Page 16 of His Blazing Witch (The Silver City #3)

Why does it have to be her? Moon Goddess, why did you do this to me? I did not ask for this. I was fine with being alone, I was fine with taking care of my family. That's all I ever asked for. For Damian and Nate to be happy. So why now? I can't help but glance up at the moon, a bit annoyed. I wonder if she's really there. Mom used to say the Moon Goddess isn't the moon, she just uses her light to shine on us... I'm still a child, thinking about Mom's words.

“ Liam, where are you? ”

I ignore my older brother. Nate is worse than a helicopter... I know they are all worried about me, but they don't have to be. I am fine. Perhaps it's because of my eye, they just can't forget anytime they see me. About what I've lost. What would they think if they knew... that I knew?

I wasn't sure, but I always had that hunch. It always felt a bit off whenever I was with her. As if she wasn't letting me in. We were a couple, but... there was always something that never felt quite right, as if she was keeping that distance between us. I would act blind, tell myself she was just into her witch stuff, that she wasn't like us. Or maybe, it was the age difference. She'd joke about that sometimes. Yet, I pretended not to notice. I thought it would go away after some time, or maybe once everything was over, once Syl was done with her life mission... and it was. It did end.

I look around and decide to aim for the docks. I like that place, and I'm a bit hungry. I can drop by and grab a bite... once I've changed. Silver City has changed a lot, the streets always have one or two wolves hanging around. The humans are used to it, but I still get glares. They blame us for keeping that witch... Mara.

I want to kick myself for thinking about her again. My stupid instincts are driving me crazy. I wish I had never seen her, never crossed her eyes, or got a hint of her smell. I don't want this, I don't want to be that guy, slave to his wolf. I've seen Damian and Nate go crazy over it, I always thought I'd be fine without a mate. Moon Goddess, you're really a bitch sometimes.

I jump above a few of the docks' containers to find the one I need. There, I open the blue one to find the bag with my clothes and get changed. It's damn hot and humid around here, I'm sweaty. I brush my hair with my fingers a bit, and they get just as wet. I need a haircut soon... I should ask Nora, Tonia almost fucking chopped my ear off last time.

I grab my bag and get out of here, jumping back down to walk on the docks. There is a light drizzle starting, plus that salty breeze. I like being close to the sea, it helps me calm down. I walk down the docks, only crossing paths with a couple of people. The clouds are dark, it smells like a storm is coming. No one wants to stay around with this kind of weather.

“ Liam, where are you? ”

I sigh. Nora.

“ Come on, don't ignore me. ”

“ You probably already know where I am, you can sense my aura, can’t you? ”

“ ...True. Sorry, I just didn't know how to reach out to you without... you know, being too awkward. ”

I shake my head, even if she can't see it. That's Nora for you. Always trying to care about others' feelings... unlike her cousin.

“ If you're worried about what Selena said, I'm good. ”

“ She gets a bit cranky sometimes… ”

“ Nora, I'm fine, really. Selena's a kitten compared to Nate, and I know she's just trying to push me a bit. ”

I'm not that close to Nate's wife, but I get how she works. Selena is just that kind of person who will take on the bad girl attitude if she needs to, just to make me react. I know she's actually the one who was the closest to Sylviana after me, she just hates to show her pain even more than I do. She probably thinks I need to get angry once and for all or something like that, and she's trying to provoke me on purpose. However, that's how she reacts, but that's not me. I am not one of her pups to be trained, to react to that... I don't deal with the pain with my fists like she does.

“ Do you want to come back? You can stay for dinner. ”

“ I'm good, Nora, I just... want to be alone for tonight. ”

“ ...Alright. I understand. ”

Really? I know she probably wants to say something else to try and convince me, but she doesn't. Usually, Nora would try to coerce me by mentioning my nephews or whatever she is making for dinner, but strangely, she gives up easily tonight. I feel our mind-link disconnect as she really leaves me alone.

I take a deep breath, and lift my chin up, letting it rain on my face a bit. It feels so refreshing after these hot days. I don't remember Silver City ever being that hot when I was a kid...

"Hey!"

I frown and turn around.

What the fuck is this girl doing here? She is standing a few steps away from me, staring at me and a bit out of breath. Did she run all the way here? How did she…? Oh damn, Nora has to be the one who told her.

I can't help but sigh. I have a strong feeling of déjà vu. The two of us, staring at each other under the rain. And once again, I have this horrible feeling in my gut. My wolf wakes up, like a wild beast in my stomach. I never knew it would feel like this. It's as if my whole body is suddenly woken up by an electric shock. I get the chills, my hair standing up almost. Like last time, I can't help but worry that she is going to feel it too.

Mara's eyes are even darker, like the skies above us. Why the hell do I feel so shaken up just from looking at a woman I barely know? Because she is a woman, not a girl. It's an odd feeling, to find her whole being so attractive, like an irresistible pull. I want to run to her, but I don't. It's not even about her body. If I'm being honest, she's pretty average. She has full lips, a lean body without many curves, and long limbs. Because of her bandages and scars, she's only wearing a tube top, but it's not her exposed skin that drives me crazy.

It's something else, something more intricate in an insidious way. Like the little frown between her eyebrows, her movements, or the way she stares at me. Her eyes are like those of some feline, always so dark, defiant, and full of questions. I feel like she's about to jump away every time someone says something.

She steps closer, and I want to run away. Don't come near me, leave me alone. She has no idea the torture I am going through every time she opens those damn lips.

"You werewolves have no idea how annoying it is to walk across the city, do you?" she says.

If she was a werewolf, she'd probably be growling right now. I glance down, and she is wearing some ugly gladiator sandals. Oh, she probably had to borrow them, she was bare-footed when we brought her out of the fire, for some reason... I sigh and stare at her.

"Nobody asked you to follow me," I retort.

Her frown disappears as soon as I open my mouth, which is somewhat not helping. I can't help but notice her hair is losing some of its volume as we are really starting to get wet, the rain increasing.

"I have more questions."

Well, I don't want to answer them. I am not a witch coach, and especially not for this one I don't want to be around the most. I glance to the side. We are almost at Nina's. I sigh and turn around to get there.

"Hey!" she calls after me, annoyed that I'm ignoring her.

I know I don't need to say a thing. That girl is stubborn and will definitely follow me. Meanwhile, I feel like I am digging my own grave, bringing her with me. Every word I pronounce, it's like I'm letting her in a little more, and I don't feel too good about that, really.

We get inside Nina's restaurant. I missed this place. It's still vintage, with the red neons and the overused leather of the chairs that smell like fritters all the time. It has barely changed since I was a kid. Nora and I come here from time to time, but since Lily's birth, it's been months since we came to have one of our little "dates"... Nina jumps, recognizing me from the bar, and comes to greet me with a big hug as usual.

"Oh, Liam boy, how come you're here with this weather?! And it's not Nora today! Do you have a new date, boy?"

I turn around to Mara, and for some reason, I expected her to be blushing, like Nora the first time she was mistaken for my girlfriend. Instead, Mara is smiling a bit shyly, and I just felt that. Oh, Moon Goddess, I'm in real trouble here...

"Hi, I'm Mara," she says with a dangerously warm smile.

"Nice to meet you, sweetie! Oh, kitten, you're soaked! Give me a second, I'll bring you guys some towels. What's with this weather, really?! Just pick a table, you two, I'll be right back!"

Nina leaves, and I immediately show Mara to a table where we can both sit before she gets a say in this. The truth is, the restaurant is pretty much empty, but the spot I picked is one with a table large enough that we won't be elbow to elbow. I am a total coward for that one, but I slide myself onto the chair, keeping myself far from the table and far from her.

It doesn't help much. She's still way too close, with her eyes fixated on me, even a bit too much. I can see the details of her face, the little brown marks on her skin. At some point, I can't ignore it any longer.

"Can you stop staring like that?" I sigh, almost begging.

"I'm waiting for the minute you're going to try and run away," she replies back.

Oh, so she's pissed about last time. I sigh and look away. Sure, it wasn't nice, but I already stayed with her longer than I intended to. I just... I couldn't walk away after noticing she was in trouble. Seeing her under the rain was the first pull. I just... I felt this urge to do something. She was like a soaked kitten, and my instincts were making me feel like shit for witnessing that. I didn't think we'd end up spending that long in my hideout, or the kind of torture I'd experience there. Like a dog trapped in a cage with a bone... I shiver just remembering that. I think my own self-control surprised me that day, but also those new feelings I got there. I just can't.

"Here, my lovelies," says Nina, handing us two towels. "How about some hot cocoas, hm? Are you hungry? It's not too late for lunch!"

"We are fine, Nina..." I declare, but I shut my mouth since Mara is glaring at me.

"Can I have a cheeseburger?" asks Mara. "Since Mr. Runaway right here made me walk all the way here, I'm starving now."

Did she eat at all at Nora's? I don't dare say a thing; the more she glares at me, the more I feel my wolf getting ready to poke his nose out. Stay down, boy.

Nina leaves with a chuckle, sending me a glance as if to say good luck with the feisty one. Yeah, I'd need luck and to run very fast and very far... Mara starts trying to dry her hair, and I put my towel on my face too. Why do I have to go through this…? I'm feeling crazy enough already. I don't want to be in the same room as her, but my entire body is saying otherwise. My heart goes crazy as if I'm about to have a panic attack. Why, why another witch? Why a witch, of all people? It wouldn't even have felt half as bad if Mara was a wolf or at least a human!

"Why is it always such shitty weather when I see you…?" she sighs, taking the towel off.

Oh, damn it. Her hair is more tamed because it’s wet, and this drop going down her neck is driving me crazy too. She's fucking pretty like that. I need to take a deep breath and look away. Once again, there are crazy fireworks in my stomach and Mara is staring at me, making it even worse. It's like my senses are getting corrupted by this.

Thank Moon Goddess, Nina comes back with our drinks, because I need something to tame my thirst. I'm going freaking nuts here. Why is she so persistent about me? She can't feel the bond, she's a witch. I wish she could also experience half of the trouble I'm in... or wait, maybe not. That'd be worse...

"So, are you going to answer my questions today?" she asks, playing with the metallic straw, making it click against the glass.

"I'll answer whatever I can."

"About Sylviana's tree, for example?"

Oh, freakin' fuck. Of all the questions... I want to growl and run the hell away from this place, from her.

"No."

"You're the laziest witch hunter I've ever met," she sighs.

She takes a sip of her hot cocoa, and the whipped cream gives her a cute mustache. Oh, damn, not cute, Liam, stop thinking shit like that. I don't want to, but I can't help but notice she is still frowning a bit, even while staring at her drink.

"What's wrong?"

"I have a headache..."

"...The voices?"

"No, not this time. Just a damn headache..."

She massages her temples and closes her eyes, giving me a little break. How come she's feeling unwell now? She wasn't well last time we saw each other either. I stare outside. Is it the rain, perhaps? Water should be her weakness after all...

"It may be the rain," I explain. "Witches are weak to their opposite element."

"Sylviana was weak to... fire?"

I nod. Syl hated anything related to fire, including candles or cigarettes... The smell of smoke gave her nausea, though she tried not to show it. I guess Mara is just as weak to rain, especially downpours like these...

"What about the other witches?" she asks.

I don't really want to talk about that... I didn't want anyone else to know, actually. Especially not Nora. I thought I could fight them off by myself with what I know. Direct them toward where the barrier is stronger, make them feel like they are not welcome, keep them at bay.

"The barrier is weakening, don't tell me this won't be an issue," she suddenly declares.

I turn to her, surprised. She looks a bit proud.

"Yeah, I can feel it," she adds before I say a thing. "Nora took me to see Sylviana's tree and the barrier. It's getting weaker. I think whatever she was trying to do, she knew there would be another witch to take over someday. Sylviana knew it wouldn't last."

...I don't want to listen to that.

I had a hunch Nora was thinking the same thing too, that Sylviana had planned all of this. She was always two steps ahead of everyone, planning for the future. I kind of never understood why she felt like she had to protect everyone, almost as if she was guilty of something. She was guilty of nothing, but only... She tried to protect us from her sister, from one crazy Water Witch that went wrong.

Yet, to think she knew enough about someone like Mara coming?

"No, she couldn't see the future past her death," I protest.

"Regardless of what she could foresee, she ought to have known there would be a time needed for a tree like that," she says. "It means she also knew it wouldn't last, and there would be another witch no matter what. Maybe she wanted to pick which one."

I glance at her, unsure. What is she implying? I had always wondered about that tree. Somehow, I thought she'd be there forever, that she would continue to protect us even in her death... until Mara came. Then, my doubts appeared, tormenting me with two black eyes, and my heart was thrown into her fire.

Sylviana did talk about how each city had its witch, but... she never mentioned her own replacement. I'm doubting everything now, and I have more questions than I can bear. She knew she would leave me. She knew we would never be together forever, but could she have predicted this? Predicted that Mara would appear?

"This barrier has been here since the end of that war, right?" says Mara. "Yet, I am here. And I came to Silver City less than a year ago. One way or another, Sylviana's barrier let me through. Don't you think there's a reason for that?"

I remain silent. I don't like this theory. It's even crueler coming from her of all people, and she has no idea. Mara takes my silence for doubt, and she bites her thumb.

"It's not even my theory, to be honest. I talked to your sister-in-law, Nora. She is the one who thinks... this might have been Sylviana's plan. She may have foreseen me coming. I didn't really believe it at first, you know. However, while I was coming here, I couldn't stop thinking about what Nora said, and... so many things don't add up. Do you know what I found out? I came to Silver City to ask questions about witches. My mother could be a witch, from what I know. And... I am a witch. I am the only witch in Silver City, and all the others are kept out. What else could it be?"

I shake my head. I don't want to hear this...

Nina arrives with Mara's cheeseburger, and I watch her start to eat, regretting I didn't order something too. My werewolf stomach is unhappy only being able to watch. Why the hell did I choose to be so stubborn anyway?

"So, are you going to help me or not?" asks Mara.

I frown.

"What are you talking about?"

"I want to know more about Sylviana," she says, "and about the other witches you fought too. I have no witch to teach me anything, just a grumpy witch hunter, so you'll have to make do for now."

Oh, Moon Goddess, this has to be my personal hell.