Page 51

PIPER

A mbrose stares at me like I’ve grown a second head overnight. I’m sore and confused and hungry, but my head isn’t muddled.

Ambrose cocks his head. “You don’t want me to stay?” His question sounds probing and a little bewildered.

“No. While I appreciate that you sat with me and helped with Tucker, I’m actually a little annoyed with you right now.

” She pauses, tilting her head as she stares at me.

Tears fill my eyes, in frustration and heartache, but I take a deep breath and compose myself.

“As grateful as I am, I still need to sort out my thoughts.”

I look around the room, recalling all of the broken potions that littered my floor. There’s no sign of the fight that took place.

“You don’t want to profess your love for me? Or throw yourself at my feet?” Ambrose sounds more shocked with each question.

I glare at him. “No. I would really like a sandwich. Or maybe some tacos. I want to take a shower and change my clothes. And like I said, I’m kind of annoyed at you, so, no, I don’t want to profess my love right now.

” I love him, but all of this keeping distance for my own good is frankly bullshit.

I loved Ambrose before he kissed me, and I certainly don’t want to worship him now that his lips have touched mine.

I kind of want to throttle him a little. And then kiss him.

Ambrose starts laughing, shaking his head in disbelief. Which only makes my irritation grow.

“If you’re going to laugh at me, then you need to leave.” For once in my life, I’ve found my backbone.

“I’m not laughing at you, Piper. We kissed.”

“Yeah, I remember. You basically threw me away like a dirty sock and told me I didn’t know my own feelings.

” With a shake of my head, I leave the bedroom.

I need to eat something. Ambrose follows me into the kitchen.

I open up the fridge and scowl. I haven’t been here in forever.

All that’s inside is a jar of pickles and something that might have been cheese once, but is now just a hunk of green mold.

I open the cupboards with a curse and find a box of granola bars that are probably also stale. Ripping open the package, I bite into the too-chewy bar with a savagery it doesn’t deserve.

Ambrose stands in front of me, barely a foot between us. His eyes sparkle. He looks…hopeful. “I thought you were affected by my curse. Anyone I’ve ever kissed is desperate to be near me.”

“Yeah, well, obviously, they don’t know you well enough,” I snap, but as soon as the words are out of my mouth, I regret them.

I drop my arm, my granola bar sitting in my chest. Or maybe it’s my broken heart.

“No. I’m sorry. I’m mad, but that’s not true.

I love you and you’re wonderful. I’m just pissed at everything.

You pushed me away, Ambrose.” My voice wavers, and I hate that my eyes fill up with tears.

Can’t I just be stoic and strong for once in my life?

“It’s okay, Piper. I was a jerk. I should have talked to you instead of bossing you around like I knew best.” He cups my cheeks.

Holding my face, he stares down at me with so much longing.

It hurts to be held in this way. The stale granola bar is still clutched in one hand, and I don’t know what to do with the other, so it hangs limply at my side.

“Piper. You’re not getting it.”

“Getting what?”

“You walked away. You left.” The words themselves sound accusatory, but Ambrose’s voice is delighted.

Guilt swarms me. “I know, but I had to.”

“No.” He laughs. “It's a good thing. Incredible, really. No one who’s kissed me has ever walked away. They can’t. They’re desperate to be near me. They scream and cry and break shit if they aren’t close. But you walked away.”

It dawns on me what he’s saying, and the frown falls off my face. “What does that mean?”

“My curse didn’t affect you.” Ambrose searches my face, his words fragile with hope.

“I definitely don’t want to worship you right now,” I murmur, gazing up at him. I might love him, but that doesn't mean he’s perfect. He has faults, just like everyone else.

“I don’t know how that’s possible. Maybe it’s because I love you and that makes all the difference.”

“You really love me?” I tip my head back, my eyes glancing briefly over his lips. Lips that I’ll never kiss, and that’s okay.

“I wish I could kiss you.” His voice wavers.

I toss my granola bar on the counter and wrap my arms around his waist. Ambrose sighs, his entire body relaxing as he pulls me tight to his body. His lips press against the top of my head and all the tension releases in my body.

“I’m still mad at you. And I still love you.” My heart is full, swelling in my chest. Ambrose lowers his forehead to mine.

“What if it’s my curse making you feel this way?”

I consider for a moment before I respond. “Then I guess I don’t care.” I rest my head on his chest, where his heart races beneath my ear.

“I love you, Piper. I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

“You’d only be taking advantage if I didn’t want this,” I whisper. He brushes my hair back from my forehead. My stomach growls obscenely loud, breaking the solemnity of the moment.

“Do you want to go get tacos?”

“Maiden, yes. Please. I do not want to eat that pickle.”

After I shower and change, we head downtown.

Ambrose grabs tacos while I wait on the Briar Hollow’s Bridge.

The last of the ice melted has finally melted from the river.

The water rushes beneath my feet like a swirling cauldron, while a gentle wind dries my still-wet hair.

My thoughts drift to the legend of the Briar Witch.

Her true love, her fated bond, was killed in front of her on this bridge.

And then she killed herself, cursing all of the horrible people who caused her pain.

They valued power over love. It’s amazing how many centuries have passed since that night and so many people who live in this town have yet to learn the lesson.

I know the depths of the icy water below.

It’s silly that we make wishes on what is essentially a watery grave.

My heart breaks for the Briar Witch because now I know the ache of true love.

I might have been angry at Ambrose for making decisions without consulting me, but I’m smart enough to see his heart was in the right place.

I may have walked away for a night, but the truth is, my life would be colorless without him.

There would be no laughter, no joy. He’s brought all that into my life and more.

Months ago, I wished for freedom on this bridge, but I had no idea what that looked like.

I didn’t know if I would ever be free from Tucker.

One of my curses still lingers, even though my illness wasn’t nearly as bad this time.

And while I shed the hex my father placed on me, I’ve gained the curse of Ambrose’s kiss.

Maybe his curse doesn’t matter anymore because I don’t care if it makes me love him more.

I’m already head over heels in love with the man.

“You look very contemplative for someone who’s had so many successes lately.”

Morty and Fitz are walking across the bridge arm and arm.

They’re always such an odd duo. Fitz, who’s a hundred and something years old with her scowling face, long white braid, and love of velour tracksuits.

Then there’s Morty, whose age is questionable.

Today, he’s wearing an asymmetrical skirt that’s higher on one side than the other, with a pair of combat boots, and a pink and green crocheted cardigan.

It’s buttoned near his belly button, but otherwise exposes his bare chest to the world.

“Aren’t you cold?” I’m one to ask, since my hair is wet and I’m wearing flip-flops.

Morty tips his face back to the sun. “What are you talking about? It’s a beautiful spring day.”

The two of them disentangle. Morty leans on the railing of the bridge on one side of me and Fitz takes the spot on the other. She faces me and her stare drills into my cheek.

“Aren’t you happy?” she finally asks.

The question is loaded. With Fitz, you never know exactly what information she’s hunting for.

Does she mean happy in general? With my life?

I contemplate for a minute because, yes, actually, I am happy with my life.

Ambrose and I still have some things to figure out.

I don’t know if we’re going to stay married or get a divorce.

Would we start dating, then?

It’s all really confusing, but I am really happy.

She could also be talking about the coven council. Or about my Uncle Tucker. I’m sure she’s found out about that somehow. Nothing happens in this town without Fitz knowing about it.

Regardless of her intention, the answer is the same. “Yes. I am happy.”

Fitz raises her brows and shakes her head. “I can’t believe another pair of you bonded.”

She says it so offhandedly, it takes a minute for her words to catch up. I snap my head around to look at her, my brows drawn in confusion. “Excuse me? What did you say?”

Ambrose chooses that moment to return with the tacos, his eyebrows raised as he looks pointedly at Fitz, and then Morty.

“What kind of trouble are you three getting up to?”

“I think it’s the two of you who have been getting into trouble.” Morty takes a taco from the tray in Ambrose's hands with a smirk. Ambrose glares at him, but ultimately lets him take the food. Morty grins as he takes a massive bite.

“To be fair, that doesn’t narrow things down much. What have I done now?” Ambrose hands me a taco, and I take it with numb shock. I’m still stuck on what Fitz said. She couldn’t have meant…

Ambrose offers a taco to Fitz, but she waves him away. He’s just shoved half a taco in his mouth when Fitz says, “You dummies didn’t even look under your rings, did you? I guess it’s sweet that you never take them off.” She grimaces as she says the word “sweet.”

Ambrose swallows and smacks his chest as if his food is stuck in his throat. I’m still holding my taco, my entire body buzzing with a magical energy.

“Why would we take off our rings?” Ambrose throws a worried glance at me. “Are you… Do you want to…” There’s fear in his eyes, and I know he’s thinking I want to get a divorce.

“Idiots. You’re all idiots,” Fitz laments, cutting him off.

I’m holding the taco in one hand, so I can’t just twist off my ring. I push at the underside of it with my thumb, lifting the ring away from my skin. A gust of breath leaves my lungs and my head swims.

“Piper?” Ambrose tosses his half-eaten taco in the box and shoves it at Morty. He grabs my shoulders, lowering his head to look me in the eye. “What is it? Are you getting sick again? I knew I shouldn’t have taken you out so soon after your curse hit.”

“Ambrose,” I whisper. “Look at your finger.”

He holds up his hand with a frown. “Why?”

“Move your ring, dummy.” Fitz is eating one of the tacos now. I guess she changed her mind.

Ambrose pulls at his ring, the gold glinting in the sunlight.

“Fuck.” His head jerks up, and he stares at me. He grabs my hand and tugs gently at my ring, revealing a swirl of black ink that forms a ring of ivy around my finger. It’s different from Josephine or Ava’s fated bond mark, but it matches the one on Ambrose’s finger.

“Holy shit.” Ambrose throws his arms around me and squeezes me tight to his chest. There’s a crunch and Ambrose stills. “There’s a taco smashed against my stomach, isn’t there?”

“Yes.” My voice is muffled against his shirt. Laughter bubbles up, and I tip my head back. “Do you know what this means?”

“I’m going to have to do laundry when we get home?” Ambrose smiles down at me, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

“Your curse doesn’t work on me.” Actually, it means his curse is broken. And if his curse is broken, then so is mine. I don’t quite understand why my curse still hit me the day before, but maybe that’s why my last bout only lasted a day.

Ambrose’s smile fades and his throat bobs. His eyes move to my lips. “I can kiss you.”

The only other time we kissed, I commanded him to do it. It was a mistake, and I didn’t have his permission. This time, he’s asking me. Even if he was still cursed, I would kiss him. I already love him, so there’s not much that can change on that front.

What difference does it make? He’s it for me.

“Please kiss me.” I nod, my heart racing.

I don’t even care that my hand is holding a smushed taco that’s soaking into both our shirts between us.

Ambrose can kiss me. Our breaths mingle, and then his mouth is on mine.

The kiss is so soft. Just a sweet brush of his mouth against mine.

A gentle exploration that still has my knees going weak.

My magic glows in my chest, reaching out and twining with Ambrose’s magic until I can’t tell where I begin and he ends.

It quickly turns from gentle to demanding, and I sway into him, drunk on his taste.

This kiss is one of freedom and a promise of our future.

We’re both breathless when he finally pulls back.

“Do you think I’m perfect and feel like stalking me now?”

“I think sometimes you’re ridiculous. Also, that’s perfectly who you are, and I love that about you.”

Ambrose grins and squeezes my ass. He straightens and looks at me, all the joy leaching out of his face. I start to worry I have taco on my face.

“What?”

“Why did you get sick if we’re bonded? It didn’t break your curse?”

I’d had that thought minutes before. Fitz and Morty have moved on. They’re almost to the edge of the bridge now, running off with our box of tacos. I pull my hand free and shake off the mess, although half if it is now on our clothing.

“Because you hadn’t given in,” Fitz calls back, as if she’d been waiting for the question. “You don’t fight love. It’s more powerful than any curse, than any magic. They never learn,” she grumbles to Morty, who nods in agreement as they walk off the bridge.

Ambrose laughs. He picks me up and twirls me around before setting me down and kissing me again. He dips me, his hand cradling the back of my head. It’s like something out of a film.

“I love you, Piper Roth, and I’m never letting you go.”

He grabs my hand, his finger tracing over my wedding band and the fated mark hidden underneath. “Fated in the stars. I guess Mabel knew what she was talking about in that wedding chapel.”