Page 62 of Magic in the Woods
I looked at him and then back up at the stage where Petunia was still standing, alone, and glaring in my direction.
“You’ll have to pick her tomorrow,” I said as I looked away, digging into the sand.
Gideon pursed his lips, digging faster next to me.
“I don’t want you,” I lied. It was better this way. He could pick Petunia, and I’d worry about the Coven.
“You don’t mean that.”
We pulled another witch from the sand, helping her to her feet. I held on to her arm until she stopped wobbling and took tentative steps away from me.
“Just pick her.” I brushed the loose sand from my hands and looked down at my clothes. They were dusty, with sandstuck between the pleats of my skirt. “Pick Petunia tomorrow. It’ll be easier for you.”
Gideon grabbed hold of my upper arms, turning me in the sand toward him. His eyes searched my face, bouncing from my lips to my nose and then to my eyes. “Can’t you see? I’m not going to pick her tomorrow. I already chose you.”
Our eyes stayed locked together as our chests panted against each other’s. I wanted to trust him, to believe what he said. He made it seem so easy.
“I know this is new for you—it’s new for me too—but I can tell you’re feeling the same way I am. It’s okay to be scared…to be nervous. Just don’t hide what you’re feeling because of it.”
“Hey, over here!” Brooke called out.
I broke away from his stare to find her motioning toward where another cluster of witches was buried.
“Go get your prize,” I muttered, nodding toward Petunia. I was so close to believing what he said—that he’d already chosen me, that he wanted me. I needed to give him a final push, the chance to choose someone else before I let him in. Maybe I was testing him. I probably was, but what was between us was new, and in this environment, trust had to be earned.
I turned my back to Gideon and began walking over to where Brooke had begun digging out another witch. The moment I fell to my knees next to her, helping her dig, the sand next to me moved. It was Gideon again. He took his time rolling up his sleeves before he dug into the sand next to me, offering a hand to the stuck witch as soon as we’d dug deep enough to free her. His muscles strained as he pulled her out, putting both hands on her shoulders to steady her until she regained her balance.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her eyes staring at me. “We’d all still be stuck here if you hadn’t started digging us out.”
I nodded. “Of course.” This was new—gratitude from the witches I tried to help.
Silently, we moved to the next witch, repeating the same steps until every witch had been freed.
No one else thanked me, but I wasn’t after thanks—it was the right thing to do. I’d always imagined the Coven as a family, like Elise and Everett’s pack. Everyone looked out for each other and helped one another. Maybe the witches here just needed an example of what being part of a family was like.
I looked around the sandy cavern one last time, making sure we’d gotten every single witch unburied. It was empty. I brushed the sand from my hands before hugging Brooke and thanking her for her help. She left the cavern, following the last of the air magic witches.
“Let’s go back to my room,” Gideon whispered. “I have a change of your clothes.”
Looking down at my uniform, I could hardly tell that my plaid skirt was green. Everything was covered in sand and dust, and I’d begun to feel itchy.
He placed his hand on my lower back, pulling my body flush with his. “Let me prove that I already chose you, that I’d only choose you. There is no one else, Dafni.”
I nodded.
His eyes widened.
This was me saying yes. This was me letting him in. He was right. It was time I let him in and not let the new feelings I had scare me away from something that might bring me joy.
He’d proven again and again that he wanted me…that he wanted to choose me. Gideon had never lied to me, and he’d done his best to protect me here at the Academy.
Maybe I could have both Gideon and the Coven? Did I dare get that greedy?
I let him take my hand and lead me from the cavern.
I was willing to take the chance.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
