Page 10 of Dottie's Forbidden Wizard
I quickly throw up a second shield around Dottie with a flick of my fingers and whisper a distraction spell into Griselda's ear.
She turns back to me slowly, blinking like she's coming out of a haze. "What were we talking about?"
I turn quickly so she doesn't see my smirk. Griselda is powerful, but not nearly as powerful as I am. "I think you were attempting to seduce me. And it wasn't working."
"Still saving yourself for marriage, Maddie?" Her voice is sweet, but her sneer reveals her true feelings.
I don't respond, refusing to confirm or deny her fishing expedition. Griselda was genuinely flabbergasted by my disinterest in her body when we were teenagers. I get it. It musthave been confusing to know that I was one of the few boys atEmerald City Prepwho didn't dream of burying myself between her long legs. But Griselda's heart reminded me of everything bad in my life. Still does. She became another person I had to wear a mask with to conceal my real feelings.
"We could make it official, and you could let me pop your cherry." Griselda's lips brush my cheek as she whispers into my ear.
A shudder of revulsion skates through me.
Interpreting my reaction as interest, she pulls back and reaches for the snap on the halter top of her dress.
"Go back to the ball, Griselda. I'm sure a lot of people out there are looking for what you’re offering."
Her hands freeze in place as I straighten and move away from her. "What the fuck, Maddox?"
The real Griselda comes out to play as she shoves my chest and paces in front of me with a furious scowl. "You think I'm such a terrible prospect? Do you want to end up with Vera instead?"
"Nice way to talk about your friend."
"Oh, fuck off!" she screams.
I throw up a silencing spell in the room so she doesn’t draw attention.
"We were supposed to get married, and you were on board right up until graduation. Then you fucking leave town, and that's the last I hear from you?"
Raising an eyebrow, I channel all the patience I can muster, tamping down my fury at Griselda’s warped version of events. "We were eighteen, and our dads were forcing us to marry. You couldn’t possibly have wanted that."
"Yes, I did!" Griselda snarls, her eyes wild as she whirls on me. She pinches the bridge of her nose and takes a deep breath. When she speaks again, her voice is soft. "There was a time when you did too. When you wanted to marry me. For love."
Guilt washes over me because she isn't wrong. But that was when I wanted to win my father's affection. When marrying a woman I didn’t love was worth it if it meant he’d pay attention to me.
Mistaking my silence for reconsideration, Griselda takes a graceful step toward me and pinches my chin between her thumb and forefinger. Her eyes shine with tears. "I was promised a life, Mad. I was promised you."
For a brief moment, I believe her. I almost feel sorry for ruining her dream, especially since it’s a dream that will never come to fruition.
Then I notice a trace of pink glitter from a sparkle weed glinting in her tears, and I realize she's using a spell to create the waterworks.
"Wishes and hopes, Gristle." I narrow my eyes at her. "You'll get over it. And under someone else in no time."
She slaps me hard across the face. Her long, razor-like nails slice tiny cuts across my cheekbone. I let it happen, hoping it gives her enough satisfaction that she'll leave.
"I don't love you, Griselda, and I never will."
Her chest heaves as she levels me with a menacing glare. "Oh, please. This isn't about love, you selfish fucking prick!"
Storming to the door, she throws it open, pausing on the threshold. She turns with a regal air enhanced by the golden light framing her from the hallway. "Just remember this decision might not be up to you,darling. And you should think twice before pissing off your future wife. Welcome home, Maddie." She blows me a mocking kiss before slamming the door behind her.
I clench my jaw as the quiet of the room settles around me. I turn my attention to the cupboard, furious that Dottie took such a stupid risk tonight. If not for me, she would be dead.
"You can come out now."
Chapter six
Dottie
