Page 18 of Love’s a Witch (The Scottish Charms #1)

“That’s suspicious.” Sloane crossed her arms over her chest. The wind gusted at my back, sending a dance of snowflakes into her house, but she held her ground.

“Invite the man in and stop letting the heat out, Sloane.”

I grinned as Sloane grimaced, mutiny on her face.

“Aye, Sloane. Listen to your grandmother.” I couldn’t help but taunt her. I didn’t know what it was about the stubborn set of her chin, or her absolute refusal to do my bidding, that got my back up, but I simply couldn’t resist poking at her.

All curves and softness, and sharp edges and wicked intelligence. It had to be tough, never having roots, but she seemed to have managed to adapt her life to this curse, and with a resilience that had to be admired.

Sloane stood back and motioned me inside, silently seething, and I closed the door behind me, the wind battling me to do so.

“How are you, Knox?” Broca asked from her perch in the lounge chair. Her wink was as sassy and colorful as she was. Who knew a neon-yellow silk pajama set with a peacock-green robe would work together?

“Och, well enough, I suppose. The snow is causing a lot of trouble, and I’ve been on call with helping where I can.”

“It’s sorry I am for that.” Broca shook her head. “Such a shame.”

I opened my mouth—

“If you suggest we leave town one more time I’m going to cut a chunk of your hair out.”

My eyes widened to where Sloane stood at the counter, cutting scallions with a pair of scissors, and I patted the back of my hair. I liked it just fine as it was, so it appeared I needed to proceed with caution.

“Is that a gift, Knox?” Broca eyed the bag in my hand, redirecting the conversation.

“Aye. For your wee one. I heard you had a new addition.”

The scissors clattered to the counter, and Sloane crossed her arms over her chest, a mulish expression on her face.

“You brought a gift for Blue?”

“Is that his name, then?”

“Aye,” Sloane said softly and disappeared through a door before returning with an emberwolf in her arms.

He blinked up at me, his tongue lolling from his mouth, a mile-wide smile on his face. His warm brown eyes were friendly and curious, and his gray-and-white coat and pearlescent wings were captivating. Wriggling in her arms, he leaned forward and swiped his rough tongue across my outreached hand.

It was clear Sloane was bothered by how quickly Blue had welcomed me, and I was secretly pleased. She likely had no clue just how loyal emberwolves were as a species. Which meant Blue had sized me up and given his approval.

His witch was another matter altogether.

“He’s incredible,” I breathed. I hadn’t seen an emberwolf in years, and they were one of my favorite magickal beings. “How is he settling in?”

“He’s grand,” Sloane said, and Blue shifted in her arms, his attention going to the food on the counter.

“No fire mishaps?” I asked, and Sloane’s gaze whipped to mine. Was that a flash of guilt I saw? “It’s totally normal, Sloane. It takes an emberwolf a long time to have total command over their fire.”

“You know them, then?” Broca asked.

“I raised one for a few years before he picked his witch. I still miss him,” I admitted. Testing Blue, I reached out again, and he scrambled to come into my arms. Cradling him against my chest, I laughed as he gave my face a sloppy lick, while Sloane simmered in frustration.

“I feel like a new mom,” Sloane admitted. “I have so much to learn about them.”

“Well, let’s start with his gift, then, shall we?” I walked over with the large shopping bag, and Blue tilted his head, interested.

“He seems intrigued. What say you, Blue? Do you want a pressie?” Sloane asked and then nodded at me to open it for him. Bending, I put Blue next to the bag on the ground and pulled out the large castle. “Is that a freaking castle? Of course you’d bring us a castle.”

“You really have a chip on your shoulder about castles, don’t you? I thought girls loved castles. Being a princess and fairy tales and all that.”

“Are you a prince?” Sloane’s mouth dropped open.

“No.” I grinned. “But I am royal. I’m a knight.”

“Aren’t you supposed to live down in the barracks or whatever they’re called, then? Not in a fancy house on the hill?”

“Nope. The knights need to be close to protect the prince, don’t they?”

“And where is the prince, then?” Sloane asked, crouching next to Blue.

“Nobody knows. He absconded somewhere in the late eighteenth century, and my family took over the castle and the protection of Briarhaven. We’re officially the ‘royal’ family, so to speak.

I’m First Knight of the Iron Thistle Order and am duty bound to protect the village and its inhabitants.

Hence my need to rectify this snow situation as soon as possible. I have no choice, Sloane. It’s my vow.”

“Huh.” Sloane completely ignored my plea, nibbling on her lower lip as she watched Blue sniff the castle. “What’s he supposed to do with that?”

“I’ve been told you hide treats inside and if he burns the doors open, he can get to them.”

“Burns?” Sloane’s eyebrows winged up.

“It’s specifically for emberwolves. It’s protected. Give it a go.”

“Hmmm.” Sloane gave me a suspicious look, but she went to the fridge and pulled out a container of cut-up bits of cheese, distracting Blue. He scrambled on the floor, and then took to the air in his haste to get to Sloane, almost clipping me in the cheek with his wing.

“Whoa, buddy, slow down there.” I laughed, delighted to see him winging around the room like a clunky dragon.

Sloane chucked me the container of cheese, which I caught while Blue gave chase, and ducked once more before he took my head off in his attempt to get to the cheese.

“Hang on, hang on. I promise you’ll get your cheese. ”

Blue landed on the arm of the couch, perching as he watched me crouch next to the castle. I looked up at him and pointed to the toy.

“So what I’m going to do is hide the cheese inside here. Your job is to find the cheese. Got it?”

Blue grinned at me. I made quick work of hiding the cheese in various rooms in the castle and then stepped back.

“Go ahead, Blue. Play with your toy.” Sloane still sounded reluctant, but I could tell she wanted to see how Blue would respond.

Blue leapt to the ground and nosed the castle, wandering in circles around it, his snuffles and snorts growing in frustration until he finally torched one of the doors open and discovered the cheese.

“Oh my goddess. It’s working!” Sloane grabbed my arm, and the touch was so unexpected, as was the jolt of electricity that raced up my arm, that I froze.

I wanted this woman on me, under me, around me.

If my body responded to a simple touch like this, I could only imagine what it would be like to have her in my bed.

Forcing myself to pull my thoughts away from Sloane wrapped in silk, again, I kept my gaze trained on Blue as he used his fire to find his treats.

“He likes it.” It pleased me, more than I wanted to admit, that my gift was well received.

“I think a thank-you is in order, Sloane,” Broca said from where she was scrolling an iPad in her chair.

“Thank you,” Sloane said automatically. Dutifully.

“If you want to thank me, you’ll come with me to the castle and help me deal with this snow issue.” The words were out of my mouth before I’d even realized I’d spoken them, but now that the idea was out there, I realized just how much I liked it.

“There’s nothing I can do—”

“Actually, there’s plenty that you can do. I’m told you work in marketing, right?”

“Sloane’s excellent at marketing. She freelances for several big companies, but her favorite is bespoke clients with unique branding challenges. Which is just what this snow problem of ours needs. Great idea, Knox.” Broca radiated sunshine from her armchair.

“I don’t—”

“If you’re hell-bent on staying here, the very least you can do is put your skills to good use.”

“I thought you wanted me to break the curse. Now you want me to work on marketing your town for you? What’s it going to be?”

“Marketing first. If you think you can break a curse overnight, you clearly have a lot to learn about magick.”

“Excuse me?” Sloane jabbed my chest with a finger, and I reached up and curled my hand around her finger, happy to be touching her in any way that I could, even though I knew she was infuriated with me. “I’m getting really sick of people insinuating I’m a basic witch.”

“Well, you’re not doing much to change our opinions, are you, witchling?

” Even I internally winced at that one, but when I saw the fire of battle light in her eyes, I knew I’d provoked her enough to come with me.

It seemed I would need to challenge this woman at every step to get somewhere with her, which should make things highly interesting.

“I am not a basic witch. And I will figure out a way to use this snow to your advantage, and when I’m done, I will break the curse and laugh in your face while doing so.” Sloane stomped upstairs to change.

“Well done, lad,” Broca said, her voice low. “Keep poking at her. She needs the challenge.”

I dropped onto the couch across from her and was delighted when Blue flew to me, slamming awkwardly onto my lap, and I caught him close for cuddles.

“Why is that?” I might as well get any intel that Broca was willing to give me if I was going to be working closely with Sloane.

“She’s been so focused on taking care of Lyra and Nova that she’s forgotten about her own needs. And she’s never going to grow into the woman, and witch, I know she can be if she, or someone, doesn’t shake things up a bit.”

“Understood,” I said as Sloane stomped back downstairs. “It will be my absolute joy to challenge her at every step.”

“I always knew I liked you, boy.” Broca accepted a kiss on her cheek as I stood, Blue in my arms.

“Is Blue with us, or staying here?”

“Here. He hates the snow.” Sloane slapped on a puffy navy parka and glared up at me. “All right, Knox. Let’s get this over with so I don’t have to deal with you anymore.”

Pleased, I handed Blue to Broca, while Sloane stepped into the swirl of snow, radiating annoyance.

It looked like my day had just gotten better.