Page 64 of Heart of a Witch
She licked her lips, looking at the ground. Seconds ticked into a minute before she spoke again. “I think it would be better if you and I didn’t hang out together anymore. It’s not you, it’s me, mostly, and… just understand.”
I inhaled calmly, my heart slowing. No woman had ever got under my skin before, but she had settled there without me even realizing it. I barely knew her, yet being around her felt so familiar. “I do.”
She gently closed the door, but I couldn’t let it stop like this. I placed my hand on the painted wood, pushing it back open. “I’ll admit, I haven’t cared to get to know anyone much before, but…” I gazed into her eyes, and I swear I could see them soften. “I want to know you, even if just as friends.”
She shook her head. “Sorry, but I’m not interested.”
I watched her in the doorway, my stomach sinking. I couldn’t push her, but there was one thing I hadn’t mentioned yet. “About the scars on my back.”
She shook her head, looking away. “It’s not any of my business.”
I believed she wouldn’t tell anyone. She didn’t seem like the type. “It was good knowing you, Miss Weathermore.”
She closed the door, leaving me standing under the graying sky. The cold had crept up on Redforest, baring the maple trees and adding a cold nip to the breeze. I walked into town, kicking rocks on the way.
The town was emptier than it should have been for a Thursday afternoon. Small shops closed their doors to the harsh winds gushing down the main street. Shoving my hands deep in my pockets, I walked uptown, stopping in front of the new apothecary. It hadn’t opened yet. I wondered if they’d all be working together. A part of me envied their closeness. I couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, that Corbin, Father, and I did anything together.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Charles said in greeting, approaching me from behind. He slapped his hand on my shoulder. “I saw you at the ball with that pretty little thing. I assumed you’d still be wrapped up with her.”
“It wasn’t like that,” I said. “She was no one.”
“It didn’t seem that way.” He ran his hand through his tousled hair, then straightened his tailored jacket. “The night went well, anyway. Your dad was cold as always, but he was talking to mine about raising funds to fix up the gallows.”
Bile rose in my throat. “Why would he need to do that?”
“Right?” He scoffed. “He has enough dramair to pay for it himself.”
“I mean, why bother refurbishing them? They’re fine, and we seldom have any executions here anymore. Even witches know not to come here.”
He flicked a piece of lint from his sleeve. “Mine agreed to donate anyway. You say witches in this town, and everyone’s ready to hand over their coin to help fight them.”
I looked around and recognized a few faces.
Witches just didn’t come here. They had to know a trial here would never end well. Not that it should, for real witches, but after my father made accusations about me being under a spell just because I wanted to be a businessman instead, and with Sandra being sent away, it made me wonder how many innocents we had condemned too.
Charles snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Elijah? You drunk or on something?”
I shook my head, pressing my fingers to my forehead. “Neither. Distracted.”
“Let’s go to the club. We can open early, have a drink, something to eat?”
I needed a pick-me-up. I wasn’t sure if it was lingering effects from the bite or the meeting with Victoria. I felt bad for what had happened, her snake was gone, and I was at her door apologizing. The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. She was flipping me off for what? I’d been a bit blunt after, but I had been weak. If she couldn’t be understanding, then why should I be? I shouldn’t care that she doesn’t want to see me anymore. We hadn’t fucked. We hadn’t done much together at all, so I shouldn’t have cared. I didn’t want to. “Let’s do it. I need to talk to you anyway,” I said, wanting to push her as far from my mind as possible.
“You’re paying, although I guess soon, I’ll be the owner, so maybe I should treat you,” Charles said, and I climbed into a carriage with him. He never did care for walking. “So you’re becoming a hunter.”
“Yes, and that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” He was taking over my club soon, and while the thought made my hand curl into a fist, I reminded myself it wasn’t his fault. If anyone was going to take over the club, I’d rather it be him. “I start in a couple of weeks. He wants me to go away to train with other recruits.”
“You’ll pass in no time.”
It wasn’t that I was worried about. “When I first heard you were buying my club, I was angry. It’s why I haven’t come to see you, but the more time I had to think about it, I guess I’m glad it’s you instead of someone else.”
“Why do you think I opted to buy it when I heard? I know what it means to you. I won’t let just anyone run it.”
“Take care of it.”
He knew how it worked, and he was proactive. He always had been. “I will, and you can come in anytime if you need a break from your family.”
“So come in every day then?”
