Page 46 of Hexual Healing
“To be fair, darling, you did bring a house to life and weaponized an entire town's embarrassment.Glass houses and all that.”
“That's different!I'm a disaster.That'smywhole thing.I practically have a patent for it.But you two?You’re supposed to be…” I paused, searching for the word.
“Normal?”Baz suggested wryly.
“Safe,” I corrected, and my voice cracked on the word.
The silence that followed my declaration was practically deafening.Even the house seemed to hold its breath, which was eerie and disturbing on multiple levels.
“Safe,” Baz repeated, setting down the bloody cloth.“You think safety ever truly exists for people like us?”
“People like us?”
“The ones who don't fit into neat categories.The ones whose very existence breaks the rules.”
I wanted to argue, but the butterflies chose that moment to spell out “HE'S RIGHT” in glowing letters above his head.
“Traitors,” I muttered at them.
“Tansy,” Zelda said gently, “everyone in this town has secrets.That's why we're here.Assjacket isn't just a ridiculous name.It's damn near a refuge for those like us.”
“The ‘magically problematic’?”I stared at her.“Is that what we're calling ourselves now?”
“Better than 'dangerously unstable,'“ Dee Dee offered with a giggle.
I slumped onto what was left of the couch.The curse twitched, a reminder that nothing was truly resolved.If anything, it felt stronger now that Illanya's connection to it was severed.Like it was all mine to bear.Alone.
Baz moved toward me, but I held up a hand.“Don't.I need some time.”
The flash of pain hit me midsentence.It was sharp enough to steal my breath.The curse didn't like me warning him away, but it also didn’t want to give me the satisfaction of having him close.It was still big mad at me as well as the world.I didn’t blame it; the peace it craved was ripped away.Right now, it wanted me isolated, miserable, alone.
Hopefully, you’ll settle down in time.But either way, you won’t control me.This is still MY life to live.With or without you.
“It's mad right now and is going to make you suffer for a while,” Gary observed.
“Thanks for the pep talk.”I rolled my eyes before continuing, “This one's personal,” I said, rubbing my chest where it burned.“She knows exactly what would hurt me most.”
Yes, I’m calling you she now.Maybe, when you settle down, you can tell me your name?Looks like we’ll be stuck together for a while.
“Being loved?”Baz asked quietly.
I'd known this man for just a little over a week, and he'd already bled for me, fought a dragon for me, revealed ancient secrets for me.The mate mark around my neck grew warm, and the curse responded with another round of needle-sharp pain.
“Being unable to accept it,” I corrected with a whimper.
The house creaked in empathy.
“Right,” Zelda said, clapping her hands.“Emotional revelations aside, we need to deal with the immediate problems.First, the town needs repairs.I’ve had reports that your ex did a little passive-aggressive post-battle arson on her way out of town.Second, Tansy needs training to control her magic.And third—” she started to say.
“The curse needs breaking,” I finished.
“Actually, I was going to say we need to replace the door, but yes, that too.”
I looked at the empty doorframe, through which a cool evening breeze blew.The glass skull curtain had given up somewhere during the battle.
“I'll fix it,” I said, standing.“It's my fault it's broken.”
“Tansy,” Baz said.