Page 12 of The Witch’s Shifter (Season of the Witch #3)

Aurora

“I’M SO SORRY ABOUT THIS. Maybe I should go with you. It’s my fault. I’m the one who insisted we bring Faolan in...”

“It’s fine,” Alden says, already pulling a tunic over his bare chest. “And you don’t need to go. It’ll be an uncomfortable journey. Stay here and focus on yourself. You’ve looked tired these last couple days.”

It’s still early morning, and the sun hasn’t yet risen, so I can only just make him out as he prepares for his trip to Wysteria, gathering clothes into a canvas bag while I sit on the bed watching him, still wrapped in blankets to ward off the chill in the air.

“Besides, I could use the breathing room,” he continues, tone light and calm. “Been a bit cooped up in here. Too much testosterone for one cottage.” He ruffles his dark curls, then gives me one of those gentle smiles I love so much.

Goddess, I adore this man.

Getting to my knees on the bed, I reach for him, and he steps closer so that I can wrap my arms around his waist and press my head to his firm chest. Beneath my ear, his heart beats out a slow, steady rhythm.

When we lie in bed at night, I love listening to his heart, imagining that mine is beating in perfect time with his.

Ba-bum. Ba-bum.

“When will you be back?” I whisper into the darkness of the bedroom.

“Shouldn’t take more than a few days. I’ll be there and back before you even realize I’m gone.”

“Impossible.” I pull back and look up into his dark eyes, trying not to cry. “I already miss you, and you’ve not even left yet.”

I don’t know why, but I hate the idea of him being gone for even a few days. I’ve become so spoiled, having him around all the time, being able to reach out and hold him whenever I need the stability and support he offers.

He gets a little spark in his eye, then eases me back onto the bed, pushing my knees apart so he can settle himself atop me, though he’s gentle now with my belly between us, always careful not to put too much weight on me.

“Missing me will be good for you,” he says. His mouth finds my throat, and he places a trail of kisses up my neck and across my jaw, then to the soft spot beneath my ear.

“Will you miss me?” I ask, turning my head just a bit so he can more easily draw his lips across my neck.

His low chuckle rumbles through his chest and into mine. “Always, little witch.”

ALDEN LEAVES AS SOON AS the sun illuminates the autumn sky.

I stand on the porch, wearing my nightgown with a quilt wrapped around my body, and watch him go, and only when his dark cloak has vanished into the trees do I finally step back into the cottage and close the door behind me.

Saying goodbye to him was only the first challenge of the day.

Now I’ve got to deal with the redheaded one.

Rowan slept on the couch last night, and we’ve not spoken since Faolan crashed through the parlor window.

I was so cross with him, I knew I’d say something I’d regret, so I chose not to say anything at all.

Auntie taught me to always speak from a place of love, and I was not in that place last night. But I suppose the time has come.

In the kitchen, I pour two cups of tea. I’m just putting a teaspoon of honey into each when the floorboards creak behind me.

Make tea and they always come. It’s one of those tricks I keep up my sleeve.

In preparation, I take a steadying breath. From a place of love , I remind myself.

Quilt draped in the crooks of my elbows and teacups in hand, I turn and find Rowan leaning in the doorway, hair mussed from sleep.

He’s wearing lightweight cotton pants, but his chest is bare, revealing the lean muscles that taper down to his hips and beyond.

He looks much too good for someone who’s just woken up—and from a night spent on a couch, no less.

Why do all these men look so beautiful the moment they open their eyes?

Without speaking, I set the teacups upon the kitchen table, then take a seat and pull my knees up to my chest. Accepting my offering, Rowan eases into the chair across from mine. We sit in silence while the teacups steam in the soft morning sun.

Finally, he meets my eyes. The green in his irises looks like pale new leaves in this light.

“I’m so sorry, Aurora. I made an utter ass of myself.”

Well, we’re off to a decent start.

I lean my cheek on my knee and regard him coolly. “Why’d you do it?”

“Because...” He averts his gaze and stares into his teacup. “Because I don’t like the guy. I don’t want to share you with him.” Before I can interrupt and tell him how silly that is, he holds up a hand. “And I know how ridiculous that sounds—I’m already sharing you with Alden. It’s no excuse.”

A strange look comes over his face, and as he continues avoiding my eyes, a suspicious tingle goes down my spine. Something about his explanation feels... off. What isn’t he telling me?

“Rowan,” I say softly, “is that really why?”

The sun illuminates the steam twirling from our teacups as he traces the grains of wood in the tabletop. He’s still not answered me after a few moments, so I just shake my head and take a sip of tea. As usual, I can’t force him to open up if doesn’t want to. I’ve learned that already.

Rowan’s eyes meet mine again. “I should’ve controlled myself. My anger made everything worse. It was foolish and dangerous, and I’m sorry.”

He extends his hand, offering it to me across the table. Part of me wants to stay mad, but when he’s looking at me like that and being so genuine, how can I? Besides, anger will make you sick inside. It’s best to let it go.

A gentle sigh slips from my lips as I ease my hand into his. “Everything’s a mess. Alden had to go to Wysteria to buy a new window, and now Faolan is missing. He probably injured himself worse jumping through that pane.”

I couldn’t stop thinking about him last night—picturing him out there in the cold, alone and hurt. It makes my stomach twist even now.

Rowan twines his fingers with mine. When I look up into his eyes, I find his brow furrowed with determination.

“I’ll track him down,” he says.

His words don’t register at first. I blink, sure I misheard him. “What? You wanted him gone since we brought him here.”

“I know.” He squeezes my fingers in his. “But I’m going to fix this. I’ll find him, and I’ll bring him back. I’m going to make this right, Aurora.”

I tip my head and narrow my eyes. “Do you even know how to track?”

One of his russet eyebrows quirks at me. “I’m one of the king’s loyal knights. I spent most of my life training to serve him.” When I don’t say anything, he lets out a sigh. “ Yes , I can track a monstrous wolf through the forest. I imagine even a page could do that.”

Hearing him talk like this feels good, like we’re moving past the foreign version of Rowan that emerged the day we brought Faolan home.

“Do pages start silly fights as well?” I ask him, voice tinged with just a touch of humor.

“None so silly as the one I provoked.” Fingers still tangled with mine, he gives my hand a gentle tug, and I ease to my feet, then into his lap. Despite being bare chested, he’s warm, and I curl against his shoulder and wrap the quilt around us, my head tucked under his chin.

“You truly think you’ll be able to find him?” I whisper.

Rowan turns his head to press a kiss to my forehead. “With absolute certainty. See there?”

He points, and I follow his finger with my gaze. Out the kitchen window, the sun is illuminating the garden. In the distance, the forest stands tall and dark.

“Keep your eyes on that tree line,” Rowan says. “That’s where I’ll bring him back.”