“I had to pee.”
Xavier cocked his head. “You came all this way from town to… relieve your bladder?”
“Um, well, I was already here,” I clarified, cheeks warming. “My partners and I had a picnic under the stars, then crashed in a cave for the night. I got up to pee and then saw a blue light.”
“Ah, I see.” He nodded. “My apologies for the wind spell. I hope you aren’t hurt.”
“Nope. Not at all.”
“Fortunate news.” Xavier closed the book with a lightthudand tucked it under his arm. “One can never be too careful when confronting strangers in the forest. Especially with demons roaming about.”
“Demons?” My gaze darted around the clearing.
“No reason to fear.” He gave me a kind smile. “I sense no other presence here but ours.”
Less nervous now, I stepped closer. “What areyoudoing out here? What’s with the glass vials? And the book.”
“Grimoire.” Xavier patted it. “This one contains incredibly useful and strong spells, but most require harder-to-obtain ingredients, such as the fang of a basilisk, feathers of a phoenix, scale of a dragon, and water blessed beneath a solstice moon.”
“So you’re blessing water because it’s the winter solstice?” I peered at the vials.
“Indeed. Any spell performed tonight is more potent.”
An ache spread through my chest. “I know someone who’d love a grimoire like that. He collects spell books and stuff too and is always working on improving his craft.” My necklace rested beneath my cloak, but I placed my hand over it anyway, still feeling the flutters in my core that said my men were with me. Even when they weren’t. “He’s a physician and has dedicated his life to helping people.”
“Is he your lover?”
“Oh. Um.” I scratched at the back of my head. “What makes you think that?”
“The tenderness in your eyes,” Xavier answered. “I see nothing but love when you speak of him.” He went over and collected the vials, placing them in a case. “Hold on to that love, Evan. Never lose sight of what matters most. Or else one day, you’ll be like me. A lonely old man with nothing to keep him company except grimoires and magical knickknacks. I have my students, of course, and teaching them brings me the greatest joy, but at the end of the day, I return to an empty house and a lifetime of regret.”
“You’re not old.”
He chuckled. The sound was pleasant, lighter in pitch and smooth. Maybe a bit sad too. “How kind of you to say so, but I feel every one of my fifty years. Especially in the morning when I try to get out of bed. Don’t take your young bones for granted.”
I smiled and sat on the grass beside the small stream. Moonlight reflected on the water and gave the area an enchanting glow, kissing the evergreen trees and shining through bare branches of trees that’d lost their leaves. I had no mana in my veins, but I felt a shift in the air. The night of a solstice was special.
Magical.
“What do you regret?” I asked. “Sorry if that’s too personal. You don’t have to answer. I just know the solstice, whether it’s winter or summer, brings certain energy with it, powerful enough to even grant wishes. Or so I’ve heard. Maybe there’s a spell in that grimoire to help you.”
Xavier sat beside me. “I’m afraid what I long for is far beyond my reach. A missed opportunity that’ll haunt me for the rest of my days. Call me a sentimental old fool, but all these years later, and I still think of her.”
“Her?” I wrapped my arms around my knees. “You were in love?”
“Yes.” That sad smile reappeared as he looked at me. “You remind me so much of her. It’s a bit unnerving. Same fair skin and delicate bone structure. Same wide-eyed wonder. You share a love for baking as well. She always spoke of opening her own bakery. Strange enough, she wanted it in the very building as your café. She loved the courtyard beside it and often lounged beneath the largest tree with a book when the weather was nice.”
The area between my ribs squeezed. “What was her name?”
But I already knew before he told me.
“Cynthia,” he answered, and his smile quivered. “Gods, she was lovely. Yet, that word fails to do her justice. I suppose she was like summertime. Beautiful, vibrant, and full of life, warming the heart of anyone fortunate enough to cross her path.” He dropped his gaze to the grimoire and lightly petted the cover. “If there was a spell in here to give me even a minute longer with her, I’d do so in a heartbeat, but she’s somewhere my magic can’t reach. Very few can.” A half-smile touched his face, still somber. “Necromancy is also a forbidden practice. Unpredictable and dangerous.”
“She’s dead?” The squeezing in my ribs traveled to my heart. I’d assumed my mom had died, but a small part of me had hoped she was still alive somewhere.
“Yes,” he answered.
Something told me he’d break the laws of the land and try necromancy anyway if the opportunity presented itself. Just as he’d said he saw the love in my eyes when talking about Briar, I saw his love for my mom.
