Page 39 of Love Spell (Witches of London #3)

Julian’s office was in an ancient vestry attached to a former church, now converted to residential, which seemed an odd choice given the nature of his work, but Timo was used to all manner of eccentric old buildings being repurposed around London.

The most important thing was that the light level inside was low and that Julian had been willing to see him first thing this morning.

Okay, so it wasn’t “first thing” depending on your standards. It was the middle of the morning and Timo was once more skipping work. But this was when Julian could meet and Timo hadn’t exactly been up and coherent for hours already.

Julian did not offer a smile or a “good morning” or anything like that. He opened the door to Timo’s knock after leaving him waiting for long enough that Timo wondered if he was at the right place, then simply stepped back for Timo to come in.

“What do you want?” was Julian’s greeting.

Timo hadn’t explained himself on the phone, only pleading for a meeting anytime today, as soon as possible.

“Just to talk. I won’t take much of your time.” Timo eased the sunglasses from his nose and crept across the ancient rug as if it might crumble below his feet.

“I already know that much,” Julian said too loudly, closing the door with unnecessary force while the noise rattled through Timo’s eyeballs and down his spine like shattering chandeliers.

“I don’t suppose I could get a coffee?” Timo murmured, smelling it strongly through the musty stone of the place and hint of incense.

“I don’t suppose so.” But Julian sighed as if prompted by someone else. “Be right back.” He stalked through a connecting door.

Timo didn’t bother looking around the little room, avoiding windows and several lit candles with his eyes squinted almost shut, focusing on his brain not splintering off into shards.

Julian brought a colourfully painted, handmade clay mug of black coffee without offer of add-ins, but that was how Timo preferred it anyway. It was damn good too: smooth, strong but flavourful, not acidic.

Julian dropped into a high-backed cushioned chair facing Timo with the candles on a table between them so Timo couldn’t look at him without seeing flickering flames. Timo looked into his mug.

“Well?” Julian said. “What is it?”

Timo swallowed and carefully addressed his coffee. “I’ve come to ask you to please remove the spell on me.”

“Why? Is the spell that doesn’t exist still inconveniencing you?” He spoke so loudly, kicked back in his chair, one ankle crossed on the other knee, that Timo winced.

“No, it’s not that. That love spell was …” Timo managed a slow inhale, then exhale. “One of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”

“Are you hungover?”

“I certainly hope so. If I’m not, someone broke into my home this morning and pounded my head with a mallet for several hours, yet I have no memory of the event.”

“Huh. Alright, go on. So I did you a favour. Is that what you said?”

“Is it?” Timo took a drink. “I guess I did.” He squinted into the mug, only vaguely aware of Julian beyond the candlelight. “I’ve never felt like this about anyone. I’ve been in love before, but relationships were always a battle.”

“Sure. Why not?”

“In a good way. Where’s the interest without competition?

Where’s the fun without a challenge? It’s different with Noah.

I’m different. I’ve never been obsessed with anyone like this.

I’ve never lain awake at night trying to come up with new ways to make someone else happy.

I’ve never cared about someone more than …

more than … anything. More than my life.

” Timo swished his cup, staring into it.

“The irony is, I’ve also never failed this spectacularly at anything. ”

“Because he left you?”

Timo said nothing.

“That’s now why you want the spell lifted?” Julian asked. “So you can walk away without feeling like you’ve come in second place? Wash your hands of the whole thing with no regrets?”

Timo shut his eyes. “No. It’s not that. I want the spell lifted because it’s hurting him.

It’s been hurting him from the moment it started.

It’s made him miserable, placed him in unfair and harmful situations, and ultimately triggered post-trauma responses and huge amounts of stress for him, all thanks to me.

” Timo clenched and relaxed his jaw a few times before going on.

“I’ve been the problem the whole time. He should be far from me.

He needs someone who’s a better fit, who listens to him, an introvert, a better age match, someone who will respect him without trying to push him to be someone he’s not and show him compassion without judgement for all that he’s been through. ”

He took another breath and looked again into his cup, dimly catching reflected light from window and candles, the surface fractured and jittery.

“Please.” Timo swallowed. “I don’t blame you for holding a grudge.

I was rude and disrespectful when we met at the wedding and I’m sorry.

I’m sorry I offended you and that I criticised your convictions when I don’t even know you.

That was wrong. But it wasn’t Noah who did it.

Please remove the spell for his sake. If you don’t, I don’t know how not to go after him, to beg him to come back, follow him to the States, and that’s the last thing he needs. ”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Sure?”

“That you’re the last thing he needs? Maybe you should ask him.”

Timo finally looked up, meeting Julian’s eyes across the small wood table and candle flames, only to see an apparition image of Noah standing right beside Julian’s chair.

Timo swore and leapt back so violently he threw the coffee mug over his own shoulder and sent his chair crashing to the ground.

The mug smashed on the stone floor. Timo grabbed the back of another chair, narrowly staying on his feet, the blood pounding in his ears as all kinds of supernatural and ghost stories and occult rituals from movies flashed through his mind.

Julian and Noah stared at him, eyebrows raised.

“Timo?” Noah ventured. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“What the fuck?” Timo gasped. “You’re here?”

“I think so …” Noah glanced down at himself.

“Didn’t you know my other trick?” Julian asked Timo and snapped his fingers. “Summoning.”

“Leave him alone.” Noah frowned at Julian. “He’s having a rough day.”

“Well excuse me for trying to lighten the mood.”

“Timo —” Noah started again.

“What are you doing here?” Timo caught his breath — and heart.

“I came to see Julian. I don’t know why you find that impossible to believe since you’ve done the same thing.”

“Popularity is a heavy burden.” Julian was glaring at Timo. “And I wish you wouldn’t break my things. A member of my coven made that mug.”

“How long have you been here?” Timo asked Noah.

“For half an hour.”

“You were in this room when I got here?”

“Well … I felt like I should leave but Julian said no, to hear what you had to say, so I was behind the altar —”

“The what?”

“Just there. And you were talking about me so I stepped out here beside Julian but you didn’t look up. I wasn’t meaning to eavesdrop. I thought you’d see me.”

“He put himself on the other side of the candles so I’d have to look right into the light to look at him.” The bastard. Timo bit his tongue.

Julian smirked.

“What did you do to yourself last night?” Noah sounded worried. “You look terrible.”

“I drank to forget. Perfectly normal thing to do. Only it made me remember … how terrible I’ve been to you. I’m sorry.”

Noah shook his head but Timo shifted his gaze back to Julian, who still sat watching them as if on a throne.

“Will you lift the spell?” Timo asked.

“Don’t —” Noah cut in, stepping forwards.

They both looked at him.

“Don’t change anything,” Noah said quietly.

“Timo, you’re wrong. You haven’t been the problem the whole time.

You’ve made mistakes, but so have I. If I’d been honest with you before we ever set foot in any attorney’s office, this wouldn’t have happened.

We all make mistakes. The truth is, you’ve been changing all along, pushing yourself for my sake, and you’ve just proved that you’re no longer the man I met in July.

I’m the one who’s let my whole life be ruled by fear, too scared even to meet you halfway most of the time.

I can’t cast a spell and chase away the fear and change who I am overnight.

But I can work on it. I can try, especially if I know you’re by my side. ”

They stood there, watching one another. Timo’s head was still splitting and the light still stung, but that didn’t seem to matter anymore.

He could think of nothing halfway intelligent to say, so he smiled.

Noah returned it, though he looked shy, uncertain, as if he thought Timo might turn him down.

As if this wasn’t the greatest day of Timo’s life.

Julian studied his own fingernails, then glanced at his watch, drummed his fingers on his chair arm, looked at the ceiling.

Perhaps Timo should do something?

Could he go back to sleep? With Noah there, of course. No, he wasn’t home.

Timo opened his arms.

Noah hurried around the table and leaned into them, hugging Timo in return.

“You’ll really give me another chance?” Timo asked.

“Only if you’ll give me one.” Noah pulled back just enough to kiss him. “I’m sorry I ran out on you when you didn’t mean any harm.”

“I’m sorry I pushed you so fast. Noah —”

“Your nose is bleeding.”

“Shit.” Timo fumbled at his pockets, pinching his nose at the same time.

Julian appeared beside them, wordlessly giving Timo a paper napkin.

Timo pressed it to his nose. “Noah, will you marry me?” His voice was muffled. “And before you answer this time, it’s okay to say no. We can go back and forth, we can take our time, if that’s too much —”

“Yes.”

“Okay, then we’ll figure out how to make it work —”

“No.” Noah rested a hand on Timo’s arm. “I mean, yes, I’ll marry you. I’ll call Anjali back.”

“Oh.”

“But I still have to leave the country for now. I can’t work for you anymore.”

“That’s probably for the best.” Timo rotated the napkin against his nose, his fingers smeared in blood.

“It’s definitely for the best. No way am I marrying my boss. But I can come back as a tourist in November while we wait on paperwork. Or you can visit the States?” Noah cocked his head. “Want to come to Alaska for Thanksgiving with my moms?”

“More than anything.”

Noah laughed and hugged him. Timo held on as tight as he could with one arm, his eyes newly burning and whole body weightless, never wanting to let go, certain now he never had to.

He didn’t think he could get any happier, until he opened his eyes and saw Julian still impatiently there, and Timo smiled at him and said, “Thank you.”

Julian folded his arms across his chest, scowling at the altar, his expression adding to Timo’s euphoria. Somehow, this love spell had turned into another win.