Page 19 of Jade Lion and the Witch Boy
“Of course. See you later, Kai.” I wave at him as he walks away.
Once he’s out of earshot, Taina takes his spot on the couch. “So, what memories has he come up with?” she asks in a low tone.
“Huh?”
“You gave him a memory potion. You’ve spent like two days nonstop with the dude.” She waves her hands, imploringly. “What does the Jade Lion remember?”
“Not much.” I idly brush my thighs. “But he’s really good with solo magic.”
“Maybe I should get his tea leaves and divine him.”
I frown. “Against his consent?”
“The sooner we know his past, the sooner he can get back to Hong Kong or wherever.”
“Why are you in such a hurry to get rid of him?”
“Why are you not?” She looks almost disgusted at me for even implying that he should stay. “Seb, he’s not part of this coven.”
“That’s for Lisbeth to decide. And she apparently loves the idea of a powerful mage being here.”
“And you don’t think his bestial form is dangerous?”
I recall his monster form in the shadows. Even then, his dark eyes connected with me, making my soul feel…warmer? “No,” I reply.
Taina stands up with more than a little distrust written on her face. “Be careful, Seb. I’m just looking out for you.”
“Because we’re a coven. We’re like family. We always will be, Ty, so thank you.”
She winces then walks away, leaving me to my thoughts. Taina is being rational, because trusting Kai could be dangerous. He has so much magic at his disposal and no context of the current world.
But still, I don’t want to say goodbye yet. Since the moment he popped out of my souvenir, I’ve suspected that he could be an important part of my journey as a witch. After spending the day with him, I know there’s a connection between us. I just have to find out what it is.
CHAPTER 8- SEB
THE STREETLIGHTS AGAINSTthe night sky stream through the windows at Brew-Ha. I’m putting up chairs, going through the closing time routine alone, the way I’ve done dozens of times. When a figure appears at the door, I walk over, ready to tell them we’re not open. When I see who’s on the other side, my lips curve.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, unlocking the door.
Kai walks in with an almost bashful smile. “Lisbeth instructed me to come here. She claimed that if I walked with you home, I might unlock more memories?”
I snicker and close the door. “Weird. I guess she wants you to watch me clean?”
He shrugs, and we walk over to a table. “I was, as you say, bored…of always reading. I would be happy to assist you.”
We share a smile, and I wipe down the wooden surface before me. “Many hands make less work. But I think we’ll need to get you on payroll if you’re going to keep coming to the coffee shop.”
And I hope he does.
For the past four days, we’ve been getting into a groove. In the mornings, Lisbeth drives us to work, and I escort Kai to the library. After my shift, the two of us practice magic outside for a few hours. I fail miserably, but I’m fascinated by the way arcana moves through Kai’s fingertips. At night, he conjures up supper for the whole house. I ask him all about the classical Chinese recipes as we chow down on various noodles and seafood. Kaidoesn’t get bored or annoyed by all my questions, and we fall asleep in comfortable silence. I’ve never been one to share my personal space, even a mattress on my bedroom floor, but the Jade Lion is a welcome presence.
Boysen House feels like a six-person coven now, a new normal already. Hanging out with Kai makes me smile more than I have in years.
Kai takes a rag and mirrors what I’m doing to another table. The two of us work side by side, getting Brew-Ha polished for another day. We chat about whichever books he’s taken out, and I regale him with customer stories. Chatting with him makes the work go by, and I selfishly wish for him to work with me for years to come.
I take out the lone pastry from our baked goods rack. “Want to split a croissant? I have to throw it away, so I usually just eat as much as I can. The perks of working closing.”
He laughs softly and leans on the counter beside me. “I do not wish to waste food. I feel in my memory that before my powers came in, food was a rare commodity.”
