Chapter 17 #2
He was right, of course. I had attempted to deceive him from the start.
But now that he knew the truth and we’d grown closer over the course of our journey, I wanted to rectify that.
I wanted him to know me. Even if our time together would be short.
Maybe that would give me some peace as well, understanding him enough to understand why he’d made the deal he had with Lucifer.
I was still curious what he’d gained from it.
He’d already been charming and handsome.
But so had I, I supposed, and that hadn’t stopped me.
“Let’s start over then,” I said, sticking out my hand. “I’m Callum. I’m dashing, terribly good-looking, and run a humble potion shop. I’m currently escorting a stubborn, heroic fool with beautiful eyes to New York.”
Auggie chuckled and shook my hand but didn’t let go. Instead, he looked me in the face, eyelashes fluttering. “You like my eyes then?”
I swallowed hard. “I … like many things about you.”
He leaned closer. “Oh? For instance … ?”
My eyes slipped down to his mouth. “You’re … very capable.”
He chuckled. “Yeah?” he leaned toward me, then paused. “Wait. Did you call me stubborn?”
“Oh, yes. Absolutely pigheaded.”
He grinned, then let go of my hand, to my chagrin. He took another sip of tea. “Well, at least you can make a good tea, at any rate. As well as being good-looking.”
“And dashing,” I reminded him.
He laughed softly before his face grew serious. “Do you know anything about the state of my aunt in America?”
I hesitated. “I don’t, I’m afraid. I only know that I’m to take you there.”
He nodded. “And when I come back?” He glanced up. “What then?”
I doubted very much he would be coming back. But if he did … if we had a chance to bask in each other’s company for a while longer … “If you come back, I would very much like to continue getting to know you better.”
He smiled. “I’d like that too. I’d like to see this shop of yours. Something tells me it’s not as humble as you make it out to be.”
“Oh, it’s not,” I admitted. “It’s quite extraordinary.”
He laughed, fingers running along the rim of his cup. “I can’t believe …”
“What?” I demanded.
He shrugged. “That we’re talking like this. Just days ago, I thought all witches were …”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Yes? Go on.”
“Selfish. Greedy. Destructive.” He cocked his head. “And some of you are.” He looked up, meeting my eyes. “But some of you aren’t.”
I smiled lightly. “I suppose I could say the same for you humans.”
He considered me. “What is your life like at this shop of yours?”
“There’s nothing spectacular about that. I gather ingredients, trade, sell to customers.”
“No, I mean, what’s your life like? Not just your profession.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. He wanted honesty, did he? Very well. “It’s lonely.” I let out a deep breath. “I have Narcissa, of course, but … I live out of the way, where I won’t be bothered by or intrude on any human settlements. But I have my books.”
“Books are no substitute for people.”
“Then you haven’t been reading the right books. I’d much rather read than be in most people’s company.”
“You know what I mean. You need interaction with others. You need … friends.”
I deflected, “I do get plenty of interaction with other witches at the shop. That’s how I met Lexi, after all.
She’s a friend.” Of course, most witches I met were customers, and a few I would venture to call acquaintances.
Lexi was the only true friend I had. But I didn’t need more than that.
Did I? “I have a purpose, and I enjoy my life, simple as it is.”
“But you could enjoy it more with the right people in it.” Auggie reached out and laid a hand over mine. We locked eyes.
“The right people, huh?” I asked, my voice growing husky as my eyes found his lips. “I don’t suppose one of those people has beautiful eyes?”
Auggie leaned in closer. “Maybe.”
My heart skipped a beat. “And perhaps lovely lips, as well?”
Auggie’s mouth parted and I took that as a sign. I moved to close the distance between us, until our lips were only an inch apart. I stared into his eyes, then down at his lips. I wasn’t going to make this easy for him. If he wanted to kiss me, then he would have to—
I blinked as Auggie’s lips met mine. I smiled into the kiss, his lips as soft and gentle as I’d imagined. I cupped the side of his face when we broke our kiss.
He stared back at me with a stupefied expression. I ran my fingers down his cheek, and he closed his eyes, leaning into it. “Callum,” he said, softly. “You’re … very good at that.”
I chuckled softly. “I’m good at a great many things.”
“You don’t say.”
My mouth went dry as he placed his hand on my chest. “I think I would—”
“Mr. Witch! Look who it is!”
I flinched as Auggie pushed away from me, hiding his face. It took every fiber of my being not to reach out and run my fingers through his hair. Instead, I turned to watch as Therese hopped through the doorway.
Therese, oblivious to what she’d interrupted, made a happy thrumming sound with her frog throat.
“This had better be good, Therese,” I grumbled.
Auggie looked past me at Therese. “Ah, yes. You have Therese as well.”
“What? Therese?”
Auggie nodded, not meeting my eyes. “A friend. Therese. That’s what we were just talking about.”
I smirked. “Oh, is that what was happening?”
Auggie straightened and yanked on his shirt collar, as if it may have gone askew as we’d kissed. “Yes. You need friends, as I was saying.”
“Well, Therese is more of a nuisance than a friend, really. She just won’t go away.”
He grinned. “Smart girl.”
Freya swept into the room just then, scowling as Lexi followed closely. “Stop hovering. Your services are no longer required.”
My eyes found her right side, the space where her arm used to be, a spot so empty that it hurt my stomach. A cutout where the appendage used to protrude only offered a glimpse of flesh, a smooth mound that looked as green as the rest of her and healthy.
“How are you feeling?” I asked as Freya strode to the table.
“If I stay here for another minute longer, I might scream,” she said.
“Oh, okay.” I stood. “You’re better then? How does it feel?”
Freya hesitated, glancing sidelong at Lexi before returning her gaze to me. “I feel it, like it’s still there.”
“Oh, Miss Witch,” Therese said. “You miss it.”
A sound caught in Freya’s throat, like a garbled laugh. “I suppose I do. It was a part of me, after all.”
Lexi patted her shoulder. “You’ll get used to it. That’s the thing about healing. No matter how fast something heals, it always leaves its mark.”
“Would you like some tea before we go?” Auggie asked, gesturing to the teapot. “Callum is surprisingly domestic.”
“I would rather go,” Freya sniffed. “Besides, we have a deadline to meet, do we not?” She looked at me meaningfully.
I folded my hands before me. “Perhaps, Freya, you should stay behind. And heal.”
Freya barked out a laugh. “Funny.” She squinted at me. “Wait. You’re serious?”
I nodded once. “You’ve already been severely injured, and you don’t need to keep putting yourself in danger on my behalf.” I paused. “Or Auggie’s.” I gave her a meaningful look. She knew what I meant. It wasn’t worth the cost to secure information about Auggie for the council.
She gave Auggie a wary look before her gaze shifted back to me. “I appreciate your concern, Callum. But I don’t cut and run when things get tough. I will see this to its conclusion. Even if I do sustain another paper cut.”
“Paper cut!” Lexi huffed.
“It’s your decision. You’re a grown witch.” I turned my attention to Lexi. “I will leave Narcissa and Therese in your care until I return, however. I think I’ve jeopardized my friends’ lives enough. Don’t you think?”
Therese perked up. “Now, Mr. Witch, you have an obligation to bring me along and restore me to my normal form.”
“Which I will do once I return,” I assured her. “But you’re not equipped to handle the danger we’re facing.”
Therese harrumphed.
“Narcissa is not going to like this,” Lexi said, scanning around the room, as if my familiar would appear around a corner.
“Yes, well, I’m her witch. She has an obligation to heed my commands.” I tilted my head. “I think you’ll like it here with Lexi anyway, Therese. She’ll fatten you up with … flies and whatnot while I’m gone. Maybe she can make a nice little pie out of them, or something.”
“I can certainly try,” Lexi said brightly. “Although that’s more Xander’s forte.”
“Good. Then we’re in agreement.” I embraced my friend in farewell. “It was so good to see you again, Lexi. Thank you for everything.”
She waved a hand. “Of course. Your friends will be waiting for you when you return.” She nodded to Freya. “And you’re welcome any time as well, Freya. Just … don’t make a habit of receiving mortal wounds. Either of you.”
“I make no promises,” I told her.
“Is that the one?” Auggie asked, peering over my shoulder at the slip of paper in my hand.
I looked up at the large cargo ship skeptically. From where I stood on the dock, I could see men and women rushing about the deck. It looked new and well cared for and was perhaps the best ship in the docks. Which made me suspicious. “It appears to be.”
A woman walked down a gangplank from the Koriko, and I approached her with some trepidation. “Pardon me, Miss. Is there a Captain Mary Smith aboard?”
The woman looked me up and down skeptically. “Sorry, all positions are full.”
I blinked. “Oh, no. We’re here to speak to her about passage aboard the ship.”
“Well, that’s another thing then.” She glanced at my companions briefly before waving a hand up the gangplank. “Follow me. She’ll be in her quarters.”
Auggie and I followed the woman. Aboard, men and women were checking ropes and sails, paying no mind to the intruders who walked straight up the deck to a door situated beneath the helm.