Chapter 29
WILLOW
I never imagined I’d find myself in this situation, caught between duty and desire. Yet here I am, standing at the edge of a precipice. Wallace and Warrick were further down from us, both literally and figuratively. Looking down the mountain where Wallace and Warrick are stationed, their presence is a constant reminder of the complications in this twisted game. But none of that matters right now. Not when Windy is so close, her very essence pulling me in like a force of nature I can’t resist.
The pull between us is undeniable, an attraction that defies logic and every ounce of training I’ve ever had. Yes, I belong to the Crimson Coven, a place where emotions like this are supposed to be suppressed and controlled. Yet with Windy, all of that falls apart. I can’t help it—the way she moves, the way she speaks, the fire in her eyes that blazes even in the darkest of nights. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met, and I can’t seem to stay away from her, no matter how hard I try.
I know I shouldn’t feel this way. She’s the High Priestess, the very key to the power my coven seeks. My mission was clear: to use her, manipulate her, and bring her back to the coven so that we could achieve our goals. But every time I look at her, every time our eyes meet, that mission feels more like a distant echo, something that’s becoming harder and harder to grasp.
Tonight, as the moon casts its pale light across the mountain, I find myself drawn to her once again. I’ve been trying to ignore the way my heart races when I’m near her, the way my thoughts become jumbled and incoherent. But it’s getting harder to pretend, to act like I don’t care.
She’s standing a few paces away, staring up at the stars as if searching for answers in the vastness of the sky. I step closer, the crunch of gravel under my boots catching her attention. She turns to me, and for a moment, the world fades away, leaving just the two of us. Her gaze is intense, almost as if she’s daring me to say something, to do something.
“Windy,” I finally say, my voice sounding more confident than I feel. “What do you see up there?”
She tilts her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “Possibilities,” she answers, her voice soft yet firm. “A future that’s not set in stone.”
Her words hit me harder than they should, making me wonder if she could see right through me if she knew the struggle I was going through. I take another step closer, closing the distance between us. “And what kind of future do you see for yourself?”
She looks at me, really looks at me, and I feel something shift in the air between us. There’s a tension, a spark that could ignite at any moment.
“One where I’m free to make my own choices,” she says, her voice steady.
“Windy,” I begin, but the words catch in my throat.
How can I tell her what I’m feeling when I’m not even sure myself?
How can I reconcile my loyalty to the Crimson Coven with the way my heart beats for her?
“Windy, I—” My words are cut off as the ground beneath us rumbles, a low growl from the mountain itself. The moment is shattered as rocks begin to tumble down the slope, the danger snapping us both back to reality.
“Get back!” I shout, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the edge. The rocks crash down, a cascade of stone and dust that could easily crush us if we’re not careful. We stumble back, the tension between us replaced by the need to survive.
I catch a glimpse of Wallace and Warrick springing into action, their shouts mixing with the roar of the falling rocks. But my focus is on Windy, on keeping her safe. I pull her close, shielding her with my body as the debris rains down around us.
When the last of the rocks finally settles, we’re both breathing hard, our bodies pressed together. I can feel her heartbeat against my chest, fast and wild like mine. The danger has passed, but the moment hasn’t. The desire, the pull—it’s stronger now, heightened by the adrenaline still coursing through my veins.
She looks up at me, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and something else.
“Willow…” she whispers, her voice trembling slightly. It’s enough to bring me back to reality, to remind me of who I am and what I’m supposed to be doing.
I pull away, the cold air rushing in to fill the space between us. “We need to get back to the others,” I say, forcing myself to step back, to put distance between us. “They’ll be worried.”
She nods, but there’s a look in her eyes that tells me this isn’t over. Not by a long shot. I’m caught in a battle between what I want and what I’m supposed to do, and I have no idea how to win.
But one thing is clear: I can’t stay away from her, no matter how hard I try. Windy has a hold on me, one that’s growing stronger with each passing moment. And as much as I hate to admit it, I don’t think I want to fight it anymore.