Page 53 of Discovered Magic
“Thank you, Evie. Thank you!”
“It’s the least I can do for my great-great-grandson and our lost lamb.”
“You and Nate were always the backbone of our family. Your values and teachings resonate through all the generations after you,” he told her. “I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting you before you chose to move on, but I’m so damned happy I got to now.”
She patted his cheek. “Clearly, my ‘don’t swear in mixed company’ didn’t stick.”
He laughed and hugged her again.
“Dare I ask about the future, and if Isolde becomes even more of a problem?” Evie tilted her head, and a mischievous smile curled her lips.
Wilder didn’t take the bait.
“I wish I could tell you, but Castor has threatened me with penalty of death should I talk.”
Her brows shot up. “Hmm, your avoidance tells me she does.”
“My lips are sealed, Evelyn Thorne. You’ll not get any secrets out of me.” He mimed zipping his lips.
“Cheeky boy.”
A tug at his sleeve turned his attention to Abbie’s newest question.
Who’s Isolde?
Her pursed lips hinted at displeasure, as if jealousy had gotten the better of her. And because they had always teased each other in the past, he saw no reason not to rib her now.
“The Enchantress.” He sighed. “Rumor has it she’s the most beautiful woman in the world, able to?—”
She kicked him.
Exactly as his Abbie would’ve.
Applying pen to paper, she wrote, Jerk.
Dropping to his knees before her and placing his hand over his heart, he dipped his head. “You, my queen, will always be held in my highest regard.”
She snorted, and when he glanced up, amusement crinkled her undamaged eye.
“But it’s getting late, and I’m starving. It’s possible my judgment is impaired,” he added.
Evie smacked him upside the head. “That’s no way to court a woman. You and Jonas could take lessons from Nathanial.”
Wilder was pleased Abbie had understood his jest and didn’t take offense.
“What does this town offer for takeout?”
“Takeout?”
“A meal I can box up and bring back here to share with Abbie,” he explained.
“Jonas or I can conjure whatever you need, my dear.”
Abbie’s sudden stillness bothered him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, tipping up her chin so she’d meet his eyes. “You know I was kidding about impaired judgment, right?”
She nodded, glancing down again.
