned that your marriage may not be what it seems, and the legitimacy of your marriage is now in question. The forum into whether your marriage is acceptable has been ongoing, with various family and community members being questioned about the perception and possible ramifications of your relationship. It is now your turn to be questioned, which is why you have been summoned today. I want to be clear: should your marriage be deemed unacceptable at the end of this forum, you will no longer be a viable candidate for Premier Witch, and your powers will be stripped. Do you understand?”
Petra swallows. “Yes.”
“Are you ready to proceed?”
“Yes.”
