Page 92 of Hand-Fasting and Other Hazards
Before she could press further, a whistle cut through the moment, the announcement of the train’s imminent departure echoing over the station intercom.
“Nia—”
Her kiss silenced him, soft and lingering and bittersweet. When she pulled back, her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of uncertainty.
“Hurry back, Loch. I’ll be waiting.”
Lochlan nodded, throat tight as he grabbed his bag. Turning toward the platform, he forced himself to move forward. He didn’t dare look back—not yet. If he did, he wasn’t sure he’d have the strength to keep going.
At last, he reached the train and climbed aboard, his legs stiff with hesitation. The doors slid shut behind him and he turned. Through the window, his gaze swept the platform and?—
Nia burst out of the station lobby, her steps quick, her face unreadable.
She stopped at the platform’s edge, her eyes darting across the windows as, just for a moment, her mask slipped. Raw, unguarded sadness flickered over her face, a stark contrast to her usual confidence as her gaze searched the train until?—
Their eyes met.
In an instant, Nia pulled herself back together with practiced ease. She straightened, flicking her hair over her shoulder as her smirk returned, and with it a playful wink that sent a sharp ache through Lochlan’s chest.
Why hadn’t she offered to come with him? No, that wasn’t fair. He hadn’t given her the chance.
The real question was: why hadn’t he asked her?
Lochlan’s stomach tightened. The answer was tangled up with his doubts and unspoken fears. Maybe he hadn’t wanted to burden her with the weight of his journey—or worse, maybe he wasn’t ready to face what her presence might mean.
The train began to move, pulling him slowly away from her. Lochlan stood frozen, his hand braced against the train door, watching until she was a shadow in the distance. Only then did he turn and head toward his cabin.
Sliding the door open, he stopped short.
Echo—massive, his fur the color of coal—was sprawled across one seat, lifting its head to chuff at him with mild interest. Before Lochlan could process the sight, the tiny bathroom door creaked open and Thane stepped out, his expression smug and satisfied.
“Well, this is going to be a long ride,” Lochlan muttered, tossing his duffle onto the luggage rack. His attention shifted to the dog. “Hey, old boy. You’re looking good for your age.” A small smile tugged at his lips. “Is Thane being mean? I bet he is.”
The dog chuffed again, his tail giving a lazy thump against the seat.
Lochlan crouched to scratch behind Echo’s ears. “Jade says hello.”
He glanced toward his brother and caught Thane’s smile.
Lochlan no longer felt the fury Thane had stoked by sneaking into his home and asking him to come back. The past day had dulled it, but amplified the gnawing questions of what he might miss or never have the chance to know if he didn’t return. So, here he was, leaving behind a woman he wanted more than anything to see a family who’d never wanted him.
Goddess, it sounded stupid when he thought about it like that.
Maybe this whole trip was a mistake.
“It’ll be great,” Thane said, breaking the silence.
“Mind reading?” Lochlan lifted an eyebrow, straightening. “I didn’t realize you were a witch, too.”
Thane gave him a wink. “I don’t need to be a witch to know you’re already second-guessing. Or catastrophizing. But it really will be fine, little brother.”
Lochlan dropped into his seat. “We’ll see how right you are soon.”
Thane didn’t reply, his grin yielding to his usual stoicism as he leaned back in his seat.
Lochlan turned his gaze to the window. The countryside stretched out before him like a dream: rolling hills speckled with wildflowers shimmered in the evening light, and cliffs tumbled into sparkling blue waters. Magic clung to the landscape like a secret, subtle but undeniable.
The train plunged into a tunnel and the world outside disappeared, replaced by the low, steady pulse of motion that filled the cabin. Lochlan shifted in his seat, his thoughts wandering to Nia—the way her kiss had lingered, full of promise. Echo snuffed softly in his sleep, his tail twitching once before settling again. Thane sat with his arms crossed, his gaze distant.
