Page 63 of Heart of a Witch
“Coming.” I cleared my throat and looked at the cage. I was grateful for Alex saving Buttercup and bringing her back here after what had happened. “I’ll feed them after, but I’m still angry at Buttercup.”
Alex rolled her eyes and stood. “So you do care a little about him then.”
I placed my hand on my hip. “She could have ruined our entire plan.”
“About that.” Her eyes darkened. “If it ever comes to you and him or the plan again, always choose yourself. I can’t lose another sister.”
My heart palpated. Just like that, I had a reason to not be so discarding of my life. “I won’t. It was a mistake.”
She nodded and followed Cas downstairs. I hugged my cardigan around myself, one that Mother had knitted for me one Noelle, and for a short second, I actually missed her too.
Eighteen
Elijah
I hesitated outside her front door. I wanted to say thank you, or anything really, but I was humiliated. She’d had to kill her pet because I’d been too forward, thinking I could touch a deadly snake, when in actuality I had been trying to connect to her. Then she’d seen the scars. I remember that much. She’d have questions, ones I didn’t know how to answer.
I could tell she was mad at me when she left. I considered having someone bring flowers, but it felt too impersonal. I’d at least send some to her sister, whom I recalled running home to get the antidote.
I ran my finger along the bite marks. It had mostly healed, which was remarkable. I was sure when it had bitten me, I was dead already. I imagined her brother had made the serum. She had harked on about how talented he was in the medicinal field, and while I wouldn’t usually put much weight into an apothecary—not when I had the best doctors in town on call—but if he could cure a bite like that, then he may do well on our staff.
Perhaps she would see that as a thank-you, if I helped her brother.
I paced in a circle, finally encouraging myself enough to knock. I heard shuffling inside before it opened. Her hair was loose. It fell like silk around her shoulders. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw her in a simple dress, with no powder on her face. She was breathtaking. I loved the blacks, but seeing her in light blue softened her sharp features. It brought out the warmth in her skin and the glow in her eyes.
“I need to talk to you, about earlier.”
She inhaled sharply. “I’m actually busy.”
“Don’t do that.” I placed my hand on the door. “Let me at least say what I came to say.” I paused, noticing the faded red around her eyes. Had she been crying? Shit. “I want to apologize for touching her, and I’m sorry she’s dead.”
“You’re right; you shouldn’t have touched her. I did say before, but...” She placed a hand on her hip. “What’s happened, happened. I shouldn’t have brought her around you, so it’s just as much my fault. How are you feeling?”
“Okay, considering. Still a bit weak.”
Her eyebrows knitted together, creasing her forehead. “You were bitten by the most venomous snake in Salvius, and you’re only feeling a bitweak?”
“Whatever you gave me worked really well. I was surprised.”
“Why? Because it was made by an apothecary, or because I administered it?”
“Neither.” I sniffed the air. Was that haddock I was smelling? “Can I come in?”
She fumbled with her necklace. “We’re having a family day.”
I nodded slowly, looking around her, down the dark passage. “Of course. Another time?” I thought back to the way she had run her hand through my hair when I felt like I was on fire, how she spread her fingers over my chest and talked to me about my mother. How she held me tightly when the venom and cold had become too much.
She paused for a moment before her smile fell back into the frown I was accustomed to. “I don’t know.”
I took a step forward, closing the distance between us. Something had changed in her since yesterday. I couldn’t place my finger on what, but it was significant, like I was seeing her truly for the first time. “You were right about me being an asshole to my staff.”
“I know.”
I sucked in a deep breath. “I wish none of this happened. I understand if you hate me.”
She exhaled slowly, then shook her head. “Buttercup’s not dead. I just said that because I was afraid you were going to hunt her or something.”
My lips parted, then closed. What could I say? I felt different now. I was the fool for prodding the creature, and it had reacted as was expected. “It wasn’t the snake’s fault. I’m fine anyway, so no harm done.”
