Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LIORA
Lachlan’s truck rumbled away down the lane, headlights cutting briefly across the trees before disappearing.
The moment they were gone, the quiet settled over the house, the moonlight glinting over the loch.
I took a moment to stare out at the silvery surface and wonder if we really could contain the Kelpies or if they would continue to terrorize Loren Brae.
Not that I’d had much terror from them, but based on what some of the women said tonight, that was a blessing.
They sounded incredibly dangerous and horrifying.
Maybe it was best that Torin was keeping tabs on me.
That being said, did I really want to put him in harm’s way?
I realized that I was coming to care for him, more than was probably wise, which meant I’d be devastated if he got hurt trying to help me.
I took a breath and pushed open the front door.
The picture that greeted me had a smile blooming on my face.
Torin and Bracken sat together by the fire, while Torin read sports news to Bracken from his phone.
He sat on the floor in front of the hearth, long legs stretched out, back resting against the couch.
He wore a soft grey thermal shirt, sleeves pushed up to his forearms, and I couldn’t help but swallow, hard, as his muscles bunched as he gestured to the squirrel splooted out next to him, seemingly listening adamantly.
They looked absurdly domestic.
Bracken perked up first, chittering loudly when he saw me.
“Finally! I was about to call the woodland authorities. Do you know how boring your lumberjack is when you’re not here?”
Torin lifted his head at the sound, concern crossing his face when he saw me. “Hey,” he said, voice warm and low. “You didn’t text me.”
“Och, sorry. Lachlan offered to give me a ride home.”
The concern cleared and he stood, crossing to the kitchen.
“Can I get you a glass of wine? Cup of tea?”
“Wine, please,” I said, shutting the door behind me and taking my coat off. Hanging it up with my handbag, I then walked across the room to sit down on the couch. “Looks like you two had … a bonding experience?”
Torin’s eyes crinkled. “He chucked an acorn at my head when I was going inside, so I took that to mean he wanted to come in.”
“Demanding wee one, isn’t he?” I gave Bracken a look.
Bracken flicked his tail proudly, then scampered up the arm of the couch to perch near me. I stroked his head as Torin brought two glasses of wine over and settled next to me.
“You look relaxed,” Torin said, studying me. “Happy.”
“I am,” I said, nodding a little, as I took the glass he offered. “It was a really good night.”
“Do you want to tell me about it?” Torin’s eyes never left my face, his attention one hundred percent zoned in on me, and I realized just how nice it was to have someone give you their undivided attention.
I curled into the corner cushion as he shifted to face me, one arm draped over his bent knee, firelight gilding his cheekbones and the strong lines of his throat. Bracken hopped down and nestled in a little hollow beside me, curling his tail around himself like he was settling in for story time.
Torin glanced down at Bracken and smirked. “He’s gotten comfortable.”
“Surprisingly so. I’ve never had a pet before.”
“I’m not a pet.” Bracken popped his head up, chittering furiously at me.
“Sorry, you’re right. You’re not a pet. Still, I enjoy your companionship.” I stroked a finger down the wee man’s soft fur, and he settled back down, making grumpy noises before he closed his eyes.
“Never had a pet? Really?” Torin tilted his head at me. “How come?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. I guess maybe because Zara’s always had a guide dog, so it was best to keep the house a single animal household.”
“But you haven’t lived with her for a long time, aye?”
“Yeah, but then I mostly had roommates. I’ve never really lived alone. Bringing an animal into a roommate situation can sometimes not go well. How about you? I’m surprised you don’t have a dog out here. You seem like a dog type.”
“Och, I am. I desperately want one. I had the best dog growing up. Taco was his name.”
“You named your dog Taco?” I burst out laughing as Torin shrugged one shoulder, a shy grin on his face.
“That’s what you get when you let your kid name the dog. He was my best friend for ages. Losing him was rough, and, aye, well. Haven’t had the heart to get another. I’m not home much, either. Not sure it’s fair to the dog.”
Och, this man was crying out for companionship. No wonder he’d allowed me in so easily. My heart softened.
“Go on then. How was the castle?”
“Wild,” I admitted. “Hilarious. But, kind of emotional, too, I guess. But in a good way.”
“As opposed to the bad way you usually get?” he teased lightly.
I winced. “Yeah, actually. Which is something I wanted to talk to you about.”
He blinked, sensing the tone shift. He sat up straighter, face softening. “All right. I’m listening.”
I drew in a breath. Here goes nothing.
“I feel like I’ve spent my whole life … messing up,” I said quietly. “Missing red flags. Putting my faith in people I shouldn’t. Believing in the best-case scenario because… because that’s what I want to be real. What I wish was real.”
Torin’s brow furrowed slightly.
“And tonight,” I continued, voice shaky, “I was surrounded by this incredible group of women—strong magickal women—and they looked at me like I belonged there. Like I wasn’t the charity case or the disaster waiting to happen. Like I was … one of them.”
Torin opened his mouth, but I held up a hand.
“I know I ramble,” I said, needing to get this out.
“I know I jump into things too fast. And tonight, being with them … it felt like being seen in a way I’m not used to.
They treated me like family.” My throat tightened.
“Like I wasn’t the screwup sister. Or the friend who needs saving.
Or the weird girl with the tarot cards and wonky astrology readings.
Och, I don’t know, like I was someone valuable. ”
“You are valuable.” Torin’s eyes softened, something tender flickering in the depths there.
“But I don’t feel that way most of the time,” I whispered.
“I hate that I screwed up like, ten minutes after moving into Loren Brae. I’m messy, Torin.
And too trusting. The one who believes in people even when I shouldn’t.
Zara always says I ‘love too loudly.’ I think she means it in a nice way, but sometimes it feels like a criticism. ”
Torin leaned forward, forearm resting on his knee. The firelight painted amber shadows across his jaw. “Liora. Look at me.”
I did.
And the world narrowed to just us.
“You’re not na?ve,” he said, voice low but certain. “You’re hopeful. There’s a difference.”
I swallowed.
“You see the world through possibility. People like you … you open doors for others without asking them to knock first. That’s a rare thing. A precious thing.”
I blinked back sudden tears.
“Hope is brave. Not stupid.”
My chest tightened painfully. “But I keep getting hurt. I keep screwing up, Torin. Look at you. Five minutes into my new life and I hexed you with a truth spell.”
He nodded. “Aye. Be that as it may, it doesn’t change that a hopeful heart is a special thing.
But that doesn’t mean you should change.
Or shrink yourself.” His gaze deepened. “It means you need people around you who actually see you for what and who you are. People who protect your softness instead of making fun of it.”
“That’s … a lot.” I let out a shaky breath.
“It’s true,” he said simply.
Bracken nudged my hand gently, chittering in agreement.
“Tree man is correct.”
Torin glanced at the squirrel’s noise, amused. “He sounds like he agrees with me.”
“He does. Which is incredibly sweet, of both of you.” I needed time to let his words settle into me.
I knew I’d be replaying them in my head for a while.
I tucked my hair behind my ear and shifted the conversation because I wasn’t sure how much more sweet truths I could take at the moment before I dissolved in a puddle of need and vulnerability at Torin’s feet.
“Speaking of … seeing. There’s something else I have to tell you about.
Something, um, strange happened for me.”
His expression sharpened. “What happened?”
“I’m—” I exhaled. “A chartweaver.”
Torin blinked once. Twice. “A what?”
So I told him.
Everything.
The glowing threads rising off the chart. Seeing future paths. Touching them and shifting their strength. The brooch gaining a new stone. My gran’s notes. The women’s reactions.
I expected him to look confused or skeptical.
But instead … he looked awed.
“You can see … our fates?” he murmured.
“Yes.”
“And help people choose the right one?”
“In a way, yes.”
“And you helped that woman yesterday?”
“Greta,” I said. “Widow. Two kids. She’s been drowning. But I saw her path so clearly. She just needed someone to help her trust it. So, aye, I think I helped her.”
Torin blew out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. “Liora … that’s incredible.”
“I’m terrified,” I whispered.
He shook his head. “You’re made for this. If anyone should be guiding people, it’s someone who sees the good in them by default.”
I stared at him, undone. “You really think that?”
“I don’t think it,” he said steadily. “I know it.”
Something seemed to unlock in me, loosen, and shift. Like I’d been holding on to this idea of myself for so long that I’d just assumed it to be true. And now, this incredible man was sitting across from me, telling me the kind of truths that I desperately needed to hear.
Bracken nudged my elbow again. I stroked his fur absentmindedly, blinking rapidly.
“It seems like you belong with those women and in the Order. In Loren Brae. This power, it only showed up once you were here, right?”
“Aye.”
“Then don’t you think it’s a sign? A good one?”
I took a sip of my wine, trying to steady myself. “I just … don’t want to screw it up.”
“You won’t.”