50. Fairy Tale Nonsense #2
She thought back to the last time she’d seen him—the morning the Mudpuddle disappeared. How shocked she’d been to see him like that. She hadn’t been prepared for Cormac’s attack. And she’d lost her wand. Had she dropped it? And had he caught it?
She’d assumed he was dead. But what if he had still been clinging to life at that point, and instead of saving him, she’d run away? She wrapped her hand around his now, calling her wand home. Instantly, his hand relaxed, and the wand slipped itself back into her pocket.
“Oh, Zippy.” She crumpled across his chest. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. Maybe that’s why you’re still here?” She pulled out her wand and brandished it. “Because you were keeping this safe for me? You dear, dear old wizard.”
Leaning forward once more, she caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror, and was not at all surprised to see a mischievous little blue-eyed boy waving back at her. He even went so far as to wag his eyebrows and blow her a kiss before disappearing again.
“Well, that’s one mystery solved, you imp,” Minerva said.
Impulsively, she threw his arms around him.
She placed her warm cheek against his cool one.
It may not have been meant to be in this lifetime, and there were no guarantees for the next.
She wanted to kiss him. Just one last time before he turned back to dust.
It wasn’t like her to take such liberties. She’d always been far too timid to do anything so bold. But who was here to judge her now? The pull was so strong it was nearly magnetic. And so she simply turned her head, parted her lips and did it.
It didn’t happen immediately.
The first thing she noticed was how soft his lips were.
And the second was how warm.
By the time she realized he was kissing her back, she had lost her senses.
It wasn’t till he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up onto the slab with him, kissing her more passionately, that she recalled where she was and pushed herself away.
She flew to her feet, staring at the formerly dead man in disbelief. He sat up and brushed himself off.
“How?” she exclaimed, followed by, “What?” “Why?” and “When?”
“You forgot ‘where’ and ‘who.’” Zephyr winked. For the first time in her life, Minerva was speechless.
“Don’t tell me you’re speechless,” Zephyr teased. “I still have a few tricks up my sleeve, Minnie.”
“Clearly!” Minerva said. “But raising yourself from the dead? That seems a bit dark, no?” She stepped back now, concerned about the effects of dark magic that might be taking hold. Thankfully, she had her wand back, and was already holding it.
“Technically, it was you that brought me back.” Zephyr hopped off the slab. He continued to speak as he performed a series of small stretches. “But don’t fear, I wasn’t really dead. I was only mostly dead.”
“Mostly dead?” Minerva could feel the wrinkle in her brow. “What does that even mean?”
“It means that while my body was dead, my spirit was quite alive and well.” Zephyr took a step towards her and held out his hand.
“It was?” Minerva replied skeptically.
“Indeed. Remember when I said there were still sparks in the old fireplace?” His eyes sparked when he said that. “Why else did you think I chose to visit you that way?”
“So that was you?” Minerva whispered.
“Of course it was.” Zephyr took her hand.
“And the mirror?” She glanced back at the mirror on the table.
“You needed to see yourself properly, Minnie. The way I have always seen you. The whole beautiful package. I’ve been trying to tell you for years. You just wouldn’t listen.”
“And you don’t mind?” she squeaked.
“Mind? I think it’s spectacular!” Zephyr exclaimed. “I wish I had a tail for a backup wand!” He pulled her closer and twirled her into his arms. “I’ve always thought you were too good for me, Minnie. Not the other way around. Let’s not waste any more time?”
And then he kissed her again. More tentatively this time. His lips were tender. They moved gently and slowly, giving her time to reconcile the very fact that they were kissing.
“Wait!” Minerva pushed him away. “You still haven’t told me how you did it? I thought Cormac killed you!”
“Well he certainly tried.” Zephyr nodded. “But I spelled myself first. Hit myself with a True Love’s Kiss Hex.”
“A what?”
“True Love’s Kiss Hex.”
“You’re kidding me.” She wrinkled her face skeptically. “That’s just some fairy tale nonsense.”
“Just like dragons?” Zephyr’s eyes crinkled as he bit his lip trying not to smile. “I’d like to hear more about that, when you have a chance. What changed your mind?”
“Nevermind about that!” Minerva snapped. “You’re telling me you risked permanent death if I didn’t kiss you? What if I hadn’t been able to shift back!?”
“I had faith you would.”
“But what if I didn’t?”
“It was a chance I was willing to take. I’m an old man. I don’t plan to live forever. And I don’t want to live without the love of my life any longer.” He paused, speaking more tentatively, “I just hope I didn’t judge the situation wrong?”
“Oh, Zippy.” She threw her arms around him. “I’m so sorry. I haven’t even said it yet. Of course, I love you too. You have to know, I always have.”
Now it was Minerva’s turn to kiss him. Besides his mouth, she peppered kisses on his cheeks, forehead, and eyelids. “I love you so much! I can’t believe what a fool I’ve been!”
“You’re no more fool than me,” Zephyr corrected. “Although I must say, I’ve heard you admit you were wrong more times in the last hour than I have in the entire last hundred years.”
“Well, don’t get used to it.” Minerva sniffed.
“Oh, I won’t.” Zephyr grinned. “But you know how you could make it up to me?”
“How?” she asked.
“You could hand me those delicious lemon drizzle biscuits. It’s been an absolute age since I had a bite to eat.”
*
Not ready to leave Primrose Court and its wonderfully enchanting inhabitants behind?
The Natural Magic series continues with The Witches Catalogue of Wanderlust Essentials, featuring enchanted travel gear, lethargic vampires, portal-hopping through time for epic sandwiches and one very cursed piece of jewelry!
Get it here, or read on for an exclusive extract!