Page 7 of Jade Lion and the Witch Boy (Haunted Hearts: Season of the Witch #5)

AFTER THE EARLY supper courtesy of Kai, everyone in Boysen House goes their separate ways, like normal.

Ashley and Taina head to their rooms while Anika tends to the front garden.

Lisbeth declares she’s going to pore through her tomes to find out more about Kai while I help the man to read more on the internet.

Meanwhile, I gather as much as I can for a memory potion.

It’s nightfall by the time my brew is almost done. I’m at the stovetop, carefully stirring the contents of the cast-iron pot. Slow boils can be frustrating, but I didn’t become a potions witch because I have no patience.

As I stir counterclockwise according to the potions reference book, I steal glances at Kai.

He’s sitting in the kitchen scrolling through a Chinese website, presumably reading a hundred years’ worth of history.

Every time he pushes back his long hair, my pulse rises, and I avert my gaze.

My attraction to him must be purely physical, and I need to tamp that down.

For all I know, when he gets back his memories, he could be a warlock, a murderer, or something equally nefarious.

It’s not like I have good taste in men. Kevin is proof that I’m into red flags like the Chinese navy.

But so far, Kai is different. He’s polite and courteous. Even in his lion form, he seemed to honor me. And he was so big and strong…

“Is it complete?”

I yelp when Kai’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. He’s standing next to me, staring with his gentle, dark eyes. It takes me a moment to regrip the metal ladle and continue stirring.

“I am sorry if I frightened you.”

“It’s cool,” I reply. “But no, we’re not done. I’m still waiting for the onyx durian to defrost.” I point my elbow at the fruit in a bowl on the sink. “It might be another hour.”

Kai frowns. “But do you not need to go to sleep?”

“I don’t mind.” My body minds, however, since I have to work early in the morning.

Kai frowns. “Fresh onyx durian, you say?” he asks.

I nod, and he puts out his hand, palm up. Green energy swirls, and after I blink twice, a fruit appears in his grasp.

“Woah,” I murmur.

“Onyx durian, native to the Philippines. A rare fruit known for its mystic and medicinal properties.” Kai smiles in satisfaction.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to your solo magic.” He morphs one hand into a lion claw and splits the fruit down the middle. “Or that,” I murmur.

The two of us promptly add chunks of durian into the potion.

I increase the boiling until it flares with a purple glow, then I wave my hand over the top, sprinkling a modicum of mystic energy into the liquid.

I gradually lower the heat and pour my concoction into a mug.

I grin, proud of myself for another potion well done.

The true measure of success will come after he drinks it. Kai gazes at me as he blows on the brew. This stranger is trusting me to get him his memories, but also to not poison him. Maybe I should trust him, too…

After a minute, he sips, and I wait with bated breath to find out if it worked. Kai smacks his lips and leans on the kitchen counter. He furrows his brow and takes two more sips.

When his shoulders sag, my hopes shrivel up. “Nothing has changed.”

“Aw, I’m sorry, man.”

“It is fine.”

“Hey, maybe it will work over time. Like pain medication.”

“Perhaps. Regardless, you have done so much for me, Sebastian. So, thank you.” He levels a look at me and leans on the counter. Here, late at night, with the two of us alone in the kitchen, I resist the urge to step forward and kiss him.

Cool it, Seb, you’ve known him for literally a day. And you swore off men.

“Don’t thank us yet!” Lisbeth’s shrill voice ruins the moment, and I’m grateful. She waltzes into the kitchen holding a tome above her head with Taina behind her. I move to pour the potion into containers while Lisbeth continues, “I’ve been doing some reading!”

“We discovered what you are,” Taina says.

“What…am I?” Kai asks with more than a little concern.

“Check this out. Thousands of years of creatures and shifters, and we found you, Kai Zhou.” Lisbeth is grinning and holding the book open when I walk over to them.

The old, leatherbound tome looks exactly like the fifty-something other books in her room.

I’ve only perused her old books of potions, but now she seems to have found info on our new friend.

“Or should I say…the Jade Lion?” Lisbeth grins and points at the sketch on the page. It appears to be a big lion man on two legs with magic runes coming off his arms. With the giant muscles, black and green mane, and tight abs, I can see the resemblance.

While I approach all research with a healthy dose of skepticism, I cannot deny that this is a sketch of Kai. Or something that resembles his beast form.

“The Jade Lion is a legendary mage, neither wizard nor witch, who wields incredible power,” Lisbeth says.

“That would explain why you don’t pull magic from the moon like us witches,” Taina adds.

“Yes, and decades ago, the Jade Lion went missing. Apparently, someone bound you, but we freed you! Your destiny has always been to bring greatness to all magic-users. Now that you’re back, you can join a coven!” Lisbeth shuts the book and titters. “Our coven! You can lead us! Isn’t that great?”

“Uh…” I study Kai, who stands frozen, unblinking at the book cover. “I think we should ask Kai what he wants,” I say.

“Yeah, maybe he wants to go back home to Hong Kong,” Taina adds.

Kai still isn’t moving, and Lisbeth studies us all.

“Well, we found you. And freed you…” She slowly hands the book to him.

“So, keep us in mind! Your friends here in Boysen House!” She laughs and saunters off.

Before she leaves the room, Lisbeth says, “The couch is a tad lumpy. Why don’t you take some sheets and sleep in Seb’s room? ”

My jaw drops. “In my bed?”

“I think she means the floor,” Taina adds.

“Yes, you can conjure up whatever you want. You are the Jade Lion, after all. Ha!” She laughs and walks away. “Goodnight, Jade Lion,” she sings down the hallway.

Taina looks at us in concern. “Don’t listen to her, Mr. Zhou. You do whatever you need to.”

“Hey.” I touch Kai’s arm, and he finally looks up. “It’s been a long day for everyone. Why don’t we go to sleep?” He nods and places the book on the table, then allows me to guide him out of the kitchen.

We individually get washed up. When it’s the two of us in my bedroom, Kai waves his hand to conjure a humble cot with sheets on the floor by my bed.

I’m impressed by the solo magic, but I make no remark as I shut off the lights.

Even in the dark, I can tell he’s still shaken as he lies on his small mattress two feet away from my bed.

The poor guy, we’ve dropped bombshell after bombshell on him today.

This instinct to help him might just be basic empathy, but deep down, I want to make sure nothing bad ever happens to Kai.

I listen to him breathe for another minute before I break the silence. “I’m sorry that the memory potion didn’t work. I feel like a failure of a witch.”

“You, Sebastian, are no failure,” he says quietly. I can’t see his face, but I know he’s looking at me.

“Either way, I’m sure your true memories will return eventually.”

“Hm.”

He still sounds distraught, so I decide to say one last thing to help him. “Kai…Jade Lion or not, you be whoever you need to be. No pressure. You’re safe in Boysen House. I know we just met, but with me, you have a friend. And tomorrow will be a better day.”

I listen to him breathe quietly in the dark for a few moments more. “Thank you, Sebastian. I would like to think I can be your friend, too.”

That puts a smile on my face. “Goodnight, Kai.”

“Goodnight.”