Chapter 24
L ucy finished ordering in the lantern lights they’d discussed at the last coven meeting. Humming to herself, she put away the returns for the day. She wanted to make sure Rosie came back tomorrow to find the library in perfect order.
Suddenly, she clutched her red sweater as her gut twisted. The candle on the desk blew into a giant flame. Terror forced her eyes closed.
Seconds later, she found herself standing in the lobby of Matherson Manor, six inches deep in water.
Releasing her grasp on her crumpled sweater, Lucy watched in bewilderment as disgruntled guests carrying their suitcases headed towards the revolving doors. Holy Goddess, Benedict flooded the Manor? She began to sweat. Maybe leaving each other alone for a few days wasn’t the best idea.
She looked down at her ruined black suede boots. “They were my favourite pair,” she said sadly, lifting a foot.
“Lucinda Hawthorne!” Gwendoline barked.
Lucy jumped, sending ripples through the water. This wasn’t going to be pretty.
She wanted to flee, but Gwendoline was already hurrying down the grand staircase to yell at her future daughter-in-law. “Why are we five inches deep in water?”
Lucy opened her mouth. She had no idea what to say. Even if she told the truth and said it wasn’t her, the circumstances looked extremely damning, and she couldn’t tell Gwendoline about the element swap.
“Close your mouth, dear! Are you a trout?” Gwendoline snapped, the ends of her dress soaking up the water. “Speak up.”
Lucy didn’t want the coven to think she couldn’t control her element, but she couldn’t let Benedict be reprimanded for her family’s mistake.
“I-I’m so sorry, I don’t know what happened,” she stammered. “I was on my way to see Benedict and I… lost control!” What the hell happened to him?
Gwendoline smoothed her hands over her slick bob, taking a slow breath. “I don’t know what is going on between the two of you– whether you fought or what – but please keep the Manor out of it. I can’t even find Benedict.”
“You can’t find him? Is he not here?”
“Aren’t you listening? He’s nowhere to be found. Suzy called me about an issue with some unruly guests. I get here and find you standing in my flooded lobby!” Gwendoline pinched the bridge of her nose.
Trouble with guests? That might explain his loss of control… but how bad could the complaint have been, for him to flood the reception – and then leave without cleaning up his mess? Water slipped into the top of Lucy’s boots as she walked towards Gwendoline.
“I can’t apologise enough. I’ll fix this,” she assured her, though she had no idea how.
Gwendoline looked to the guests waiting outside, some looking rather impatient.“Hurry, please, we’re fully booked. I don’t want anyone leaving because of this incident.”
Not knowing what else to do, Lucy knelt, ignoring her sodden clothes. Reaching into the cold water, her palm settled on the rough carpet. Sensing her magic emanating around her yet not being able to harness it saddened her, but she could feel the anger that had caused it. Something had happened to infuriate Benedict, and for once she had nothing to do with it.
“Well? Can you undo this or not?” Gwendoline demanded, leaning over her. Lucy hesitated, shaking water off her hand. There was no way to explain herself. Her palms began to sweat as they heated. She had no choice but to tell the truth.
“I can explain,” she began, but to her relief, her mum interrupted.
“What on earth?” Wilhelmina said, struggling with the revolving door. She looked to Gwendoline, sloshing through the lobby. “I was on my way to meet you at Stoker’s when I heard some guests talking about the flooding!”
“Willa! I’m sorry – in the chaos I completely forgot about our lunch, but I’m so glad you’re here.” Gwendoline glared at Lucy, who winced.
“Did you do this?” Wilhelmina’s eyes went wide as she stared at her daughter.
“It was an accident. I haven’t been myself.” Lucy hated lying to her.
Her mum’s eyes narrowed. Lucy had never made a mistake like this before.
“Gwen, why don’t you go outside to your guests?” her mum said, ever the mediator. “I’ll help Lucinda clean this up. You’ll never know it happened when you return. If anything, you’ll get a great carpet clean!”
Lucy saw where Benedict got his sharp stare from. “Fine. I’ll overlook this mishap, as I know the pressure you’ve been under lately. However, this is the only time.” Gwendoline tried her best to leave with dignity, but it was hard to do while sloshing through the water.
When she was gone, Lucy took her mum’s hand. “Mum, can you please drain the water? I’ll explain later, but I need to find Benedict.”
“This is your mess, darling. I expect you to take some responsibility for your mistake,” Mum said, looking at the mess with troubled eyes.
“I do, but please help me just this once? You’ll be able to drain the water far faster than I could, and Benedict is missing,” Lucy pleaded, fretting about where he could be.
“Okay, but you’ve to tell me how things went this far. Did you fight with him?”
“Nothing like that. I was dropping off the new map for the Autumn Festival. I… I thought I was doing something nice by watering the new hedgerows, but my element got the better of me. With the stress of everything, I lost control.”
The lie was ridiculous, but if her mum asked about the gardens, Gwendoline could confirm they’d had new hedgerows planted. Even if it made Lucy feel ill to lie to her mum, it was better than telling the High Priestess that her element was now in the hands of a Matherson.
“At least you weren’t fighting.” Wilhelmina gave her a sly look. “I heard you two have been getting on rather well, in fact.”
Lucy wanted to cry with relief. The last thing she needed was to tell Gwendoline their fire magic flowed through her veins. She’d take it as a sign that their binding was fated.
“We’re making the best of a bad situation, and now isn’t the time to discuss this.” She needed to leave. The flooding was rather ironic, considering Benedict had been so worried about her burning her house down. She fiddled with the ring on her finger, wishing she’d done more to help him.
Mum sighed. “Go find him, but use the side entrance so Gwendoline doesn’t think you left without helping.”
“I’ll see you at home later. Thank you.” Lucy squeezed her hands gently, only to realise her mistake when her mum flinched out of her grasp. In her heightened state, Lucy hadn’t realised how hot she was.
“Fire?” Wilhelmina gasped.
“I’ve got to go!” Lucy hurried out of the lobby, half expecting her mum to come after her. When she glanced over her shoulder, Wilhelmina stood frozen, staring after her.
Out of the Manor and turning down Warlock Avenue, Lucy let her element call her towards the university.
Benedict, where the hell are you? She hurried through crowds of students going from one historic building to the next.
In the shadow of the arched entryway to the practical magic building, she let out a long exhale as she finally spotted Benedict slipping down an alleyway towards the sport fields. Lucy struggled to keep up as he hurried into the woods. Where the hell is he going when the Manor needs his attention? Maybe he’s trying to get away from town in case he loses control again.
Keeping her distance, Lucy hesitated on the edge of the trees. She clenched her fists, knowing that every moment she wasted in fear of what lay ahead was another step Benedict was taking. All manner of creatures lived in the lawless woods. Many kept to the pathways or to the lake, but he was heading off the safety of the paths.
Does he have a death wish? Or is he looking for a place to expel my element safely? There was no law or order here; only the rules the creatures within created themselves. Those who wished to travel from village to village always kept to the main road. To diverge was to risk their life. If he gets killed with my element, will it die with him? I can’t let him continue without a proper way to defend himself. He doesn’t know how to use my water defensively . She headed in, not letting herself talk herself out of it.
Mist lingered around her ankles as though wishing it could trip her. Her boots were not the right attire for a walk in the thick mud, even if the water in the lobby hadn’t already ruined them. Spotting him in the distance, she tripped over a tree root with a grumble. Lucy quietly ducked behind a tree. She doubted he’d be happy about her following him. The coven would have plenty to say if they were caught in the eastern woods.
Tree sap clung to her fingers as she peered around the trunk to make sure she wasn’t discovered; he was muttering to himself. Clearly something had upset him. Reluctantly, she wiped the tree sap on her favourite black midi skirt with a long slit that was now getting caught on branches. At least her cropped sweater was nice and thick, so it was keeping her warm. She glanced down and bit her lip to stop herself from cursing when she realised her foot was sinking into a boggy mess. Taking a calming breath, she heaved it out of the mud. However, her relief was short-lived. When she looked back up, Benedict was out of sight.
I hate the woods, I hate the woods, I fucking hate the woods, she chanted to herself. Quickening her pace, she searched the trees for any trace of him, but he was gone. Lucy tried to sense her element again, only to find it was blocked by the energy emanating from the trees. She began to tremble.
A crunch of cracking branches sounded, causing her to freeze. What if whatever’s got Benedict is now hunting me? She was turning slowly, careful not to startle whatever creature was waiting to pounce, when a figure jumped down from a tree in front of her.
Lucy shrieked, punching the shadow, and cried out again when her knuckles connected with something hard.
“Lucinda! What the fuck?” Benedict held the bridge of his nose.
“Benedict? What is with you and trees?!” She spoke at a pitch she was rather ashamed of. She was surprised she’d managed to land a hit. She’d never been in a fight before.
“I was being followed. How was I to know it was you?” he said, wiping his nose to see if it was bleeding. “Hell of a punch, pumpkin.” Looking at her with watery eyes, he sounded proud. “But you didn’t have to hit me!”
She’d take any praise she could get to make up for her throbbing hand. Any joy she felt disappeared, however, when she saw three sharp, bloodied lines cutting across his cheekbone. Claw marks, and a black eye developing nicely. Neither injury could have been caused by her.
“I wouldn’t have hit you if you hadn’t surprised me. Who did this to you?” Lucy asked, instinctively reaching for his cheek.
He flinched, his gaze hardening. “The person I thought was following me,” he said, turning to walk deeper into the wood.
“You flooded the manor. I thought you might need help,” Lucy panted, trotting to keep up with him. “I take it that would be the wolves, considering you’re headed straight for their territory?” The claw marks were a big hint. What the hell had caused him to get into a fight with a wolf?
“How do you know where I’m going?” He stopped, but he didn’t look back at her.
“There are maps all over the library. You should study more,” she said, trying not to lose her footing as she struggled to keep up with his long strides.“Even if a wolf did that in town, there are no laws out here. They could disembowel you for simply stepping into their territory without permission!” She might want to set the person who’d messed up his face on fire, but she needed him to reconsider.
He spun around, pointing in the opposite direction. “Which is exactly why you should turn around and head back. Your family would never forgive me if I let anything happen to you, and I wouldn’t forgive me either.”
Lucy squared up to him with a smile, holding up her ringed finger. “Sorry, sweetie, this means your problems are my problems. I’m not going anywhere.” She marched ahead of him, stopping him from going any further.
“Go home, pumpkin, this doesn’t involve you,” Benedict said, though there was no anger in his voice. His hair fell haphazardly, as though he’d been obsessively running his hands through it.
“What about the manor?” she asked, trying to distract him.
He hesitated. “I burst a pipe before I left. I didn’t want her to use it against you with the coven members.”
“Thank you for protecting me.” She meant it, even though the fact that she’d already taken credit for the flood meant she had some explaining to do when they got back. “Now let me protect you . Come back with me.”
“I will– once I’ve dealt with the wolves,” he said coldly.
“But we’ve got another issue,” Lucy blurted out as he stepped past her.
“What?” he snapped impatiently.
“My mum came by the manor. She felt your element through my skin because I was so upset!”
“So she knows.” Benedict shrugged like it was nothing. “Good.”
“What?” Lucy gawked as he came back towards her, finally distracted enough to forget his mission.
“Maybe we don’t have to hide it. I know you feel what’s happening between us as intensely as I do. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here trying to protect me,” he said, a hair’s breadth between them. “Admit it, you’re not here because of the manor.”
“Of course I want to protect you. I don’t want to see you torn apart by the wolves for stepping into their territory without invitation. I would do the same for anyone!” Now really wasn’t the time for romance.
“How long are you going to lie to yourself?” he exclaimed, and she wished they’d go back to talking about the wolves. “What if the switch only showed us what we were too stubborn to see ourselves?”
“Y-you can’t mean that,” she stammered, nearly tripping over a branch.
He caught her andpulled her close, tipping her chin up to face him. “I do.”
“I don’t like the idea of others putting their hands on you, of them hurting you,” she admitted.
“I’m fine. You don’t have to protect me.”
“Your face tells a different story.” Lucy ran her thumb under his eye, where the skin was darkening. “Grams’ll be able to brew up something to help that.”
“Some wolves didn’t feel like paying their bill. I’m going to settle the issue.” Benedict brushed her hand gently from the wound.
“Fine. If you’re going, I’m going,” she informed him. “If we’re going to lead the coven together, then this is a good test for us.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “There is no way I’m convincing you to return, is there?”
“Not a chance, and I’m not a damsel in need of protection.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “If you do this, I do this.”
He brushed a fallen leaf from her hair. “Regardless of our binding, you’re still in line as the next Priestess by rites, and I can’t let anything happen to you.” He bit down on his lower lip, as though stopping himself from saying more.
Lucy stepped back into his reach, igniting a spark of uncertainty in his gaze.
“My life’s not worth more than yours,” she said softly, resting her hand over his heart.
“That’s where you’re wrong, pumpkin,” he murmured, so low she barely heard him. Suddenly, one of his hands was cradling her cheek, and butterflies filled her stomach. His gaze was intense as he brushed a thumb over her lips. “I never expected you to worry about me.”
Is it the spell making me feel like this? Lucy found she didn’t care.
He gave her a kiss so brief and gentle that it was like a whisper, leaving her craving more.
“Do I…” He rested his forehead against her. “Have permission?”
It was all moving so fast, and in the middle of the eastern woods was hardly the time and place, but there wasn’t an ounce of hesitation in her response. Rising on her tiptoes, Lucy boldly pressed her lips against his.
Benedict’s eyes went wide in surprise, but any shock was replaced with hunger as he slipped his hand into her hair. Her body melted into his. Magic was thick in the air; it felt like the forest came alive around them. He moved forward until she was flush between his hard body and a tree.
“So much better than the dream,” he breathed, and her heartbeat soared as he gripped her thighs.
“You dreamt of me?” Lucy asked, wrapping her legs around his waist and gripping his shoulders.
“Didn’t you?”
“Yes.” She clung to him, struggling to get out the words. “The dream felt so real.” She’d never done anything like this, especially anywhere that wasn’t private. “How can we know this is really happening?”
“It is now. I promise you this is real,” he said, peppering her face with kisses. She’d never seen this playful side of him. Happy, free, obsessed – and it was because of her.
Their kiss turned desperate, a hasty rush of lips, tongue and teeth, until she was breathless.Lost in the taste, the smell of him and the earthy forest.
His lips moved to her cheek, her neck, and Lucy used one hand to grip the bark behind her, needing some leverage as he ground his hips against her sensitive core. With so little separating them, she could feel how hard he was. There was something irresistible about him being obsessed with her, as much as she was obsessed with the hard ridges of his body, so perfectly moulded to hers it felt like they’d been doing this forever.
“Fuck, Lucinda!” Panic laced his words, and his grip on her tightened. Startled, Lucy opened her eyes, sure she would have marks on her thighs tomorrow.
A loud crack sounded, and Benedict yanked her away from the tree. They dropped to the soil with a thud. Lying on the ground by his side, she frowned at the loss of contact. However, her disappointment was short-lived when she stared up at the burning tree.
“Shit!” She covered her mouth with her hands, embarrassed and afraid of what she’d done in the heat of the moment. “It was an accident.” Her mind, clouded with lust and fear, only fanned the flames.
“How can I stop it?” Benedict asked gently, distracting her.
Taking a steadying breath, she took his hand and placed his palm on the soil between them amongst the falling charred leaves.
“Feel the flow from the earth into you. Don’t try to force it,” she said calmly, trying not to think of what might happen if the fire spread.
The worry subsided when the first droplets hit her skin. Her hand still rested over his as they watched the rain fall, the flames subside, and the smoke clear.