Page 16 of Black and White, Twice the Might (Cadenbury Town #8)

I ’m tired when I wake up the next morning. The rest of the evening was fun, and thankfully, nothing further happened. We gave out all the soup, which everyone loved. I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed cackling around the cauldron.

John returned with Nora asleep in his arms and the boys smiling happily and laughing.

Enoch spied us. “We had so much fun,” he said, rushing over.

“John took us on so many rides and we had hot dogs, but he wouldn’t let us have any candy floss because we had hot donuts when we first got there.

The spinning teacups were fun, and we went forwards and backwards.

But... are you both okay? Did the dark witches do something again? ”

Sly and I laughed at him.

“The dark witches made the skeletons and ghosts come alive, plus some killer dolls, but they were all stopped, and peace was restored,” Sly told him.

“Thank you, John,” I said to the older man.

“Think nothing of it. We all had fun. I’m sure there are other things I can do with the boys,” John replied.

“Really?” Xander asked, looking at him happily.

“Yep, really,” he replied, touching his shoulder.

“Thank you,” Xander said.

I can see the boys genuinely liked spending time with John. Maybe he can provide a nice, safe grandfather-type figure for them.

Everyone split up after that, and we decided to call it a night and head back to the B&B.

I lay in bed, sighing happily and thinking about my brothers and how happy they seem here. It took a while for them to start smiling again, to be happy again and to realise they are safe again. I wish I had thought about using the protection rune on them, but I’m glad they have it now.

I think back to the day we discovered what my father was doing to my brothers.

I’d been away on honeymoon with Sly. Our wedding had been amazing.

Father and the boys were there, as were a splattering of relatives.

Sly had no family attending, but all our friends turned up.

My father and the boys stayed out of our way.

Father barely managed a hello, and the boys were strangely quiet.

They both looked pale. I wondered if they were sick, but then I got lost in the wedding and forgot all about them.

I’d been phoning home once a week, even when I was away on courses and on honeymoon, but father always said the same thing. Everything was fine, and the boys were busy and couldn’t come to the phone.

“I’m worried about my brothers,” I said to Sly, the day we got back from our honeymoon. “Father, never lets me talk to them anymore, and something feels wrong.”

“How about we dump our bags and drive over to see them then,” Sly replied, without the slightest hesitation.

I leaned in and kissed him. “Thank you, my darling.”

Sly smiled. “I just want you happy, sweetheart, and if going to check on your brothers makes you happy, then lead the way.”

I didn’t phone ahead to tell them we were coming. I wanted to surprise them. We parked up outside Father’s house and got out of the car.

“Are you the oldest son?” a voice demanded from behind me.

I turn and see an elderly man standing there, walking cane in one hand, a dog lead in the other, and a border collie sat next to him. I nodded. “I am. I’m Ebby, and this is my husband, Sly.”

The old man nodded. “Good, there’s two of you. We hear the shouting every day. We’ve heard screams of terror and pain, as well.”

“What?!” I exclaimed in horror and looked at Sly, then back at the old man.

“You need to rescue them and take them as far away from your evil father as possible. I’ve called the police a couple of times, thinking they could help, but nothing was ever done.”

I nodded. “We will do that very thing and right now,” I said, anger lacing my voice at the thought of what Father could be doing to them. He’d never win Father of the Year award, even when I was little, but he had never been violent.

We heard loud angry shouts from the house, and a scream of pain.

“Gotta go. Thank you,” I said, turning around and with Sly by my side, we ran to the front door.

Sly blew it open just as we reached it, and we raced inside. We found my father and brothers in the lounge, Xander and Enoch cowering on the floor, hugging each other and crying out in pain as my father used his magic to hurt them.

Sly flung his hand out, and Father went flying into one of the walls, before dropping to the floor unconscious.

I rushed to my brothers, dropping to my knees and hugging them. They both leaned against me and hugged me back, still crying. “I’m so sorry. I would have been here sooner if I had known.” I dropped a kiss on both their heads. “Can you both move? I want to get you out of here?”

“Where will we go?” Xander asked softly, pulling back.

“With us, of course,” Sly said, before I could say anything. “Just so you know, my magic is black and I will do whatever I have to to keep you both safe.”

Enoch leaned back, looking at Sly, tears still on his pale cheeks. “Promise?”

Sly put his hand over his heart. “I promise.”

“Okay,” Enoch said softly.

“We need to quickly pack some things for you,” I said, standing up.

“I grabbed the basics for you guys, plus your electronics,” Sly said, holding the bags out. “Have a quick look and see if anything is missing.”

Just how long were we hugging?

The boys stood and took the bags and looked.

“This looks like everything important,” Xander confirmed.

“It does,” Enoch agreed.

I heard a moan. Father was coming to. I walked over to him just as he opened his eyes.

He looked shocked to see me. “Come near my brothers again and you’ll wish you had never been born,” I told him angrily, and with that, I turned my back on him, put my arms around my brothers and walked them out of the house towards our car.

The old man was still standing on the path watching, his dog lying at his feet.

“Thank you,” I called to him.

He nodded and waved, and watched as we got into the car and left.

“Stop it,” Sly says in his just-woken-up husky voice, dropping a kiss on my head.

“Stop what?” I ask, rubbing my cheek on his chest before kissing it. I love waking up, wrapped in Sly’s arms, with my head resting on his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.

“The boys are safe. They are protected and they are happy.”

I move my head and look at him in surprise. “How did you know I was thinking of that day?”

“I felt your anger and sadness. You only get that angry thinking about your father and what we ran in on.”

I settle my head back down on his chest. “Yeah, I was. I’m glad we came to this town and found that house. If you could have seen Enoch working and laughing with Temp. I’ve not seen him that truly carefree and happy in a long time.”

Sly’s arms tighten around me. “I think we’ll all be happy here. I mean, everyone accepts me, even though my magic is black and I’m an original line true black witch. I never thought that would happen. I figured when anyone found out, I’d be chased out of town with torches and pitchforks.”

I gently laugh. “No one would do that. They like you.”

“I know, still weird though,” he drops another kiss on my head. “I can’t wait to move into our forever home. No more rushing to get up, having to go out all the time. I might become a hermit.”

I burst out laughing. “Sure you will.”

Sly laughs. “Okay, maybe not, but it will still be nice to have our own place, especially somewhere the boys can be happy. We need to find out what Xander’s thing is.”

I nod. “We do, and we will,” I assure him. “But now we need to get up, get the boys up and meet Adhan to look over all the paperwork,” I say, not making a move to get up, but snuggling closer into Sly’s side.

“That’s the opposite of getting up, sweetheart,” he kindly points out.

I let out a loud sigh. “I know.”

“Let me help you,” Sly says sweetly, before quickly moving and pushing me out of bed.

I hit the floor with a thud. “What the actual hell?” I growl at him.

Sly, the mean person, is laughing his head off. “The look on your face.”

I stand up and rub my poor, abused body. “Just for that, make your own damn coffee,” I snap out, stomping into the bathroom to start my day.

Half an hour later, now cleaned and nearly pain-free, I walk out of the bathroom.

Sly is standing just by the bathroom door and, as soon as I walk out, he pulls me into his arms and kisses me.

Not that it takes much pulling. I will happily kiss my husband all day if I could.

I suddenly remember I’m annoyed with him and pull back.

“Love you and made you coffee,” he gets in first.

I huff. “Fine. I suppose I love you as well, and you did make me coffee.”

Sly laughs and drops a kiss on my nose. “Won’t be long.”

We meet Adhan at the manor. Emily answers the door for us and smiles. “Come on in,” she says, hugging us all as we pass her.

I see the boys hug her for a little longer, but she just smiles happily and hugs them back.

“Come on through to the kitchen. Adhan is on his way home with all the paperwork,” she says, leading us into the kitchen.

“Thanks, Emily,” I say as we follow her.

We’d just sat down when Adhan walks in smiling and holding a folder.

“Hello, friends,” he greets, smiling. “I have the promised paperwork. It’s the full surveys and reports showing the plumbing and electrics are all fine, for both the house and the former bakery.

I’ll let you take all this away with you for a proper read through, but if you have a quick look, you’ll see there is nothing that needs fixing. ”

He hands the folder to Sly, who moves it closer and opens it so we can both have a quick scan.

“Will it take you long to sort the mortgage out?” Adhan asks.

I shake my head. “We don’t need one. We can purchase the house with cash.”

“Excellent, we can arrange everything by a private sale if you trust that Cam and I have everything in order. You are, of course, free to get a solicitor involved.”

Sly snorts. “We trust you. If you have the bank details, we can go to the bank on Monday and arrange the transfer.”

“This is so exciting,” Enoch says, bouncing in his chair.

“It really is,” Xander agrees.

“It totally is,” Sly adds, with a laugh.

“How about you read the rest of that later, and we go to the bookshop to celebrate?”

“We can do that,” I say, closing the folder. “Our car is outside. Want a lift?”