Page 47 of A Moth to the Flame (Utopia #1)

Chapter

Thirty-Four

DUKE

Fae. That’s an answer to at least one of my questions, but I have no idea what in the hell it really means. I don’t know whether to be terrified or hurt.

Why hasn’t anyone noticed for all these years that we aren’t really Castellaws?

Who would even think it, Duke? She answers me immediately, knowing what I’m really asking. Everyone knows how deeply your mama and daddy loved each other.

I work her jaw back and forth and blow out a breath before I scream.

What if I’ve been blaming the spell Cordie’s been under for things it had no control over?

I might have ruined this woman’s life because I’m some kind of fucked-up magical creature.

What does this mean for my brothers and their lives?

Is this why Shauna left Luke, because she recognized that something was off about him?

Is that why she abandoned her sons, too?

Are all of us one temper tantrum away from turning into flying man-bats, or is that impossible because we’re only part man-bats ?

Do you think they had an affair? I manage.

I can’t put their names together. Can’t even think them in the same sentence.

Not necessarily, she says with a gentle voice. Their—your kind—is famous for making bargains. Maybe your mama made the right kind of wish at the well, or maybe one of the witches sent her to Wallace for help.

None of those options make me feel a hell of a lot better.

Cordie walks toward me with a pitying smile on my damned face. I’m so sorry, Duke, but…it’ll be okay. It’s like you said. We’ll figure it out together.

Don’t come near me , I warn her. If my kind are such evil bastards, then I don’t want to hurt you.

She stops on a dime, then glances between us. Motherfucker.

Yeah, I scoff. That might be exactly what Wallace did to my mama.

No, not that. She shakes my head, then pauses.

Well, maybe that, but that’s not what I’m talking about.

She extends my hands in front of my body, turning them back and forth before staring at me again.

The lightning? The shockwaves? It’s not me, Duke.

I don’t think witches have those kinds of powers. They’re yours.

I swallow roughly. That thought had never even crossed my mind. Maybe it’s a good thing that I’m in your body then. I can’t fuck shit up and fly around with my dick hanging out if our powers stay with our bodies.

It’s bullshit that I still can’t read, though.

Cordie chews on my lip again.

What? I can tell you’re thinking something. Don’t hold back. Might as well get this shitshow out in the open before Daddy Dearest reappears.

She sighs. I’m only going off what I’ve read in the past. I don’t know what’s true and what isn’t.

None of the accounts I’ve ever read of your kind have included descriptions of swordlike schlongs freeballing in the wild.

Hell, even the tall tales we’ve all been fed about Mothman don’t match up with what we know.

I snort a laugh. I might be in a bad way, but Cordelia McCoy really just said that. Fucking hilarious. What’s your point, Gingersnap?

Maybe not all your kind are evil tricksters.

I’m a witch, but I barely know what that means.

Why was my familiar turned into a clock?

Why did he tell you not to trust the coven?

What does the well have to do with anything?

She steps forward until we’re toe to toe again.

Then, she reaches out and places my hand on her arm.

My point is that we don’t know what we don’t know, so let’s not assume the worst.

Our conversation comes to a grinding halt with a bright burst of light.

Cordie and I cling tightly to each other, bracing for the next threat. By the time I blink the stars out of my vision, Wallace is standing nearby.

“I hope you’ve enjoyed your rest and recuperation, because there is quite a mess we must return to now.” He frowns at us. “What are you wearing?”

The smug bastard is dressed in the same clothes he usually wears behind his bar—a pair of ironed jeans and a flannel shirt. Not a hair on his head or his beard is out of place. He always did look a little too perfect to be normal.

“You motherfu—” I only make it one step toward him before Cordie hauls me back by the collar of the dress I’m wearing.

You cannot take on one as powerful as him and win , she says like a stern schoolteacher.

Yeah? Well, let go of me, then we’ll find out for sure , I grit out.

A witch with little to no powers will have her ass handed to her , she insists.

All the more reason to get back into our bodies. If Cordie’s new powers are really mine, then as soon as I’m in the driver’s seat, I’m going to fuck this guy up six ways to Sunday.

“Wallace,” Cordie greets him out loud, evenly. “Thank you for your gracious hospitality here.”

He raises his eyebrows. “You are most welcome.”

There’s a heavy weight of silence between the three of us. It’s almost like he’s waiting. For something.

Cordie furrows my brow. “We request passage back to Utopia.” She winces and pulls me a little closer, then asks, “Wait. What is the price?”

A slow smile spreads across his mouth that I don’t like one bit. “Figured out some things, have you? ”

“What a lying piece of trash you are?” I scoff. “Yeah. We’ve figured that out real well.”

Wallace’s creepy smile fades. “I can promise you that whatever you think you know is wrong.”

“Prove it,” I challenge.

He gestures toward us. “I think your manner of dress speaks for itself.”

Cordie glances down at the stupid outfit my body is wearing, and then straightens my shoulders. “We figured that out pretty quickly, too.”

“Have you?” Wallace’s teeth shine in the candlelight.

I roll my eyes. “I wish for my regular clothes back.”

Immediately, the dress disappears and…Cordie’s body is swallowed by a flannel shirt and old jeans that are way too big for her body.

Wallace chuckles. “So close.”

We don’t have time for these games. I step forward again. “A favor for?—”

From behind me, Cordie wraps one of my hands around her mouth. Be careful. They’re tricksters. Everything has a price with them.

Wallace’s expression darkens. “A wise choice, Cordelia. Those words are not to be trifled with.”

“Who paid the price to bring us here?” she asks, still keeping my hand clamped over the bottom half of her face as she tugs me closer.

Wallace tips his head in my direction. “Your mate.”

I pry my hand away. “She’s not my mate. Or…well, I’m not hers. She’s only mine. It’s a one-way street.”

“Who told you that?” Wallace snaps.

“Apparently, my familiar,” Cordie mutters.

“Meddlesome creature. Familiars have a penchant for inflated self-importance.” He sighs, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

“I had hoped a little quality time would bring you two closer together, but I can see that you’re still fighting against such a rare blessing.

Duke, my boy…this does not bode well for you. ”

“I’m not your son!” I shout .

Fuck this guy. He doesn’t get to show up and play daddy just because he donated baby batter to my mama and then split.

“No.” Wallace blinks. “You’re not.”

What?

You can’t believe a word he says , Cordie responds softly.

Out loud, she asks, “Do you have the power to switch us back?”

His answering smile is grim. “If I did, then it would have already been done.”

I thought you said he was more powerful than a witch?

I also said we don’t know what we don’t know.

Great. So we don’t know shit.

“Can I get an answer…for free?” Cordie asks.

Wallace tips his head back and forth. “That depends entirely on the question. Not all answers are mine to give.”

“Do you agree to answer what you can without a cost to me or to anyone else?”

Damn. She’s a good negotiator. Thinking of all the angles.

He nods. “Ask.”

“I need your word,” she insists.

“You have my word,” he agrees. “No one will pay any price for the information that I’m able to provide you.”

“Who is responsible for us switching bodies?”

“You are.”

Fuck. He’s going to undo all my work to ease Cordie’s guilty conscience.

Surprisingly, she asks with an even tone of my voice, “Who is responsible for our mating bond?”

Wallace shakes his head. “That, I cannot answer with certainty. The responsibility is unknown, though a mate blessing is thought to come directly from The Fates.”

I snort. A blessing, he calls it. It’s been a curse to us both.

“And were The Fates responsible for twisting my original wish into a body swap? Or was that because I wasn’t specific enough with my words?” Cordie presses.

Wallace’s slight smile borders on creepy with the way he stares at her. Like he’s half in love. “You are so very close to asking the right questions.”

I’m going to pull all of Cordie’s hair out if he keeps up these half-assed answers.

She blows out a long breath, like she’s trying not to lose her shit, too.

“Fine. You want me to ask some real questions? Here goes. If Duke and I are mates, then why did we spend half our lives hating each other? Who’s behind that?

Why is our relationship status important?

Because it clearly is. Who is it important to?

Was my familiar correct when he told Duke that I’m his mate, but he can never be mine? ”

Wallace grins. It’s the first time I’ve noticed his weirdly sharp teeth. “Cordelia, my darling, your curious mind has always been one of my favorite things about you.”

“She’s not your anything ,” I grind out, extending an arm to push her away from him.

My stupid big body doesn’t budge much. Cordie lowers her arm and threads our hands together. “That was not an answer to any of my questions. Am I correct in assuming that you’re not at liberty to share that information?”

“Not all of it, no. It might benefit you in this instance to prioritize your curiosity.” He glances at his wrist, where he’s not wearing a watch. “Time grows short. We truly must return.”

Shit. What’s the most important question?

I cut a sideways glance at her. You’re asking me? I’m the idiot.