Page 25 of Spellbound & Speechless
“Seriously?” She shakes her head. “I do not understand you. Not at all. You pushedmeaway last time. You are not allowed to ask me questions like that.”
It’s unfair. She’s right. I can’t offer Aspen anything she deserves, and she doesn’t know my mind is splitting me in a million directions.
My throat tightens. “Sorry.” I duck my head and back away. “Just wanted to get you safely to your car—or… not a car…”
“A scooter.” She buckles her helmet. “Well, I’m here now. You can go.”
“I will. I have a bar to protect.” Yet I linger. “Goodnight, Aspen.”
The only response she gives is the purr of her little engine. When she drives away, with her hair blowing in the wind, it feels like she’s bringing a piece of my heart with her.
My mate…
No. No, she’s fuckingnot. My wolf is protective because he thinks she is, but it doesn’t matter what he thinks.
I will never have a mate, and that’s my choice. Fate determines mates, but they don’t have to be accepted. I have no intention of accepting her—or anyone else—at my side.
Chapter 10
Aspen
Finally,it’s my night off, and the house is quiet, with everyone else still working hard. Maple is cooking, Juniper is managing, and Laurel has her tarot readings. Even Rowan is nowhere to be seen.
It’s just me, and before long, I realize I like it. Ineedit. Going from spending years living alone in a tiny apartment to living in a house full of my noisy sisters is… well, it’s different. Different isn’t always bad, but it takes time to adjust.
This may be the first proper self-care day I’ve had since moving back. I take a long, hot shower and waltz through the house in my silkiest robe. There are a few chores I could focus on—dishes in the sink and boxes that need unpacking. More importantly, though, I need to paint my toenails. That takes precedence over everything else.
I settle onto the couch and lean forward, propping my foot on the coffee table. “Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty…” I roll the polish between my hands. “Bless me. Ground me.”
A simple prayer for a simple task. As a glamour witch,everything I do to care for myself is an act of devotion to my goddess. The polish is warm to the touch and glowing from within—a sign my prayer has been heard and granted.
I hum along to my music as I swipe the baby pink color over my trimmed nails, focusing intently on painting the little area. As far as my self-care treatments go, this isn’t exactly glamorous, but I haven’t found a manicurist in Starbrook.
I dry my toes with my handheld fan.
As wonderful as it’s been to connect with my sisters again, I always wanted to live in New York. I wanted to be a part of the fashion industry. That was my life journey, my life's purpose.
Or so I thought. I no longer feel so confident about it.
Working as a server is as soul-crushing as the fashion industry, but I won’t be at the tavern forever. Iwilllive my dreams, even if they look different from how they once did.
A floorboard creaks. My head turns as my mini fan clatters to the floor, still whirring.
The old house is drafty, even after the effort my sisters put into renovating the place. It must be nothing. I duck my head and begin working on the next foot.
CREAK…
There it is again. I set the polish on the table.
“Timber?”
The dog pads into the room, answering as quickly as usual.
“Erie?” I call next, waiting.
My dove doesn’t answer my call. How peculiar. A witch’s familiar should always come when they call…
Unless there is danger.
