Page 14 of Wedded Witch
I shrug and throw her a wink. “What can I say? It’s one of my many gifts.”
As I hand her the key, our fingers brush, and my magic surges again, a spark zipping up my arm like an electric current. I try to play it cool, but I’m pretty sure I just flinched like I’ve been hit by a bolt of lightning. She doesn’t seem to notice, but I can tell she felt something too, by the way her breath hitches ever so slightly.
Fuck. Is it too soon to propose? Maybe I could kiss her at least. A welcome hug perhaps? Does she have luggage I can offer to carry to her room? I’m not ready to say goodbye to her. And there’s no way she’s leaving tomorrow. I need to get to know her better. She has to stay.
“Room’s down the hall, third door on the right,” I manage to say, my voice thankfully steady. “It’s the nicest one. But if youneed anything – anything at all – I’m your guy. I can show you around town, recommend places to eat, maybe even give you the grand tour. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on the local flavour, Vi.”
I’m laying it on thick, but I can’t help it. There’s something about her that makes me want to be close, to learn everything there is to know. Plus, I’m not exactly subtle when it comes to flirting. It’s kind of my thing. Sol always says I’m too much, that I come on too strong, but hey, it’s worked for me so far.
Not that I have any intention of flirting with anyone else ever again. Not now that I’ve found her. She’s it for me. The one. I’ve never felt this way before. It’s like being struck by lightning.
“Vi?” She raises a brow.
“Because of your beautiful violet eyes.” I wink. “So how about it?”
She hesitates for a second, and I can’t help but lean in, just a little, like I’m trying to draw her into my orbit.
“I’d like that,” she says finally, and I have to fight the urge to fist pump the air. Instead, I flash her another grin, trying to keep my cool. “I’m Swyn by the way.”
“Awesome! I’m Kel. And I get off in about an hour – maybe I could swing by your room and we can head out? There’s a diner just across the road that makes the best pancakes you’ve ever had. I guarantee it.” I’m already planning the date in my head, making sure we hit all the best local spots as I show her around afterwards, staying well away from the abandoned town that no one ventures too closely to.
She smiles again, this time a bit wider, and I swear I’m floating. “Sounds good, but maybe tomorrow? I’m beat,” she says, and with that, she takes the key and heads toward her room.
I watch her go, my eyes glued to her until she disappears down the hallway. The second she’s out of sight, I let out my heldbreath and lean against the counter, my heart racing.Holy shit. This is happening.
Magic still crackles in the air around me, reacting to her presence in a way I’ve never experienced before. It’s like everything in me is attuned to her, pulled in her direction by some invisible force. I shake my head, trying to clear it, but the feeling doesn’t fade. If anything, it’s getting stronger. I feel like a dog that’s compelled to follow its master.
“Well,” I murmur to myself, a grin spreading across my face. “This just got interesting.”
I’m definitely telling Sol and Ri about this tomorrow. They’re going to flip when they hear I’ve met someone – someone who makes my magic go haywire and sets my nerves on edge in the best possible way.
And I’m not even going to mention the “I’m gonna marry that girl” thought until after they meet her. I want to see the looks on their faces when they realise what’s happening.
For now, though, I’ve got a nightshift to kill, and I’m already counting down the hours until morning. I can’t wait to see her again, to spend time with her, to figure out what the hell is going on here.
But one thing’s for sure – I’m not letting this girl slip away. Not if I can help it.
SWYN
I wakeup to the soft glow of early morning light filtering through the thin curtains, a gentle reminder that I’m far from home. For a moment, I just lie there, letting the warmth of the bed seep into my bones. To my surprise, the bed is incredibly comfortable.
Much more so than I would have expected from a place like this. The sheets are soft, and the mattress cradles me in a way that almost makes me want to stay here forever, wrapped in this tiny bubble of comfort.
The room itself is nicer than I’d imagined, too. When I first walked in last night, I was struck by how cosy it felt, with its warm tones and simple, clean decor.
It’s not luxurious by any means, but it has a certain charm—a quaintness that makes it feel welcoming, like a safe harbour in the middle of everything that’s gone wrong.
I roll out of bed, stretching my arms above my head, feeling the tension in my muscles slowly unwind. The events of the past few days start creeping back into my mind, but I push them aside. Not yet. I’m not ready to face all of that just now.
Instead, I head to the bathroom and step into the shower, the hot water cascading over me like a balm. It’s one of those showers where the water pressure is perfect, and the temperature stays just right – hot enough to relax me, but not so hot that it burns. I let out a contented sigh as the steam fills the small space, washing away the remnants of sleep and the weight of my thoughts.
After I’ve scrubbed every last bit of yesterday away, I step out and wrap myself in one of the surprisingly plush towels. I take my time getting dressed, slipping into a pair of comfortable jeans and a soft sweater.
As I pull my hair into a loose braid, I catch a glimpse of my phone on the nightstand.
I hesitate before picking it up, my fingers hovering over the screen. This phone is my lifeline, the one I use for work that my family doesn’t know about. It’s how I’ve managed to keep this little piece of my life separate, something just for me. Something they can’t control or track.
I’m grateful I thought to bring it; it’s the one thing that makes me feel like I can still have some semblance of normalcy, even with everything else spiralling out of control.