Page 23

M cColl

The cool water laps at my waist as I watch Kian leave.

His whole stance is rigid as he pulls his tunic over his head, leaving without so much as a backward glance.

My skin feels overly tight, and I can’t seem to get my heart rate or my breathing under control. It feels like I’ve been running from a pack of hywolves all morning.

I touch my fingers to my lips. They’re still tingling from that kiss, still burning with the memory of his mouth on mine.

I can’t believe that just happened.

I’m such an idiot.

What was I thinking? Throwing myself at him like some lovesick girl? The humiliation burns hotter than any flame magic could produce. He was right to push me away. If he hadn’t…

Kakara preserve me; if he hadn’t stopped us, I would have let him… I groan in embarrassment, closing my eyes. And right here in the middle of this lake, for all to see, consequences be damned.

I’m such a colossal idiot.

The water feels cold now against my overheated skin, and I wrap my arms around myself, shivering but not ready to leave. Kian’s rejection plays over and over in my mind – the way he tore himself away like I’d burned him.

Of course we can’t be together in any way. It wouldn’t work. A witch and a fae king? It’s laughable. We’re natural enemies, and even if we weren’t, I’m nobody. A failed witch with unreliable magic who barely survived three years as a magical slave. What could I possibly offer someone like him?

Nothing.

I have to go back to my coven, where I belong, and he needs to save the realm and take down Snow.

I stand there stupidly for far too long, too mortified to face going back to the cabin.

To face him.

To face them.

I only pray that nobody else saw us.

Finally, the chill drives me toward the shore. My legs feel unsteady as I wade through the shallows, whether from cold or lingering embarrassment, I can’t tell.

I look down at my sodden dress. My skin is blue around my fingernails, and my teeth are chattering. I need to dry off, and I know just the spell. I hold up my hands and close my eyes, concentrating on finding and pulling up my magic. It has come easily these last few days.

Just like when I needed to mask myself from the fae, it doesn’t happen. I feel tiny threads instead of a whole well. Forget a trickle; I get a few drops. A small amount of steam drifts off me, and my magic is gone. I’m still soaking wet. Almost no better than before.

I grunt in frustration. Then I try again, getting the same result. I say the spell anyway, but it doesn’t do much. I’m still dripping all over the ground.

“McColl?”

I look up to see Kyrie approaching with a large piece of linen and what looks like dry clothing. Her expression is kind, understanding in a way that makes my throat tight.

“I thought you might need these,” she says gently, holding out the bundle. “There’s a screen of bushes just over there where you can change in private.” She points.

I take the offered items, grateful beyond words. “Thank you,” I tell her as I pick up my discarded shoes from earlier.

“Think nothing of it.” Kyrie looks around, making sure we’re alone. I do the same. “The coast is clear. Take your time.”

I duck behind the thick stand of bushes and quickly strip out of the sodden dress.

Then I look around and quickly pull off my undergarments, too.

My fingers are clumsy with cold. I dry off using the piece of linen and then start to get dressed.

The dry smock feels like heaven against my chilled skin, and the replacement dress – a simple brown wool that’s warmer than the pretty yellow one – settles around me like it was made for me.

When I emerge, Kyrie is waiting with a patient smile. She hands me another piece of linen to dry my hair, then gestures toward the cabin.

“Come on. I’ll fix you something to eat since you haven’t broken your fast yet.”

I give her a grateful smile. “I take it that you don’t think I’m an evil witch like the others,” I say as we start toward the cabin.

She laughs. “I’d like to think I’m a good judge of character, and I don’t get evil vibes from you, McColl.

I don’t think you should be treated any differently just because you’re a witch.

Then again,” she throws out a laugh, “I don’t know many witches, so maybe I’m wrong.

But I don’t think so.” She touches the side of my arm.

“I’m not much of a witch,” I grumble, more to myself than to her. “If only Thesha knew that, she wouldn’t worry half as much.”

“Thesha isn’t bad, I swear. She’s just been through a lot and seen a lot. She’ll get to know you and will come around. The boys, too.”

I nod. “Thanks.”

We go inside, and the cabin is warm. Kyrie bustles around the kitchen area, setting out bread and cheese while I huddle near the fire, still working the dampness from my hair with the linen cloth.

“I…um…I saw what happened out there,” Kyrie says quietly as she cuts thick slices of soda bread.

“I’m sorry…um… I swear, I didn’t mean to spy on the two of you, but I happened to look out the window at just the right time.

I saw you two…kissing,” she whispers the last, her eyes darting to the door of the cabin like someone is listening outside it.

Heat floods my cheeks. “Oh, gods. I’m so embarrassed. It was a…a mistake.” The words don’t feel right, but I say them anyway. “I’m sorry you saw that.” I scrub a hand down my burning face.

“Don’t be embarrassed.” Kyrie’s voice is gentle. “These things happen, especially when two people have been through what you and Kian have experienced together. You’ve …bonded, for lack of a better word.”

I bury my face in my hands. “I guess you’re right. I’ve gotten to know him over the last few days and…” I bite my lip, not sure of what to say. It feels good to talk about it.

“You like him?” She lifts her brows.

I nod. “I do. I like him more than I should,” I admit, the words tumbling out before I can stop them.

“It’s silly.” I flap my hand. “He was right to push me away. Our species don’t mix well.

We’re natural enemies for a reason.” I chuckle softly, but it sounds forced, so I stop, biting my lower lip again.

Kyrie gives a small snort. “What about humans and fae? Our kind are forbidden to mix. It is against the law, and yet, here we are.”

“I guess.”

“It’s true. We shouldn’t work, but we do. I’ve never been happier since acknowledging my feelings for Damon, since we…got together. It’s not easy, but it’s right, you know. When two people love each other, they find a way.”

“It’s far too soon for love.” I laugh softly, shaking my head. “Besides, I don’t think Kian feels the same way about me as I do about him.”

To my surprise, Kyrie laughs – not mockingly, but with genuine amusement. “Oh, my dear sweet McColl, you couldn’t be more wrong about that.”

I cock my head and scrutinize her face for signs of a jest but see nothing but seriousness. “What do you mean? He pushed me away like I burned him.”

“Exactly. It’s because Kian likes you just as much, maybe more.

” Kyrie sets a plate of food in front of me, her eyes twinkling.

“It’s easy to see. Have you seen the way he looks at you?

How his whole body went rigid when Thesha questioned your presence here?

” She shakes her head. “Trust me, he likes you alright.”

“No. That can’t be. I…I haven’t seen it. It’s—”

“Why do you think Thesha’s so touchy?” Kyrie interrupts.

“The others, too. They can all see it. It’s clear as day.

” She sits at the table across from me. “They think it’s clouding his judgment of you.

Let’s not forget that he kissed you back just now.

If he didn’t have feelings for you, he would have stopped it before it started.

That kiss got hot and heavy before he found his senses. ”

My heart does something strange in my chest, but I force myself to shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

“Fair enough. It isn’t for me to say either way, but I just wanted you to know that it isn’t as one-sided as you think, so you can stop beating yourself up now. I watched you do just that out there in the water, catching your death.” She points at the lake.

“Thank you. I appreciate having a…a friend.” I reach over and squeeze the top of her hand. “I feel much better. You’re right; I was beating myself up.” I make a face.

“No problem. I’m here if you ever need to talk.”

“That’s comforting to know,” I say as I smear butter onto my bread. My mouth is watering. I must feel better because I’m suddenly hungry. “Please tell me, what can I do to help around the homestead while I’m here? So far, I have been served hand and foot. I need to make myself useful.”

Kyrie smiles. “That isn’t true. You’ve been helping Kian. But I understand where you are coming from, and yes, there are plenty of chores if you’re keen to get your hands dirty.”

“I am.” I take a bite of my bread.

“Once you are done with breakfast, you can go and collect eggs from the chicken coop. I will give you a basket. Then there’s foraging in the patch of forest behind the orchard for herbs, such as wild garlic, mint, and nettles.”

“I can do that. I have a good knowledge of what is edible and what isn’t. Perhaps I can find us some mushrooms, too.”

“Sounds perfect. Then, of course, there’s helping in the vegetable garden. There is always—”

Kyrie is still talking when the cabin door suddenly bursts open with such force that it bangs against the wall. Orion stands in the doorway, his face flushed and wild-eyed, his chest heaving like he’s been running for days.

“It’s Maya,” he gasps, looking between us with barely contained panic. “The baby – our little one is coming. Maya is in labor. I can’t find any of the others.”

My heart jumps into my throat.

Kyrie drops the knife she was using to cut cheese, her own face going pale. “Thesha, Xander, and Damon have gone to plow the northern field ready for wheat. How long has she been having pains?” Kyrie asks, already moving toward the door.

“They started last night, but Maya insisted that her back was sore from a long day. That it was nothing. She tossed and turned all night. At nightlift, she mentioned that she might be in labor but still wasn’t certain.

She didn’t want to worry everyone for nothing.

Didn’t want Xander to fetch the healer for a false alarm.

But her pains are coming closer together now.

There is no doubt that our child is coming.

” Orion runs a shaking hand through his hair.

“It’s time to fetch the healer. I’m useless.

I have no idea what to do.” He looks stricken.

“It’s all right,” Kyrie says firmly, though I can see the worry in her eyes.

“We’ll figure it out. McColl, I need you to take a horse.

Quickly, go fetch the others. I will boil water and fetch clean linen.

You go back to Maya until I get there,” she tells Orion.

“Hold her hand and tell her how wonderful she is.”

He nods and rushes off.

“I’m on my way,” I say, already rising from my chair, my breakfast forgotten. “I’ll bring them back.”

“You must hurry, McColl. It will take time for you to get them here and even longer still for Xander to fetch the healer. It sounds like Maya has been in labor for a while, even if she didn’t realize it until not so long ago.

Time is of the essence, although this is Maya’s first child, so we should be alright. ”

I nod and then run from the cabin. I hope that Kyrie is right.