Page 68 of Wedded Witch
“I could eat,” I mumble, half-laughing, trying to ease the tension creeping up between us.
Sol guides me to the table with his gentle touch, always the one who seems to know exactly how to keep things grounded. There’s something undeniably safe about him, the way his strength never feels imposing.
It’s a quiet, protective force, and though I know I should be the one watching out for myself, a part of me is slowly letting go of that.
We sit down, and as Kel places the last dish on the table, my eyes widen at the sight. He’s really gone all out. Roast chicken, garlic roasted potatoes, vegetables sautéed in some kind of herb-infused butter… it’s a feast, one that makes me wonder how I lucked out in all of this.
“This looks incredible,” I say, grateful for the distraction. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
He grins, sliding into the seat next to me, casually close. “I wanted to. Besides, it’s not every day we have a guest who’s this much fun to cook for.”
I laugh softly, but there’s no denying the way his presence is affecting me. It’s not just Kel. It’s all of them. I’m drawn to each of them for different reasons, and it’s confusing as hell.
But there’s something else now, a deepening connection. It’s growing, like vines slowly wrapping themselves around us, pulling us closer together.
As we start to eat, the conversation flows easily. They talk about their childhoods, teasing each other in ways that make me smile.
Kel, always the joker, has this infectious energy. Ri throws in the occasional sarcastic jab, but there’s affection in his eyes when he does it. And Sol, of course, keeps everything in balance, with his deep, quiet laughter and thoughtful remarks.
It’s strange how natural this all feels, like I’ve known them forever, not just for a few days.
“So,” Ri asks, leaning back in his chair after we’ve finished eating, “did you find anything interesting in the Book of Shadows?”
I freeze for a moment, my heart racing at the memory of the strange vision and the eerie way the book reacted to me earlier. I can feel their eyes on me, waiting for an answer. But I can’t bring myself to tell them. It sounds ridiculous now—pages moving on their own? Symbols glowing? They’ll think I’ve lost it.
“No,” I say, shaking my head and forcing a smile. “Nothing yet. I guess I’m just getting started.”
Sol raises an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. His gaze lingers on me, like a physical weight. But he doesn’t press. Not yet.
“Don't worry,” Kel says, nudging me playfully with his elbow. “You’ll crack the case. You’ve got us now, remember?”
I smile at him, grateful for the light-heartedness he brings, but there’s a flicker of guilt gnawing at me. They’ve all done so much, and here I am, keeping secrets. But maybe that’s for the best. For now.
After dinner, we settle onto the sofa to watch a film, but I’m only half paying attention. Sol sits on one side of me, Kel on the other, both close enough that their warmth seeps into me. AndRi… he’s taken the chair opposite, his eyes flicking to me more often than the TV screen.
There’s tension in the air, an unspoken something hanging between us, and I can’t tell if it’s only me feeling it or if it’s affecting all of them, too.
I should be scared, confused, unsure of what to do next. But instead, I feel… safe. Safer than I’ve felt in a long time.
I’ve kissed all three brothers, and I’ve slept with Sol, but none of them have made any move with me since. And Ri…well, he’s an enigma. I can’t work out where I stand with him.
I thought he didn’t like me much, but then he kissed me earlier and tonight he’s been pleasant. Every time I glance over at him, his eyes meet mine. But I can’t decipher what he’s thinking.
As the film plays on, I find myself drawn to Ri. There’s something about the way he observes everything—the flicker of his lashes against his cheek when he glances down, the way his fingers drum lightly against his knee, almost like he’s contemplating something profound.
He’s different from the other two; while they exude warmth and playfulness, Ri feels like the calm in a storm, steady and reliable. But it’s not just that. There’s a depth to him that pulls at me, and I want to know more, even if the thought makes my heart race.
I shake my head, still trying to keep my eyes on the screen, but my thoughts keep drifting back to the strange atmosphere among us. I want to turn back to Ri and ask him what he thought of the kiss from earlier, but instead, I look down at the bowl of popcorn in my lap, fingers idly fiddling with the buttery kernels.
After a few moments, I catch Ri’s gaze again. This time, it lingers a little longer. His expression is thoughtful, and I feel a flutter of hope—maybe he’s considering what’s happening between us, too.
There’s so much unspoken, so much to unravel, but the intensity in his eyes makes me want to reach out, to know him better.
Then Sol nudges me with his shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Hey, Swyn, are you still with us? Or have you drifted off into dreamland?”
“Sorry! Just thinking…” I murmur, not wanting to reveal how my mind has been swirling with thoughts about each of them.