Page 75 of Do You Even Hex, Bro?
Rowan snorts. "It was a thesis student who'd been there for three days straight. She was so sleep-deprived, she thought Micah was a hallucination and tried to walk through him."
I nearly choke on a sweet potato fry, which really are life-changing, actually. They weren't exaggerating about that. "What was he doing naked in the library?"
"Lost a bet," they say in unison, which explains exactly nothing but makes me laugh more.
After lunch, we wander around town for a while. It's pleasant, being shown around by two people who clearly love this place. Sean points out the best coffee shops, the stores with student discounts, the parks where concerts happen in summer. Rowan offers historical context, explaining how the university shaped the development of Stormvale from a small logging town into a thriving yet still quaint city.
We're crossing a small park when it happens.
One moment I'm listening to Sean debate the merits of different ice cream shops in town, and the next, my vision swims and my knees buckle. The world tilts sideways as darkness creeps at the edges of my sight.
Strong arms catch me before I hit the ground. "Regina!" Sean's voice sounds distant, panicked. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"I'm fine," I mumble, though clearly I'm not. My glamour spell wavers, and I feel it starting to dissolve.
Ohfuck.
Not here.
Not in public.
"She's white as a sheet," Rowan says, his calm voice belied by the tension in his face. "Let's get her to the car."
"No, really," I protest weakly as Sean scoops me up like I weigh nothing. Good gods, his arms are like a steel trap, but he's holding me like I'm made of glass. "Just need a minute. The elixir—in my bag?—"
Rowan digs into my purse and pulls out Villeneuve's golden vial. He uncorks it and holds it to my lips. I take a small sip, feeling the liquid burn down my throat and spread warmth through my limbs.
The effect is immediate but not as strong as last night. My vision clears and my strength partially returns, but the glamour still feels fragile.
"Better?" Sean asks, still holding me against his broad chest. His heart hammers beneath my ear, surprisingly human in its panic.
"Much better," I assure him, though it's only partly true. "You can put me down now."
He does, reluctantly, but keeps a steadying hand at my elbow. "What happened?"
"Just got a little lightheaded," I lie. "Probably need more protein or something."
"It's the glamour, isn't it?" Rowan asks quietly. "It's draining you."
I flinch, surprised by his perception. "I'm fine."
"You're not," he says in a gentle tone with mild threads of frustration. "But we'll get you home. You can rest."
Sean is uncharacteristically quiet as we walk back to the car. Both wolves hover close, as if they’re expecting me to collapse again at any moment.
The drive back is subdued. I lean my head against the window, watching the town blur past while Sean fiddles with the radio at a much lower volume than before. The elixir has stabilized my energy, but the glamour is still costing me.
Worth it, though.
As we turn onto the long driveway leading to the pack house, I’m starting to face the truth I've been avoiding since I agreed to this arrangement. I can't keep going like this. The coven bond needs to be broken, and soon. I need a new source of power, a new connection to replace what I've severed with Kyle.
Which means I need to make a decision about these wolves.
About their claim.
About whether I can truly trust them with not just my power, but with me—scars and all.
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