Page 34 of Spellbound & Speechless (Witches of Starbrook #2)

“I’m sorry.” I frown. “I wish he were here today.”

“It’s all right.” He presses my hand to his chest. “I’m glad she’s here—and you. You being here is all I need.”

“Then it looks like we have everything we need. Everything and more.”

The party goes perfectly. We drink, dance, and spend so much time outside that the sun sets and the night grows cold. It’s not a problem. Ozan warms the place up with a spell, and he spends the rest of the night holding Juniper close to his chest on the makeshift dance floor.

Mac and I sit at a table in the center of the party. I finally get to rest my feet and snack on the delicious lavender vanilla cake Maple made for us.

Everything is perfect.

The first sign that perfection will soon end is a smell. I’ve never smelled it before, and no one else seems alarmed except Mac and his mother.

I’m smelling it through our bond, I realize—through Mac’s superior senses.

It’s rotten, not quite like a sewer, but like something sweet that’s been left in the sun. Rotting fruit with a sinister edge. It’s enough to make my stomach churn. My throat closes as dread flows through me.

The fear of being stolen from. Of losing myself and my goddess.

Mac is on his feet before I can register what’s happening. The most alarming part is that his mother runs toward us. She’s been off at her table all night, occasionally chatting with the elders. This is the first time she’s approached us since our meeting.

Something is wrong.

“It’s the corrupt witch,” she says, wearing a severe expression. “I haven’t spotted her yet, but she’s here. You two. Get out of here.”

I shake my head. “We can’t. What about my family?”

It’s one corrupt witch versus a crowd of witches, and who will win should be clear. Still, I won’t leave them, even when Mac looks at me with desperation.

“Please.” He takes my hands and pulls me to my feet. “We don’t want to end our night like this. Come on.”

“It’s too late.” The cackling is louder than the soft music playing.

I turn to look for the corrupt witch. Mac grabs me, pressing my back against his strong chest.

“You have five seconds to leave,” he growls. “I don’t want to get my hands dirty today, but I will.” His claws extend, prodding into my hips. His mother mirrors the defensive pose.

“I’m not going anywhere.” The corrupt witch reaches out to me with bony hands and a hideous smile—too white, too big. “You have what I want.”

“I don’t,” I say. “You don’t want my magic. It’s nothing—it’s useless.”

“It’s not. You don’t know how to use it. Come with me. Share a little, a pinch of magic, and I’ll teach you what to do with the rest.”

Mac holds me tighter.

That’s not how the abilities of a corrupt witch work. She probably thinks I’m the most gullible witch in the family, and maybe I am, but she won’t trick me so easily.

“No.” I hold my head higher. “I don’t wish to learn anything from you.”

“Give it to me,” the corrupt witch says. “You won’t miss it, will you?”

Of course, I would miss it. My love magic is a part of who I am. Giving it up feels as unnatural as giving her a chunk of my heart—or the whole thing.

In a way, she’s right. There’s more I could do with my magic. I could charm the world to give me what I want. I could have made them keep me at my last job—to love me, make my designs precisely like I wanted them, and catapult me to the head of the company.

That’s not what I want to do with my magic, and that’s precisely why my goddess accepts me. It would be easier to give my magic to the witch, but I don’t trust her to stop there. There’s a buffet of witches at her disposal, after all.

I shake my head, prepared to stop her, but it’s too late. The corrupt witch moves with preternatural speed, and the rest of the party seems to slow down.

It’s magic . A magic she must have stolen when she was away.

She reaches for me, for my heart.

A glowing pink light surrounds us. The world moves slowly as the energy expands from my chest, forming a circle of protection around us—around my mate and me.

It’s our protection, I realize, but it’s stronger than any mating protection spell I’ve seen. The spells are enough to strengthen a connection, improve communication, and make a pair luckier when they’re together…

Mac and I are strong enough to have an entire force field surround us.

It’s the mating bond of the wolf and the mating blessing of the witch working together. Wolf and witch pairings aren’t rare, but I’ve never known one well enough to ask about this .

The corrupt witch blasts backward, and Mac’s mom rushes after her with claws extended to the woman’s throat.

Mac pulls away, but I hold him, shaking my head. “Don’t go. Not yet.”

The shield may only work when we’re together. I’m not willing to risk letting him go.

The older woman shifts, her bones cracking and blue eyes turning red. A loud howl grows from the depths of her chest. In her wolf form, it’s easy to forget her age. The gray wolf moves with strength and agility.

What comes next is feral; her teeth snap against the neck of the corrupt witch, and her claws press into the witch’s heart.

Revenge, finally, after all these years. It will taste so sweet.

The corrupt witch blasts fire from her hand, and the wolf blasts back, falling into a ball of pain.

“No!” Mac rips away from me. “Ma!”

This time, I let him go. What else am I to do? His mother needs him. I’m frozen. The protective magic fades, and the corrupt one turns to me.

There’s nowhere to run.

I have no defense. My gift doesn’t spark in my shaking fingertips. My magic can’t save me. I may have the magic she wants, but I have nothing to use against her.

I don’t need to move a muscle. Ten witches and others lunge at her, but Juniper is the one who reaches her first, bashing a potion bottle over her head. The corrupt witch lets out a scream, burning, as if she’s covered in acid.

A few feet away, Mac’s mother howls in pain. I can feel him through the mating bond—he’s torn. Save me, or save his mother.

The corrupt witch pulls away. Her long, dark claws slash against Juniper’s chest.

The attention turns to Juniper, where she lies on the ground with blood gushing from her chest. I rush to her side, like many others, but Ozan is there first.

Ozan drops to his knees. “No!” He looks around with wild eyes, muttering an incantation with his hand over Juniper’s chest.

“I’m fine,” Juniper utters. “It’s a scratch. She didn’t take my magic.”

“I don’t care!” His magic does nothing to heal Juniper, and I know why. “You’re bleeding . ”

Powerful emotions can help magic—or block it. It seems to block Ozan’s, and I cannot blame him for faltering. Knowing Mac is alive and well, that he’s a few feet away, is the only thing grounding me.

The corrupt witch hurt my sister at my wedding. The realization sinks in, and my heart falls along with it. I am to blame. How could I be so silly? We knew the corrupt witch was still out there. I should never have thrown a party.

“A healer!” I call as calmly as I can. “Or healing potions. Someone, please!”

Ozan’s desperate search of the crowd continues until his gaze falls on Mac. “You,” he roars. “This is your fault.”

Mac falters. He’s at his mother’s side, and she’s back on her paws, fully recovered.

“What?” Mac’s voice breaks.

“None of this happened before you came to Starbrook,” Ozan says. “We had never seen a corrupt witch here until you came. And now?—”

“Ozan.” There’s a warning behind Juniper’s faint tone.

Ozan exhales slowly and turns away, scooping Juniper’s plump form into his arms with ease.

When I turn to look for Mac, he’s already gone. I see only a wolf running in the distance and shredded clothes on the ground.

I suppose we won’t be able to return the rental suit now, but there are bigger concerns.

For once, clothes and fashion are only fleeting thoughts rather than taking over my life.

Emotions are running high for everyone, and I can feel Mac’s shame and guilt.

I can feel him wanting me to chase after him, too—but I don’t. Not yet.

I lift the trail of my dress. I chase after Ozan instead and poke a finger in the middle of his back, meeting strong, tense muscles. “How dare you?”

He turns to me with a weary expression. “I’m sorry?—”

“Save your apology for Mac. I understand that you’re worried about my sister, and I thank you for that, but you do not speak to my mate like that. Do you understand?”

Ozan is a kind and rational man, usually. I know he didn’t mean to hurt Mac, but he did. He inhales slowly, and I can tell he wants to argue with me, but the fight behind his eyes dissolves.

“You’re upset,” he says. “I understand, but right now I want to get Juniper a healing potion. We can talk later.”

“Fine.” It’s for my sister’s sake that I agree. I step back. “Keep her safe.” I raise my voice, addressing the rest of the crowd. “Keep each other safe! Escort one another home. The party is over.”

I have somewhere else to be. No one can stop me as I fly through the crowd, running after Mac.