Page 94 of Sweets and Sycamores
“I don’t care whose bed you warmed before coming to the manor, Alecsandra. I only care about your power. An elemental Witch is a great addition to the coven.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“It depends. Were you the one who almost set the town on fire?” Her burgundy-painted mouth twisted into a challenging grin.
“Are you high on potion steam?”
Before Lydia turned her sour grimace into words, Freya spoke.
“It’s why we’re here. To…to check on you, make sure you’re fine.” She rushed the words, yet Allie didn’t miss the lies. Lydia threw her a menacing look that shut the Witch up. Freya was kind but spineless, and even if there was some truth behind her words, it was only she who was interested in Allie’s well-being.
The others… They genuinely came to check if her power was so out of control that she was the reason Brandon’s farm caughtfire. They came to laugh in her face, to prove to her they had been right to kick her out.
Allie heard the doorbell ring but resisted the urge to turn around. She felt a warm, comforting presence at her back and imagined Dom standing by the door, arms crossed, glaring at the Witches in front of her. A smile slipped onto her lips.
“What are you simpering about?” Lydia barked. “Did you, or did you not, start that fire?”
“She didn’t, you bitch.” Allie looked to her right and saw Mia crossing the street. She was next to her in a few strides, grabbing Allie into a side hug.
“What did you just call me?” Lydia’s face was fully red by now, a prominent vein pulsing along her temple.
“Witch,” Mia said innocently. “Not only did Allienotstart the fire, she was the one who put it out.” Allie held in a laugh at Mia’s exaggerated pride.
“You’re joking.” The Magistra’s enraged expression morphed into a stupefied one. She studied Allie as if it was the first time she had laid eyes on her. “You can control your power?”
“Show them,” Mia hissed.
Allie did not want to make a spectacle of herself in Sycamore Falls. Yet now that everyone knew she was an elemental Witch with power over fire, and they had finally welcomed her, maybe she could show off. Just a little bit.
Allie focused on the warmth in her chest, grabbing the magic in a strong grip and weaving it into a thread around her and Mia. Her friend didn’t even flinch when a string of fire surrounded them both like a bow.
Lydia’s eyes grew impossibly wide, and Allie pulled her magic back with an easy thought.
“Don’t be so surprised, Lydia. I just needed a little help.” Allie leaned into Mia’s embrace, and her friend hugged her tighter.
“Hmm. Well.” Lydia smoothed the skirt of her dark blue dress. “I suppose you can come back to the manor now.” She found something interesting on which to fixate on the ground, while the other three Witches stared at Allie with their mouths open. Freya’s eyes held a spark of joy, but her mom’s sisters simply looked stunned.
“If only any of you had bothered enough,” Allie went on her own tangent. “All you did was come up with excuses. Why should I go back with you now?”
“Because it is your place. You’re still a Silverbark as long as I have your broom,” Lydia said with bristling pride.
“My place,” Allie said, doing her best to replicate one of Dom’s glares, “is not with you.” As if summoned, the Mage came to her other side, placing a hand on her hip. Brandon shuffled next to Mia, arms crossed. Warmth filled her chest, different than the magic one that hummed steadily in her heart. This one was sparkly and wild and so, so beautiful.
Allie was surrounded by her friends. Her family. In fact, she should thank Lydia for kicking her out. It was the reason she had walked into her fate and ended up in Sycamore Falls. Petra had always warned her not to live a lonely life, but she had never urged her to live in a coven. Allie knew she would be infinitely happier here, for as long as she stayed in Sycamore Falls.
And even if life happened and she left, Allie had gained the confidence that she would be all right. She did not have to settle for a life in a sweltering town, surrounded by people who didn’t care for her, just out of fear of being alone.
“Thanks for stopping by. I’ll come pick up my broom soon.”
“What—”
“Get the fuck out of my town,” Dominic growled. “While I’m asking nicely.”
The wind picked up around the four Witches while Allie and her friends stood shielded, facing them. Lydia watched themwith horror through wild strands of red hair, moving her eyes between Dominic and Allie, and had the good sense to shut her mouth. She muttered something that might have been a curse, turned on her heels, and walked away, the other Witches trailing behind her.
“Does this mean you’re staying?” Mia asked and clapped her hands. Allie turned to look at Dominic, at the man who had done so much for her, who had helped her gain the confidence she exuded today. He stood there frozen, emerald green eyes burning into hers.
Allie decided to end his suffering.
