Page 43 of Hex and Scales (Mystic Hollow #3)
FORTY-THREE
S unlight streamed through Witch’s Brew’s stained glass windows, painting rainbow patterns across their corner table. Sabine stirred her lavender-honey tea, very aware of Clover and Romi staring at her over their drinks. Neither had touched their pastries - a sure sign they were processing something major.
“So.” Romi tapped her fingers on her mug. “You’re telling us you’re actually the reincarnation of Ren’s dead mate?”
“When you say it like that, it sounds ridiculous.” Sabine couldn’t help smiling. After the intensity of the past few days, their familiar banter soothed something in her soul.
“It does sound a bit far-fetched,” Clover said carefully. Her emerald eyes studied Sabine with the same focused attention she gave rare magical plants. “Are you sure the trauma didn’t cause some kind of... hallucination?”
Sabine glanced around the café. At this hour, most tables sat empty except for a few regulars who wouldn’t bat an eye at magical displays. She held up her hand, calling on magic that felt both new and achingly familiar.
Golden light spiraled from her fingers, taking shape of a miniature dragon that flew circles around their heads. Its wings scattered sparkles that transformed into tiny butterflies before fading away.
Romi’s jaw dropped. “That’s not ice magic.”
“No.” Sabine let the illusion dissolve. “That’s old magic. Witch magic. The kind I used when I was Shiara.”
“Holy sugar cookies.” Romi leaned forward, nearly knocking over her cinnamon latte. “You really are her. But how? When did you remember?”
“When Linus - George - stabbed me with that poisoned blade.” Sabine’s hand drifted to her birthmark. “The same way he killed me before. But this time, the magic in my father’s locket protected me. It held part of an amulet Ren and I created in my past life, plus all the protection spells both of them wove into it. When it shattered, everything came back.”
“The dreams.” Clover’s eyes widened. “You’ve been having dreams about Ren for years.”
“They weren’t dreams. They were memories trying to surface.” Sabine wrapped her hands around her mug, drawing comfort from its warmth. “Every time I thought I saw him in my sleep, every time I woke up crying for someone I couldn’t remember - I was remembering him. Remembering us.”
A grin spread across Romi’s face. “So what you’re saying is... your only competition for Ren’s heart was yourself?”
“Romi!” But Sabine couldn’t help laughing.
“No, seriously.” Romi’s eyes danced with mischief. “How does it feel knowing he’s been pining after you for actual centuries? Talk about relationship goals.”
“More like relationship longevity record,” Clover added drily. “None of us can compete with ‘loved you across lifetimes.’“
The familiar teasing eased an anxiety Sabine hadn’t realized she’d been carrying. Even knowing her past life, even witnessing her enhanced powers, they still treated her like their friend. Still ribbed her about her love life.
“I’m glad I remember,” she admitted softly. “He was so torn over his feelings for me as Sabine. Like he was betraying Shiara’s memory by falling in love again. Now he knows he doesn’t have to choose.”
“Because you’re both.” Clover reached across the table to squeeze her hand. “But... should we call you Shiara now?”
“No.” Sabine squeezed back, grateful for the question. “Shiara died on that battlefield. I’m Sabine - just with an extra lifetime of memories and magic now. My love for Ren survived death itself, but I’m not the same person I was then.”
“Good.” Romi grinned. “Because I already ordered your birthday cake with ‘Sabine’ on it, and magical bakery corrections are a pain.”
“That’s next month!”
“Hey, some of us plan ahead.” Romi paused. “Although... do we count your age from this life or add in the previous one? Because that would make you seriously high maintenance in the candle department.”
Sabine tossed a napkin at her friend’s head. “Don’t you dare.”
“Too late!” Romi ducked, cackling. “I’m already imagining Ren trying to fit eight hundred and thirty candles on a cake.”
“At least make it a big cake,” Clover suggested with mock seriousness. “Something worthy of a reincarnated dragon witch.”
“I hate you both.” But Sabine’s heart swelled with love for these ridiculous women who could turn earth-shattering revelations into jokes about birthday candles.
“No, you don’t.” Romi stole a bite of Sabine’s untouched scone. “You love us. In this life and the next.”
“Speaking of love...” Clover’s smile turned sly. “Now that you have all your memories back, you have to tell us - was Ren always so stoic? Or did past-you manage to make him crack a smile occasionally?”
Sabine thought of private moments in palace gardens, of stolen kisses and secret laughter. Of the way Ren’s eyes still crinkled the same way when he smiled, eight centuries later.
“Oh, I have stories.” She grinned as her friends leaned forward eagerly. “But first - someone needs to refresh these drinks. We’re going to be here a while.”