Page 26 of The Powerless Witch
Celeste turned to fully face me, her face guarded as she spread her arms. I gave her another careful consideration, finally understanding what felt so off about her. I was a fool not to notice it before, but I had never seen anything like it.
I opened my mouth to ask what more the witches had said, but when I noticed her glance at Isaac, I thought better of it. Getting up from my seat, I picked up the candelabra and the empty decanter that was left on the table and put them on the floor.
“I need to examine you first,” I said, motioning toward the table. “Please undress and lie down.”
She nodded, unzipping her jacket and tossing it on the back of the nearest chair. Once she pulled her shirt over her head, Isaac finally broke out of his stupor, gettingup so fast that he knocked his chair down. In a blink of an eye, he was beside her, grabbing her hands just as she was unbuttoning her pants.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he snapped, glaring at me. “Why does she need to be naked for this?”
“Because I cannot see through the fabric, Isaac. I need to be able to feel through her skin to determine the state of her body,” I explained, glancing between the two with growing confusion. “Are you uncomfortable with my request?” I turned to Celeste just as she yanked her hands free from Isaac’s grip.
“I’m fine! I know how this works,” she replied, but she didn’t move to take off her pants. Instead, she glared back at Isaac, her face a mix of annoyance and exasperation. “Sit down and enjoy the show, puppy, or get out of the room. You don’t get to tell me what to do with my body, even if I decided to fuck him right here on the table. Do you understand?”
My heart did a loud thump at her words and even though I knew it was nothing more than a jab at the poor werewolf, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have her in my arms. I’d had many lovers—Fae, human, shifter, witches, even demons—but she had always been elusive and unattainable. Too old, too wise, too different.
And yet…she was now stripping in front of my eyes, ready to be touched by me.
Isaac gritted his teeth so hard that I heard them ground against each other even where I stood. He opened his mouth as if to argue, but then just snorted and turned his back to us, striding toward one of the windows and crossing his arms. I watched him curiously for a moment, then switched my attention to the woman—she was just discarding her undergarments and striding toward the table.
I moved to intercept her, offering her my hand. Slipping her fingers into mine, she stepped on one of the chairs, then on top of the table, lying down without a hint of shame. It was a given, I supposed, that a woman of her age and experience would find little to feel ashamed of. I certainly found none.
Not the pale skin covered with scars of misfortunes past. Not the voluptuous forms that would satisfy many a man’s preferences. Not her comfort with what she was, what she became, and what was now lacking.
Yes, she was even more beautiful than I remembered. But she was someone else’s already, it seemed.
Ihelped her lie down, holding her neck so she wouldn’t bump her head on the solid wood. My finger brushed against raw skin and a thin layer of scab at her nape. Realization—and a bit of disappointment—flooded into me as I looked at Isaac, who had lost his battle with his stubbornness and was now watching us, arms still crossed and eyes even more stormy than before.
I returned my attention to the witch just as she rolled her eyes.
“Don’t even ask.”
I nodded in acceptance, waiting for her to adjust herself. Taking a place beside her, I closed my eyes and reached for my connection to the world around me, feeling the air grow warmer, the sounds grow sharper and the earth and the sky whisper in response.
I lowered my hand to her abdomen, where the wound must have been because the place was barren and dead, like an infection had spread and killed all magic in its wake. They had contained it somehow, which was the only reason Celeste was still alive. If I had to guess how, I would put my bet on the reason why Isaac’s murderous intent was making my skin crawl, even though I had my eyes closed and I was barely touching her. Using the mate bond to heal her had been clever. I wasn't sure what could prompt him to overcome his hate to save her, but it must have been immensely important, for he was now forever bound to this woman, body and soul.
I placed my palm on her stomach and felt Celeste shudder at the touch. She didn’t move or speak, so I focused on studying her energy, searching for the first block. I slid my fingers down her body, ignoring Isaac’s growl as I reached the apex of her thighs. Apart from hissing a barely audible ‘Shut it!’ Celeste didn’t protest against my touch, but her body relaxed visibly when I moved my hand away.
Nothing. Her body was alive and thriving, yet…not. She was lacking the one thing that had kept her alive all these centuries, the one thing that made her so unique and hated all the same.
I drew my fingers up her stomach, pausing at her navel. The corruption of the blade—and whatever it had been coated with—had been contained there, but there was no trace of magic still. I let my left hand settle over her forehead, which was already coated with a few drops of perspiration. The other one I set between her breasts, pressing against the warm skin as her heart sent tremors through me. I felt it then, the magic that was quietly simmering in the center of her mortal coil, fightingto break out. Fighting and failing, for the barren pathways that flowed through her being were empty and deteriorating.
Stepping back, I let my arms fall by my side and I opened my eyes. Celeste stared at me expectantly, no longer pretending she was unbothered by the outcome.
“You may dress,” I said, offering her my hand again. She swallowed, but let me help her down to the floor.
“Well?” Isaac asked impatiently, striding toward us with a worried look on his face. “What did you see? What is wrong with her?”
“There is nothing wrong with her, Isaac.” I gave him a reprimanding look, glancing at Celeste’s profile. She didn’t react, seemingly too busy dressing, but I doubted the words helped her uneasiness. “Her magic is trapped inside her body.” Isaac looked like he had a hundred more questions to ask, but Celeste finished with her clothes, so I turned to face her. “I believe I can help you restore the proper flow,” I said, smiling wider at the spark of life that returned to her eyes. “However, you need to stay here for at least one full moon cycle. Maybe more, depending on the progress we make.”
Celeste licked her lips, glancing toward Isaac.
“Fine,” she said. “But you will provide me with food and drink suitable for humans.” I nodded in agreement. “Will your mother and sister be a problem?”
I tried not to wince. They were definitely going to be a problem, but not one I couldn’t handle.
“You will have my protection for the remainder of your stay here,” I promised, glancing at Isaac, who had moved to stand beside her. “Both of you.”
“Oh, he’s leaving.” Celeste shook her head.