Page 18 of Of Poison & Pumpkins (Of Witches & Men #3)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Rynn

I breathe in the blissful scent of dreams and magic.

Of autumn dusted in fairytales. Visiting a unicorn sanctuary has always been my number one bucket list item.

Now I can check this experience off in my journal.

Each one prances with unique charisma and sass.

My favorite one in the back of the herd, with a coat of sky blue and a mane matching the clouds, can’t keep her golden eyes off mine.

If only I could live here, knit them blankets for the winter, and create a space for stray cats to eat and sleep too.

As I glance at Elias, I find him watching me. Caught in the act, his face flushes and he snaps his attention to the dirt.

“Woah, this is a strong one,” Viv says in a shaky voice. “It’s gonna get weird for a minute, hang on.” Her body goes rigid, and her eyes turn white.

I step back as Elias simultaneously moves towards her. She faints into his arms, as limp as a ragdoll.

“Uh, what the ever-luvin’ ferns?” he asks, obviously concerned. “Should I shake her awake?”

But he doesn’t have to do a thing. Viv’s eyes snap open again, black this time. “Your time is nine days,” she says in a strange shrill voice. “Until it can’t be undone.”

“What can’t be undone?” Elias asks, terrified.

Her veins turn an inky scarlet in her face, darkening until they resemble spider webs etched in her skin. Then, as if it never happened, they disappear, and her eyes return to normal.

“What did I say?” Viv asks.

Elias and I exchange a wild glance, spooked. Then he sets Viv back on her feet but stays close, his arms hovering around her waist.

“That we have nine days.” I say, then nervously scan her body. “Um, are you okay?”

“Yeah, as dandy as a dandelion.” Viv starts walking ahead, unfazed by the whole event.

“Premonitions were my spell choice of the month, to give a countdown to those who needed a warning. Yesterday in the grocery store it happened in the fruit aisle. Apparently, I told an elderly man that he had five days to see a doctor before it’d be too late to have surgery on his tumor. ”

“That’s high-level magic. Your council approved that?”

“Council?” Viv made an ‘ick’ face. “Uh, honey, no. We’re not like them city folk out here. We perform our own ritual, whether we’re with friends or at home in our pajamas.”

My world tilts on its axis. That’s possible? I’ve wanted to separate myself from the required Ceremony for as long as I can remember. How has news not spread that some Fuzers have taken a stand against the law?

“Can you tell us what happened to Alex?” Elias asks.

“It all started when she missed dinner. She loves my cooking, so it was unheard of.” She pauses when her phone buzzes. “Hold on, I got a text and need to run to the office. Check out the barn until I return,” Viv says, disappearing around a corner.

We weave through a maze of tractors, hay bales, and wheelbarrows towards a large blue barn. Our shoes crunch on the fallen leaves covering the grass. Unicorns whinny inside and glitter swarms me like Maya does whenever I walk through Tinsley’s front door.

“What did I do wrong?” Elias whispers as we enter the barn. “You’ve barely said a word to me for hours.”

The intensity of his gaze lasers into my cheek. He rubs a hand over his dark scruff. Does he have plans to grow a beard? Can’t say that I’d mind if he does. Ahead, unicorns toss their heads in excitement.

“My little sister eloped. I’ve been processing after I got that call. It freaked me out.”

“And you hate that news? Because marriage is terrible?” Elias studies me like he used to stare at the periodic table during chemistry class, with that all-consuming focus.

“Marriage is fine, for people who want it. But Brooke married a Fuzer.”

“Ouch. That’d sting. It doesn’t help that your little sister was a terror.”

“You remember Brooke?”

“Of course. I can’t believe she started that rumor that your magic made it impossible for you to have sex. Be warned, when you eventually fall in love with me, I may never warm up to your sister because of that. It was a nasty thing to do.”

There are too many things to unpack. That was not a rumor I had been aware of.

“She convinced my friends to blackmail me,” I add. “Even my best friend, Lori, made me use a month’s magic so she’d get perfect scores on all her exams,” I say, ready to fade away into the breeze.

“Your friends broke your heart,” he remarks as we step out of the sunlight and into the barn. “But your hardships also helped make you strong.”

“Oh, really?”

“You stand up for the weak, like when someone is taking advantage of an animal. You advocate for them because no one did that for you.” He heads towards the stalls. “I bet you thought leaving Indiana would save you from bumble-butts bullies, but you’ve seen there are awful people everywhere.”

I shake my head, unwilling to open this can of worms. “Everything’s better in Oakmar. It’s one reason why I need to win. So I’ll never need to return home.”

He lifts my hand to stroke a nearby unicorn’s long nose. Complete relaxation washes over me, like I’m meant to live in this moment, this space, this breath, for eternity. Animals are my home, always have been and always will be. Viv is lucky to own this place. Here, I feel safe and free.

“You come alive here, Rynnlee. It’s like your energy has awakened.” His voice grows serious, layered with unsaid thoughts I can’t risk unburying.

Elias presses his hand down on top of mine, still stroking the unicorn’s forehead. Slowly, I look up into Elias’s dark eyes, lit with a new spark. The devious smirk twitches in the corner of his lip, unraveling me a bit more.

His half-smile teases me again as he tilts his head in question. “Maybe it’s not the unicorns that have centered you.”

“Wh-what do you …? Why would …?” My heart races, hammering in my chest.

“Sunflower?” His crooked grin destroys my soul, in all the good ways. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

“I don’t. I can’t like you!”

Elias moves me until my back is pressed against the stall. He kicks my feet wide. His hips pin mine. Chest to chest.

“You could like me, if you allow yourself,” he whispers against my neck.

My pulse pounds loudly in my ears and a shiver of tingles trails over my body.

“Up or down?” He licks his lips.

“Wh-what?” My question comes out low and broken.

“I have a thing with restraints,” he says, his lips slide against my neck as he speaks into my skin.

Everywhere his mouth slips on my throat feels like a bomb exploding deep in my core.

“Do you want your wrists pinned up above your head, or down by your side when you beg me to kiss you for the first time?”

I swallow, nervous, excited; I don’t even know. “Up.”

He settles around me like a tent. I involuntarily moan. Can’t speak when his tongue flicks behind my ear. It’s like sensual needles shooting through my nerves. There’s a chance I’m whispering his name again and again.

“I’m back. Ready?” Viv’s voice sounds from the left.

My eyes fly open, and my body goes rigid. I duck, dip, and slide out of Elias’s hold and rake a hand through my hair. My breath is coming too fast. Elias chuckles and folds his arms across his chest. My eyes dip to his crotch, where his bulge is obvious. Shit. Viv will never let me return.

Quickly, I step in front of Elias to block his erection and start slapping my neck as if mosquitos are attacking.

There must be marks all over my skin from his lips, teeth, and tongue, but I need to pretend like nothing happened.

Because nothing will happen. How many times can I push him away without losing my sanity?

Goddess, I want him badly, but I can’t let my guard down and open my heart to the one who has the potential to shatter it to pieces.

Viv motions for us to follow. “Before not showing up for dinner, Alex was talking nonsense, rambling on and on about someone who tricked her.”

Viv enters a small interior arena. In the middle, surrounded by hurdles, sits a woman in a trance-like state.

“There’s Alex.” Viv gestures to her niece, worry plastered on her face.

“I’ve convinced her to eat some cheese. But that’s it.

Otherwise, all she does is sit here and stare at the dirt.

” Viv’s sigh is heavy and full. “Do you know what to do? I’ve called around and apparently, there’s some sort of virus going around.

They’re calling it Dazed. Can you help her with your magic? ”

My jaw drops. If Alexandra is cursed, then who stole my paint? Or maybe she poisoned herself by accident?

Thunder explodes outside the barn, shaking the entire building. I walk across the dirty arena, kicking up poofs of dust with every step.

I plop in the dust next to Alex. “Hi, I’m Rynn. Do you remember me?”

Alexandra doesn’t even blink, only stares at the barn wall.

Viv leaves us three and heads into the rain.

Elias sits next to me just as lightning flashes.

It’s a strange type of omen. It could mean that he’s my light in the storm.

Or it could mean he’s the threat striking hard and fast when things turn ugly.

“You think Goosie cleans his kittens?” Elias asks, drawing a cat shape in the dirt with his finger.

His wicked cat is not what we should be focusing on right now. This woman is lost and needs help.

Elias nods towards Alexandra, and I catch onto his tactic when he tries again. “I bet Goosie would love these unicorns. Did you see the purple one flying by the pines?”

“Yeah, if I could name one, I’d call her Plum.” I search Alexandra’s eyes for any sense of awareness. Her glossy eyes remain empty. “What about you, Alex? Do you like unicorns?”

Nothing.

Elias shrugs, then rubs my thigh. “Let’s keep trying. Maybe her passion isn’t animals like yours.”

How do I not know Elias’s biggest passion? If I had to guess, I’d say the only thing he’d never give up would be authentic friendship. Decades from now, his tombstone will say, ‘ died happy beside someone he cares about .’

Elias is too loyal, too social, too playful to relinquish friendship. My urn of ashes will say, ‘ the girl who chose yarn over people .’

Thunder rumbles and rolls while we sit in solidarity, the three of us ponder our own thoughts while the storm rages on. Elias is quiet for so long he may have fallen asleep.

“Rynnlee? Will you wear a themed costume on Halloween with me?” Elias sets his chin on his hand, leaning forward.

“No way. I’ve never dressed up.”

“There’s always a first time to try something new. We could represent our shops. You could wear Palooza’s giant purple feather hat, and I’ll wear a giant pumpkin outfit. I’d be a good date”—his head lifts, eyes in question—“if you give me a chance.”

I open my mouth to answer, but close it, considering. Then, I ask genuinely, “Why? I know it sounds like I’m digging for compliments, but why would you choose me when you have other options?”

“You tell me.”

I laugh-snort. “I have no idea.”

“Yes, you do.”

“I’ll tell you what. If you can give me five good reasons, I’ll put your social media account at our register.” He smiles like he’s hit the jackpot. “Any customer who tags you in a post or follows you will get a discount.”

“Four reasons,” I counter.

“Fine.”

“Awesome.” I cross my arms.

“Great.”

“Fabulous,” I say, and try to think of the most ridiculous examples.

Thunder rolls outside again, and I smell the pouring rain even through the closed doors.

“You’d date me because I read thriller novels, never romance,” I say jokingly, but he nods in agreement. “And because I leave notes to show affection. Because if I had a superpower, I’d choose invisibility.”

Elias groans. “I really, really want to kiss you right now.”