Page 45 of Spellbound & Speechless
I jolt awake.Blue eyes ogle me from above, framed by straight auburn bangs. What ended as a quiet night with Mac is already off to a strange start. Was it all a dream, or did I fall asleep in his arms?
Rowan hovers above me, waving a talisman over my head.
“Rowan!” I pull my blanket up to my chest.
“Sorry. I thought you were sleeping.”
“Iam! That’s why you shouldn’t be here.” I exhale slowly and rub my eyes. “Do I want to know what you’re doing?”
She steps over me as if I’m inherway and taps the metal talisman against the wall above me. “Strengthening the wards.”
“Must you do itnow?”
“Yes.” She fixes me with an unamused stare. “An important transit just started. I only have an hour to take care of this.”
I don’t bother askingwhattransit, and Rowan knows better than to tell me. Astrology has always confused me.
It seems I won’t be able to continue sleeping, no matter how much I would like to. I shuffle out of bed and shake my head, ambling to the closet.
“Will this keep the corrupt witch out?” I pluck a pink dress from a hanger.
“There’s no saying, but it should help.”
“Good. Then I won’t whine about you ruining my beauty rest.”
Rowan hops from the bed and shuffles out of the room unceremoniously. I follow behind, draping my dress over my arm.
“You know…” Rowan says. “The transits are a bit of a mess right now, but thereissome good news.”
“Oh?” I lift a brow.
“Mhm. It’s a good time for love—for you specifically.”
I snort. “Funny. It sure doesn’t feel like it, considering that I have a roommate. Not the best time for love.”
“Venus is in your fifth house.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“Right.” Rowan gives me a knowing look and lifts a brow. “I’m sure you don’t. I’m sure you’ve had no… lovely experiences lately.”
I may not know anything about astrology, but I understand the meaning behind her look. Rowan knowseverything.
My smile drops, and I turn in the opposite direction. “Just finish up with the wards, will you?”
Me? Not wanting to talk about love? It’s unheard of.
But my love life is currently non-existent. I may have my eye on someone, but he doesnothave his eye on me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have to wake up alone.
It’sanother slow night at the Moonlit Tavern, but I don’t mind. That just means I get to work on my designs. It’s loud where I stand by the bar, and this may not be the best place to do it, but the vision is chasing me.
The gown is white, with pearls and tulle, and… that’s all I can see. Everything I sketch, no matter how beautiful, isn’t the image in my mind.
I let out a huff and flip the page.
“You struggling?”
I look up from the sketchbook and glare, recognizing the annoying, deep, rugged voice. Mac has hardly spoken to me since helping me with my nightmare, and I’m still unsure it happened at all. I can’t believe I tried to kiss him… and I can’t believe he rejected me.
