Page 16

Chapter

Fifteen

THE GIFT OF HER

Madden

“She found me in the dark and I haven’t

had a single bad day since.” – M

“ F ucking great,” I grunt, slapping at my neck. It’s like the blood-sucking fuckers have taken a personal vendetta against me. I scan the trees, their trunks wrapped in creeping vines, feeling out of control. Everything looks the same.

We’re lost.

The forest is eerily quiet, the distant murmurs of her team completely gone. I glance at my phone—no signal. Checking the time, I see it’s well past twilight, and the sky above is darker than I realized. I should’ve been paying more attention, but I found myself held in a trance while the little fairy next to me talked my ear off about things that matter to her.

I try to remember the path we took, but the trees look different now, cloaked in the darkness. Night is falling quickly, and soon we’ll be covered in darkness making it harder to find our way back. Shit.

“Willow,” I say, glancing up at the sky, trying to remember what I once read about stars guiding you when you’re lost, “I think we’ve been out here too long. We should really find a way?—”

I stop mid-sentence when I see her lookup, her expression faltering as she notices the thickening dark around us. She hadn’t noticed?

“What time is it?” she asks, her voice trembling slightly. She checks her watch, but the dim light makes it hard to read.

I pull out my phone, but of course, there’s still no signal, and the battery is draining fast.

Willow’s face falls as she surveys our surroundings. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t realize...” She looks embarrassed and afraid. Seeing her like this stir something inside, a need to comfort her.

“Hey, hey,” I say, trying to reassure her, “we’ll find our way back. I got this.”

She nods, her hands trembling slightly as she closes her notebook, pulls out her phone and turns on the flashlight feature.

Making sure she’s safely behind me, I begin to guide us with the help of the phone’s light. I try to remember any distinct features of the path we took but it’s futile. I wasn’t paying attention and because of that we’re fucking lost. Looking down I think about retracing our steps by following our footprints but I can't see them and all of a sudden Willow’s phone turns off and with it our only source of light.

“Shit,” I grit my teeth, turning around to hand her phone back.

“I’m sorry.” The words come out as a barely audible whisper, her breath shaky. “I have a power bank, but I left it with the rest of my equipment. I really didn't think we’d be out here this late and that I would lose track of time.”

As if on cue, rain begins to fall, drenching us quickly. Just our luck. Dammit.

“Stop saying sorry,” I say, frustration lacing my voice. I don’t like that she feels the need to apologize for being fucking human. Even in the dark, I can see her shoulders are hunched, and I feel her shivering.

She is going to get sick if we don’t find shelter, or make our way back to the team. “I–I’m just sorry I got us into this mess. If I’d just kept my mouth shut, I wouldn’t have gotten so distracted…” Her voice trails off, and I can see her shivering more noticeably as the rain soaks through her thin shirt.

“Stop, Willow,” I call softly, stepping closer. “It’s not your fault. I distracted you, so if you’re looking for someone to blame, blame me. Now here.” Without waiting for her to respond, I pull off my shirt, the cool night air hitting my skin. The shirt is damp from the rain, but it’s still warmer than her wet clothes. I hold it out to her, trying to ignore the discomfort of the cold air against my naked skin.

“No. Please. You don’t have to?—”

“It’s fine,” I interrupt, forcing my tone to soften.

Carefully, I pull the shirt off her shoulders, my fingers brushing against her skin as I ease it down her arms. The rain has left her clothes clinging to her like a second skin, and I try to be as gentle as possible to avoid hurting her in any way. At times I forget how tiny she is.

Wanting to help, she starts to pull her arms free of the sleeves, but I stop her. “Hold still,” I say, my voice calm as I slip the shirt all the way down, positioning it carefully so it drapes properly over her. As soon as she’s covered, I feel her shiver less as I adjust the shirt around her. “There,” I say, smoothing it down over her shoulders. “Better?”

The moonlight reflects off her face, allowing me to see her bit clearer. Willow looks up at me, her expression soft. Her gentle blue eyes linger on mine for a moment, and I catch a hint of something deeper in her gaze—something more than just gratitude. I can’t quite put a name to it, but it sends a flutter through me.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

There goes my fucking heart again.

Suddenly as if pulled from a storybook, the rain fades to a mere drizzle, and the moonlight fades away. Just as quickly, the darkness of the forest is pierced by a soft, ethereal glow that lights up the surroundings, casting a gentle light through the trees.

I stop and look up, taking in the surroundings, and what I see is nothing short of magical—even I have to admit. The grass and the towering trees have come alive with what seems like an otherworldly luminescence. Mushrooms of every shape and size are glowing softly in hues of blue, green, and purple. The little fuckers seem to be forming patterns and trails, almost as if leading us somewhere. Then like a magic act fireflies dart through the air, their green light twinkling like distant stars, adding to the moment’s enchantment.

What the fuck…

Willow gasps softly beside me, I look at her, her eyes shine wide with wonder. “Oh, wow…I’ve never seen anything like this,” she breathes, her voice laced with awe and disbelief. “How beautiful and rare…”

The funny-looking mushrooms’ glow is indeed mesmerizing, casting a gentle light that makes the entire forest look like an enchanted realm from a fairy tale. Their bioluminescence paints patterns on the wet ground, creating a mosaic of colors that shift and dance with every step we take.

Looking at it, it seems fitting since I have an ethereal being beside me right now.

I turn to Willow completely, focusing only on her. I take in her wide, amazed eyes as she stares at the magic all around us, while my gaze is fixed on the real magic right in front of me—her. “Neither have I,” I whisper, my chest tightening with each passing second as I stare at her.

As I’m lost in the beauty of her, the rain lessens to a light mist that adds a dreamy quality to the scene. The fireflies dance through the glowing mushrooms, their light blending seamlessly with the magic of the fungi.

“Maybe they’re trying to guide us,” Willow suggests. “Are you helping us?” She speaks to the creatures as if they can understand a word she’s saying then begins to follow their glow. I was two seconds away from deeming her completely out of her goddamn mind for believing those ugly shrooms could help us when I noticed they were forming a natural path, leading us.

Willow moves fast, and I follow closely behind, making sure she doesn’t trip over any rocks or hurt herself. As we move forward, the forest seems to transform our surroundings into a realm that feels both rare and familiar. The sense of being lost fades into the background as I follow the wild fairy in front of me, moving almost instinctively.

Willow glances back at me, her face illuminated in hues of green and purple from the gentle glow of the mushrooms and the fireflies. “See! I told you they’re very friendly and useful creatures,” she says with a smile. “I can’t believe we’re seeing this.”

The wind tousles her hair in every direction, and her smile shines brighter than any light coming from the mushrooms or the night sky. I come to a sudden stop, unable to tear my eyes away from her. Her untamed hair dances with the gentle flurry of fireflies. They flit around her head, their tiny lights creating a crown that frames her beautiful face in a delicate, otherworldly glow. I’ve never seen a sight this beautiful and I’ve been all around the world and seen the seven wonders of it too and not even that compares to the sight of Willow O’ Sullivan right now.

The fireflies’ lights play among the brown curls of her hair, giving her an almost regal appearance—like a queen of this hidden, magical realm. Her sweet, kind eyes reflect pure happiness as she basks in the magic and warmth. She not only looks breathtakingly beautiful but like she belongs here—like she’s a part of this dreamlike world. My heart skips a beat, struck by the realization that I’ve never seen or met anyone quite like Willow. In this moment, with the forest glowing around us and the fireflies dancing above her, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

“Willow,” I say, my voice hushed and filled with awe.

She turns to me, her eyes sparkling. “Yes?”

“Do you believe in magic?”

Her eyes widen, a soft blush spreads across her cheeks as she nods enthusiastically. “I do.” She steps closer, until we’re just inches apart, and I can’t help but marvel at how small she is compared to me.

“Sometimes I do too,” I blurt out before I can think better of it.

When you’re near, I want to say, but I hold back.

Willow’s lips curve into a gentle, knowing smile as she steps closer, her breath warm and delicate. “Magic is all around you, Madden Hunt. You just have to open your heart and let it in.” Her words hang in the air like a soft song, and I feel a shiver spread through me.

The way she speaks, her voice barely above a murmur, penetrates my dusty ass heartstrings.

I look into her eyes, the colors reflecting back at me mirror the magic around us. “You really believe that?” I ask, loud enough that she can hear me.

Her gaze never wavers and her smile doesn’t falter as she nods gently. “I do. Sometimes we get so caught up in our pain and fears that we forget how much wonder and magic there is in the world— in us. Magic is everywhere, waiting to be seen, felt, and embraced by you.”

The words she speaks weave into the very fabric of my being, wrapping around my heart like a delicate thread. I find myself drawn to her, a feeling that is both exhilarating and terrifying. The emotions I thought I’d buried long ago swirl in my stomach, awakening a warmth that reminds me I’m human, not a heartless shell of a man.

“You just have to believe, Madden.” Willow whispers as the space between us feels charged, and I’m suddenly aware of how close we are. I’m inches away from feeling her soft, cherry lips on mine.

My heart pounds harshly on my chest, each beat echoing with a primal need I haven’t felt in a long time—the need to own this beautiful fairy. Without thinking twice, I lean in, my breath mingling with hers as I move closer, feeling an irresistible pull toward her.

As if she feels the same, her eyes flutter closed, her lips parting slightly as she leans in closer. The moment feels real and raw, filled with something beautiful that feels almost like a promise.

Just as I’m about to lose all control, close the gap and kiss her, a sudden annoying as fuck voice cuts through the moment. “Willow. Oh, God, there you are!” Someone flashes their light on us.

Willow pulls back abruptly, startled.

The ugly vests fucker appears, his expression one of frustration and jealousy. His eyes dart between Willow and me, and the air instantly feels colder, shattering the magic of the moment.

“What are you two doing out here?” Fuckface demands, his tone clipped and more obnoxious than usual. His nosey gaze lingers on the closeness between Willow and me, and I can see the edge of jealousy in his eyes. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

I’m sure he did look everywhere. For her. Not me.

Fucker.

I notice Willow’s cheeks turning pink as she steps back, successfully breaking the spell that had enveloped us as we almost kissed. She clears her throat, her gaze dropping to the ground. I hate that. I fucking hate that she hides. I hate that she says sorry for every single fucking thing. “We... lost track of time,” she signs, looking embarrassed.

Ethan’s eyes narrow as he glances at me, and I sense a shift in his demeanor. He's not only jealous but he’s angry. Good.

He’s most likely imagining a hundred different scenarios of what happened while it was just her and me lost at night. I grin which only makes his eyes narrow more. “Well, we need to get back to the others,” he says, his voice rigid. “Let’s go.”

The fucker looks green with envy and the thought only makes me feel giddy but I don’t fucking like his snippy tone as if he’s entitled to her.

When Willow makes a move to follow him back to the others, I reach for her hand and guide her myself.

Fuck him.