Page 86 of Wedded Witch
The dog in my arms whimpers, and I glance at Ri. His eyes meet mine for a moment, softening just a fraction. There’s a silent understanding between us, something unspoken but undeniable.
“Pretty boy?” Ri barks a laugh. “Now Iknowyou’re losing it.”
“I know what I see,” Mavis snaps back, turning to storm off in the direction of her room, but not before muttering, “And what I see is you idiots about to let this whole place blow over while you argue.”
Kel steps in before Ri can fire off another retort. “C’mon, let’s just get her window secured before she comes back for round two. We could all do with getting out of these wet things too.”
Ri glares after Mavis. “One day, I swear…”
As the wind howls outside, and the rain pounds against the boarded-up windows, I can’t help but steal a glance at Ri. His expression is hard, focused, but every so often, his gaze flicks to mine—heated, unresolved.
The storm may be outside, but there’s something brewing between us that feels just as dangerous, just as inevitable. And I’m not sure we’ll be able to stop it.
“Yeah, yeah,” Sol chuckles, clapping him on the back. “We know you love her really. Let’s go,pretty boy.”
SWYN
Keland I step into the guys’ flat, the warmth a welcome relief from the cold rain pounding outside. The soft whimper of the puppy pulls my attention, and I can’t help but smile despite everything.
He’s curled up in a tight little ball, drenched and shivering, his tiny body barely able to handle the storm we just pulled him from, but he’s lovely.
“We need to get him warm,” I say, my voice soft as I kneel down and place the little guy at my feet. “But we also need to get dry.”
Kel grabs a towel from the bathroom, tossing it my way before he heads to the closet.
“Blankets are in here somewhere. We’ll make him a little nest, get him comfortable. And then we can go dry off. Can even risk a shower before the power goes out if you want.”
I catch the towel and start drying the puppy off, gently rubbing the water from his fur. He’s small, maybe six months old, with big, trusting brown eyes that tug at my heart.
“Poor thing. He must’ve been so scared out there.”
Kel returns with a couple of blankets, spreading them out in the corner of the room. “Yeah, he’s lucky you found him when you did. Storm’s only getting worse.”
“Tell me about Mavis,” I say, barely keeping the amusement out of my voice. “She’s a character.”
“Oh that she is. Her and Ri are constantly at each others’ throats, but it comes from a place of love.”
“Damn,” I sigh.
“What?”
“I was just excited not to be the only one on the receiving end of his sharp tongue. But if he does it because he loves her, there’s no hope for me.”
Kel shoots me an amused look that I can’t quite decipher, shakes his head, watching me as I tend to the puppy.
“Mavis is practically family. She’s in her eighties believe it or not, but I still wouldn’t fuck with her.”
My eyes are wide. “No way.”
“Right?” He smirks. “She basically lives here rent free in exchange for shoddy housekeeping and questionable meals. Mostly Sol and I try to take over the cooking, because she’s a liability, but she won’t have it. She’s awful with the customers, so we try to keep her behind the scenes as much as possible, but you’ll probably have noticed by now she’s a law unto herself.”
I grin. I’d only met the glamourous old woman a couple of times, but I know exactly what Kel means.
“Her husband was actually the owner of the gas station, but he disappeared seventeen years ago, and she’s pretty much been running this place since, until we took over. Refused to leave though.”
“He left her?” I gasp.
“I didn’t say that, I just said he left.” I frown when he doesn’t say any more.