Chapter 17
Colt
Pixie likes me.
Pixie actually likes me.
…Wait. I really hope ancient cursed witches can’t read minds.
Uh… motorcycles. Donuts. Wrestling. Dirt bikes. Football. Balls.
Yep. That sounds way more like me. Please tell me she didn’t catch the first part.
The forest feels… different this morning. Peaceful.
Birds chatter somewhere high above us, sunlight slips between the branches, and, for the first time since I rode into this cursed place, I actually notice animals. Real animals.
A family of wild boars wanders through the undergrowth without paying us the slightest attention. A rabbit darts across the path before disappearing beneath a fallen log. A fox pauses just long enough to look in our direction before trotting deeper into the woods.
I frown.
“…Amara?”
I give her hand a gentle squeeze.
“Yes, my dear?”
God, that voice.
How can one person sound so elegant and so ridiculously sexy at the same time?
“How come there are animals everywhere now? I didn’t see a single living thing the whole time I was here before.”
A faint smile touches her lips.
“That is because you entered the forest while I was… rather displeased.” She glances around us before returning her gaze to mine. “You are now walking through it while my disposition has improved considerably.”
A grin spreads across my face.
“So you’re happy.”
She says nothing.
“I made you happy.”
Still nothing.
“I made the scary forest witch happy.”
The corners of her mouth twitch.
“I made you happy,” I sing, giving her hand a playful swing. “I made you happy.”
I’m fully expecting a lecture. Or a tree branch to the face. Instead… She laughs. Actually laughs.
It’s soft.
Warm.
Melodic.
And somehow even prettier than her smile.
I stare at her like the complete idiot I apparently am.
Goddamn it, Colt.
You’re in love.
“You did, my dear,” she replies.
Well. I’ll be damned.
Just as I’m about to tease her a little more, my eyes land on my motorcycle.
It’s exactly where I left it. Right there. In the same clearing where Pixie tried very enthusiastically to murder me the first time we met.
I blink between the bike and Amara.
“…Your portal leads here?”
“It does.”
“So your mansion isn’t actually here.”
“No. The house exists elsewhere. The forest merely decides where one emerges.”
Right.
Magic.
Should’ve guessed.
I let go of her hand and crouch beside my backpack, checking that everything is still inside before fishing out my keys.
I can feel her watching me.
Jesus Christ…
Don’t look at her.
…
I look anyway.
She’s standing there in that white dress like she belongs in every fairytale ever written.
Oh my God, Colt.
Get your shit together.
I slide the key into the ignition.
The engine fires up immediately.
“Oh, hell yeah.” I pat the tank. “Good girl.”
“Are you speaking to the motorcycle?”
“I’ve missed her.”
“I can see that.”
I grin.
“Want a ride?”
My eyes travel shamelessly from her face to the hem of her dress.
Jesus.
I’m a creep.
An actual creep.
I should stop before she smacks me over the head with a frog or curses me to hiccup for the next century.
The corner of her mouth lifts as she starts walking toward me.
Then something catches my eye near her feet. A small black object lies half-buried beneath a layer of leaves. Every trace of amusement leaves me.
“Don’t move.”
She freezes immediately.
I cross the distance in three quick strides before crouching beside it. The moment I brush away the leaves, my stomach twists.
“…Son of a bitch.”
“What is wrong?” she asks.
I pick up the device and hold it between my fingers.
“This little son of a bitch is a tracker.”
She studies it for a moment.
“The hunters?”
“They must’ve dropped it.”
“And?”
I drag a hand over my face.
“And that means they weren’t the only ones.”
I look directly into her eyes.
“They’re going to come back looking for this signal.”
I reach for her hand without even thinking.
“And I won’t let them hunt you.”
“Colt, my darling.” She gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. “It is quite all right. I can deal with them.” She says as she offers me a small smile. “Remember? Witch.”
Normally, I’d laugh. Hell, I’d probably spend the next five minutes making jokes about her turning people into frogs. Right now…
“Uh-huh.” I nod. “Remember the talisman that canceled your powers?”
Her smile fades.
“Yeah. I remember that too.”
The sarcasm leaves my voice as quickly as it arrived.
“…Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
I lift her hand to my lips and press a gentle kiss against her knuckles.
“I just…” I exhale slowly. “I don’t know what the fuck that talisman was, but I’m not stupid. I saw what it did to you.”
She remains silent.
“If those assholes had one…” I shake my head. “…they probably have more.”
Another silence settles between us.
“I’m not letting them get anywhere near you.”
Her eyes soften.
“…Colt.”
“No.”
I step closer.
“I’m serious.”
I lace my fingers with hers.
“I won’t let those fuckers touch what’s mine.”
The words leave my mouth before my brain has the chance to stop them.
Her gaze immediately finds mine. She reaches up, her fingertips brushing gently along my jaw.
“…Yours?” she asks quietly.
“…I mean…”
Fuck.
Shit.
Fuck.
Why the hell did I say that?
I clear my throat.
“I mean…” I rub the back of my neck, suddenly finding my boots incredibly interesting. “…if… you know…”
Fantastic.
Words.
“I…”
Before I can embarrass myself any further, she closes the remaining distance between us.
Her lips find mine.
The kiss is slow.
Unhurried.
As though she has all the time in the world.
When she finally pulls away, she lingers only inches from my face, her forehead brushing mine.
“We shall see,” she whispers, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Then, before I can recover enough brain cells to answer, she slips her hand into mine once more and begins walking toward the forest path.
“…You know,” I mutter as she leads me away, “I’m starting to think you enjoy leaving me speechless.”
“I do.”
“I knew it.”
“It is remarkably entertaining.”
“Yeah…” I sigh dramatically, letting her pull me along. “…I’m in serious trouble.”
A few minutes later, the trees begin to thin until the road comes into view, and Amara comes to a stop.
“I cannot go any farther.”
I turn toward her.
“What do you mean?”
“The curse binds me to this forest.” She offers me a small smile. “I shall wait for you here while you speak with your friend.”
I glance toward the road before looking back at her.
“You’ll just… stand here?”
“I have waited centuries, Colt.” The corners of her lips lift. “I believe I can survive a few more minutes.”
I chuckle.
“Fair point.”
I steal one last kiss before resting my forehead against hers.
“I’ll be right back.”
“I know.”
Reluctantly, I let go of her hand and walk toward the road, feeling her eyes on me until I disappear beyond the tree line.