Page 102 of Wedded Witch
“Oland!” she exclaims, rushing to my side. Her touch is gentle, and the moment she grips my hand, a surge of warmth and strength flows between us.
Unmistakable bond.
“Hey, I’m okay,” I say, my voice more confident than I’m feeling. “Thanks to Mavis.”
“Of course she’d take care of you,” Swyn replies, her voice steadying as she looks between me and the others. “She’s fierce like that.”
Sol steps forward, his expression warm, but I notice Ri standing back, arms crossed and frowning, his demeanour grumpy and standoffish.
“Hey, Ri,” I say, attempting to break the ice. “I’m glad to see you.”
“Yeah, well, don’t get too comfortable,” he replies, his tone flat. “You still have to explain what the hell happened, why you’re here and what your intentions with our girl are.”
I nod, understanding the weight of his words. There’s so much to unravel, so many questions that hang heavy in the air. But for now, I focus on Swyn, her hand in mine, how right it feels and how I never want to let her go.
As I lie there, the reality of our situation sinks in. Swyn’s fingers tighten around mine, anchoring me in the present.
“First things first,” I say, my voice steady even though my heart is racing. “We need to gather everything we know about the curse. We can’t fight what we don’t understand.”
“Agreed,” Ri chimes in, his expression still a mask of discontent. “But we need to be smart about it. No reckless moves. We can’t afford to lose anyone.”
Swyn nods, her gaze unwavering. “We’ll start with Mavis. She’s got more knowledge than she lets on, and she’s been around long enough to know how these things work.”
“I’ll be right back,” Kel says, his voice low and focused. He slips out of the room, determination etched into his features.
Left alone with Sol and Ri, the tension in the air crackles like static. Sol shifts slightly, glancing at me with a mix of concern and sympathy.
“You really scared us back there, Oland.”
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t exactly trying to impress anyone,” I reply, forcing a small chuckle. “I’m just glad you guys got me to Swyn’s in time.”
“That was no easy feat,” Ri adds, his voice softer now. “You need to take care of yourself. Whatever curse was cast, you can’t fight it on empty.”
“Trust me, I know,” I say, feeling the weight of their eyes on me. “But I can’t just sit here. We have to act, and we have to act fast.”
Moments later, Kel returns, followed by Mavis, who bustles in with an air of authority.
“You boys look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oland, darling, it’s about time you showed up. I’ve been waiting long enough to put you to work.”
Her bright blue eyes lock onto mine, a mischievous glint sparking behind them. “Now, tell me, what have you done to get yourself into this mess? You’ve always been a bit of a troublemaker, haven’t you?”
I smirk, the tension easing slightly under her unyielding gaze. “You could say that. But I think we’re all in trouble now. We need your help.”
Mavis crosses her arms, her expression shifting to something more serious. “Well, it seems you’ve stumbled into a right pickle. Morfran doesn’t take kindly to family stepping out of line. He’s been lurking for far too long, and now, he’s set his sights on all of you.”
“Morfran? What do we need to do?” I ask, feeling the gravity of the moment.
“We need to break this curse before he even thinks about showing his ugly face,” she replies, her voice steady. “Then, you’ll need every ounce of power you have, and that means all of you. Are you ready to fight?”
Swyn’s grip on my hand tightens again, and I see the fire igniting in her eyes.
“We’re ready,” she declares. “Whatever it takes.”
Mavis nods, a satisfied smirk on her lips. “Good. Because he won’t do half-measures, and neither should you.”
As Mavis strides towards the door, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re standing on the edge of something monumental. The road ahead is dark and treacherous, but with Swyn and my brothers by my side, I feel a flicker of hope igniting within me. Whatever Morfran has in store, we’ll meet it head-on, the pieces falling into place.
“Wait a minute,” I interject, feeling a rush of concern. “You’re not talking about?—”