Page 66 of Tricky Magic
Ellea had tears in her eyes as Billy finished her story.
“But me?” she asked. “My father?”
I don’t know, Bug. But when I heard your call and realized what you were, I knew it was meant to be.
“Is this why you’ve stayed with me for so long?” Ellea asked in a whisper. She would understand if it were true, to make sure she didn’t follow in Astrid’s footsteps.
No, not because of that,Billy said, reading her thoughts.I mostly stayed because I want to make sure some of the last tricksters have a chance. But also because I love you the most, and I don’t want any other witches after you.
“Have I ruined you for anyone else?” she half-sobbed, half-laughed.
Of course not. Maybe I would have stayed if you had your own children. But when you chose to give up that part of you, I knew that was it for me too. And I don’t blame you, please know that. It was fully your choice, and I support it.
Ellea couldn’t speak. She couldn’t form the words to tell Billy how much she loved her.
I know, Bug, I love you too.
They stopped in front of the cabin. Ellea crashed to the ground and embraced her familiar, her friend.
“Hey,” she said, wiping at her eyes. “Why don’t you ever take your human form with me?”
She had always known it was possible, but never thought to ask.
Humans don’t get belly rubs from handsome strangers, and I like this form. I save my human form for Garm,Billy said with a wink, and Ellea laughed through her tears.
“Want to go watch Harry Potter and eat some junk food?” Ellea asked, rubbing at her eyes.
Like old times? Hel yeah!
* * *
They were halfwaythrough “Goblet of Fire” when Devon showed up with Ellea’s car. She had forgotten all about it, for obvious reasons, but was happy to have him there. Instead of handing her the keys and heading out, he heard what was playing and let himself in. The home had greeted him with a warm blanket, a bag of chips, and a hot cocoa.
“Um,” Ellea looked at him, horrified, “it has never done that for me before.”
“You don’t have magical homes in the city?” he asked, shocked.
“I do, and I live in one, but this one,” she said in a whisper, “is a freaking bitch and hates my guts.”
As she said it, a cold breeze traveled across her face. Ellea scowled, and Billy and Devon laughed.
“I did come here for something, not just to couch-crash and steal snacks,” Devon said as the laughter died down. “I’m sorry about yesterday; I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable.”
“You did,” she said with a smile. “But it’s okay. I’m…working through some things.” She looked down and toyed with a string fraying from the blanket on her lap.
“Well, if it helps at all,” he said, placing a hand on her lap, “I think it’s pretty freaking cool that you’re a trickster.”
“Yeah.” She laughed lightly. “I kind of saw that last night. I’m not used to it, though. People back home hate it, have hated it for as long as I can remember.”
“I totally get that,” he said. “My family are all hereditary witches, and when I decided to not follow in their steps...well, I got shunned by the community. Don’t even get me started on being gay.” He shook his head. “There is nothing worse than an heir to a hereditary line choosing to not marry off and make little hereditary witchlings.” He gagged on his words.
“You don’t want children?” Ellea asked, hoping she wasn’t probing.
“Oh, I do, but later. Much later,” he said with a warm smile. “They won’t be what my family wants, hopefully.”
Ellea bet he meant little witch wolven children, and she smiled at the thought.
“What about you?” he asked. “Are you and Ros going to make little grumpy babies?”
