He peacefully smiled, watching her eyes as he brushed her hair back. “I love you, too, Rose, for as long as you’ll let me.”
“Forever,” she insisted, her lips curving over his. Then she closed her eyes, melting into his tender kiss.
~ * * * ~
When it came time to leave, Aedan’s chest ached over the impending goodbyes. Seeing his mom and dad so subdued was tough. They were never that way.
“I have one favor to ask,” Daleen requested, giving Rhosewen a hug. “Every once in a while, wave a phone in front of Aedan’s face and tell him to call his mom. I know he’ll be busy staring into your gorgeous eyes, but if you block his view with a phone, he might remember me.”
“I promise,” Rhosewen agreed. “I’ll make it a priority.” And she meant it. She hated taking Aedan from his parents. “I’m sorry it has to be this way. I know it must be hard. I…” She wasn’t sure what else to say.
“It’s okay, darling,” Daleen assured. “Aedan’s happiness is our priority, and he’s found it in you. The distance is worth the peace of mind.”
“Thank you for understanding,” Rhosewen whispered.
“Don’t mention it,” Serafin cut in, giving her a hug. “You two take care of each other and come back to see us soon.”
“We will,” she agreed. Then she turned toward Aedan and laid a hand over his heart, wishing she could offer more support. But with nothing else to give, she merely offered his parents a crestfallen wave and floated away.
Aedan breathed deep, holding the air in as he wrapped Daleen in a hug. “I love you, mom.”
“I love you, too, baby,” she whispered, burying her face in his shirt.
“We’ll come back for a visit soon,” he vowed. “Really soon. I promise.”
Daleen took a ragged breath, letting it out slowly. “I know you will. Be safe, okay?”
“We will,” he assured, tightening his hold as he kissed her onyx hair. Then he let go and turned to Serafin, clasping his hand. “Thanks for everything, dad.”
Serafin pulled him into a firm hug then stepped back, meeting his sad stare. “Sure, son. You keep in touch now. We want to hear from you often.”
“I’ll bug you so much you’ll have to screen your calls.”
“That would be wonderful,” Daleen sighed, leaning into Serafin’s open arm.
Aedan smiled as he reached out, touching fingertips to Daleen’s heart while watching her pale green eyes. “I’ll know I’ve gone overboard when you change your number.”
“Never,” they whispered, shaking their heads.
Aedan watched them for another moment then dropped his hand and turned away, unable to say goodbye. Only Rhosewen’s eyes and smile kept him moving forward. She made everything better. When he reached her, he took her hand and pulled it to his lips, drawing comfort from her soft skin and lovely scent.
Rhosewen smiled as she touched his cheek, happier than she ever dreamed she could be. Then her expression fell as the hair at the nape of her neck stood on end. She looked up, searching the sky as her stomach tightened into a knot. Then a terrifying scream pierced the air.
Everyone looked north, finding Medea at the edge of the timber—eyes burning, lips twisted, teeth bared. As her scream diminished, lightning shot from her hands, heading straight for Aedan.
He threw a hand out to block it, but Rhosewen had already swept both hands through the air, enveloping Aedan in a foggy blue shield that quickly expanded. Within two seconds, everyone on the lawn was sheltered.
Aedan watched the lightning approach, expecting it to fizzle when it hit the barrier, but Rhosewen had been thorough in her spell work. When the bolt of electricity made contact with the blue fog, it rebounded on its caster.
Medea spun to the left, but not quick enough. The lightning grazed her right cheekbone then struck a tree trunk. The enormous oak toppled forward with an earsplitting crack, threatening to crush the wounded witch into parched, summer earth, but she lunged out of the way, barely escaping death.
Aedan lost her then found her again when she stood from the forest floor, gingerly touching her burnt and bloody cheek. She threw a deadly glance at Rhosewen then fled, her crimson aura disappearing behind thick timber.
Yes, Medea had definitely snapped.
Aedan turned and pulled Rhosewen into a hug, pissed at himself for putting her in mortal danger. The damage was done. “I’m sorry, Rose.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Rhosewen countered, the words vibrating with her body. “Medea’s obviously crazy.”
“What’s going on?” Serafin asked, breathlessly landing next to Aedan.
“Medea just tried to kill me!” Aedan returned. “That’s what’s going on. And she didn’t give a damn about witnesses. She’s crazy!” He took a calming breath as he kissed Rhosewen’s head. “I’m so sorry, Rose. I hate that this has touched you.”
“It’s not your fault,” she insisted, tightening her arms around his waist.
“Is that witch a girlfriend?” Morrigan asked, narrowing her eyes on Aedan.
“No,” he quickly assured, “but she wanted to be. We have to find her, dad,” he added, looking to Serafin. “We can’t let her get away with this.”
“No we can’t,” Serafin agreed. “You guys go. We’ll find her.”
Aedan didn’t like the idea of someone else cleaning up his mess, but he wanted to get Rhosewen out of there, out of the state, far away from Medea. “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” Serafin replied. “We’ll head for her coven after you leave.”
Aedan couldn’t shake the guilt. “I should stay, Rose. You go. I’ll fly over once this is taken care of.”
“No,” she blurted, frantically finding his eyes.
“This is my responsibility,” he countered. “I have to make sure it gets dealt with.”
“Then I’m staying, too.”
“No!” he protested, panicked by the ultimatum. “I don’t want you anywhere near her. You need to leave before she comes looking for revenge.”
“I’m not leaving unless you leave with me.”
“Rose…”
“No,” she asserted. Then she rested her cheek to his chest, successfully ending the discussion.
Aedan sighed and looked to his dad.
“Go,” Serafin insisted. “We’ll deal with this.”
“I’m sorry,” Aedan whispered.
“Don’t worry about it,” Serafin replied, slapping Aedan’s shoulder. “Your mom and I need an adventure. Don’t we, sweets?”
Daleen smiled as she cuddled into Serafin’s chest. “Yes. Our lives are dreadfully boring. Get going,” she added, waving Aedan away.
“Thank you,” Aedan sighed, glancing at Rhosewen’s head. “I’ll call when we get there, to let you know we made it, and to make sure you’ve found her.”
“Travel safely,” Serafin returned. “We’ll take care of things here.”
Aedan hugged his parents once more. Then the four travelers shot toward Oregon, glad to leave the dangerous episode behind.
Chapter 22
The sun had yet to rise when Aedan entered the skies above Oregon Sunday morning, so he couldn’t properly view the thriving terrain he’d heard so much about. He didn’t mind. He had plenty of time to discover its secrets, and a beautiful local to whisper them in his ear.
Shortly after bypassing Portland’s urban glow, Aedan descended into a dark forest of towering timber, landing on an empty lawn.
“Welcome home,” Rhosewen purred, burying her face in his chest. “I hope you’ll like it.”
“As long as you’re here,” he assured, “I’ll love it.”
Once inside, Morrigan showed Aedan to the guestroom. Neither she nor Caitrin had demanded he sleep away from their daughter, but Aedan volunteered, eager to avoid an uncomfortable situation and desperate to make a good impression.
“May I call my parents?” he asked, gesturing toward the phone on the dresser.
“Sure,” Morrigan
answered, heading for the door. “But it’s barely six in the morning in Virginia.”
“They won’t mind.”
“Of course they won’t. Join us for a bite to eat when you’re done. Then we’ll get some sleep.”
She left the room, and Aedan picked up the phone, dialing his parents’ number.
“Hello?” Serafin answered.
“Hey, dad. We made it.”
“Good,” Serafin approved, clearing the sleep from his throat.
“Did you find Medea?” Aedan asked.
“No.”
“Damn,” Aedan mumbled, rapping his knuckles on the dresser.
“We told her coven what happened,” Serafin went on, “and you’ll never guess what they said.”
“What?” Aedan asked.
“That she’s been unraveling for a while now,” Serafin answered. “They were wondering how long it would be before she snapped.”
Aedan ran a hand down his face, wishing he’d been there to give Medea’s coven his opinion.
Serafin harrumphed. “I know what you’re thinking. Why the hell didn’t they do something about it? And believe me, I asked.”
“Did they answer?”
“Apparently they tried to cleanse her with gemstones, herbs and some light spell work, but she was resistant and they don’t have anyone committed to healing. Their knowledge on the subject is pitiful.”
“They could have found at least a dozen people willing to help,” Aedan pointed out.
“True, but I think they’re ashamed of her. It seems they were trying to keep it to themselves, hoping she would get better on her own. Obviously not the wisest choice, but I think they realize their mistake.”
“Too damn late.”
“So it would seem,” Serafin agreed. “We waited with her family until nightfall, and we called her parents before bed, but she never came home.”
“This is bad news,” Aedan whispered, glancing at the window. For all they knew, Medea could be creeping into the community.
“I wouldn’t worry too much,” Serafin insisted. “She’s probably hiding out, nursing her cheek and ego. Rhosewen damaged both.”
“That’s why I’m worried,” Aedan countered. “Before, Medea was mad at me. Now she has an excuse to seek revenge on Rose.”
“Good point,” Serafin conceded, “but try not to drive yourself crazy over it. We’ll put out the word that we’re looking for her, and we’ll keep visiting her community. We should hear something in a day or two.”
“Let me know if you do.”
“As soon as I know what she’s up to, you’ll know.”
“Thanks, dad. I’m sorry I put this on you. I hate that I didn’t see this in Medea before getting involved with her.”
A short pause then Serafin spoke. “How involved were you? Did you sleep with her?”
“No. I knew it was a bad idea. Her delusions are based on two dates that ended with a kiss on the hand.”
“I’m relieved you didn’t fuel her fire.”
“Her fire’s already blazing. She needs to be found before she hurts someone.”
“We’ll do everything we can,” Serafin assured.
“Thanks again, dad. I feel awful that you and mom are cleaning up my mess.”
“This isn’t your mess. It’s Medea’s. Now get some sleep. You have a big week ahead of you—learning your way around and getting to know the people.”
“I’m looking forward to it. Tell mom I love her.”
“Will do, son. Goodbye.”
“Bye, dad.”
Aedan hung up the phone with a weighty sigh and a heavy heart. Then he followed the sound of voices to the kitchen. Caitrin sat at the table, reading a piece of paper, and Rhosewen and Morrigan were laughing as they prepared blueberry muffins. When Aedan walked in, everyone paused their tasks and looked up.
Aedan dropped his gaze to the floor, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck as his stomach churned. He’d never felt so guilty or disappointed in himself. “They haven’t found Medea,” he confessed. “She never came home last night. Dad thinks she’s just hiding out for a while, but I think it would be a good idea to let everyone around here know the situation. She knows where you live, and after what she did yesterday, we shouldn’t underestimate her.” He paused, clearing his throat as he found Caitrin’s eyes—blue like the sea, like his daughter’s. “I’m really sorry about this, Caitrin. The last thing I wanted to do was put your family in danger.”
“History’s marred with witches like Medea,” Caitrin countered. “The blame rests on her shoulders alone. We’ll alert our coven and the others nearby, let them know who and what to expect. We’ll know if she gets close.”
“Thanks for your understanding,” Aedan replied.
Caitrin smiled and looked to his paper. “Your sacrifice has allowed Rhosewen to stay with us. Understanding is the least I can give you.”
~ * * * ~
Sunday afternoon, as Aedan awoke to the realization that the woman he’d been dreaming about was only a shout away, his heart soared. He quickly showered and dressed, then walked downstairs, following Rhosewen’s lovely hum to the kitchen.
She was setting the table for two, but looked up with a beautiful grin that pinched her pink cheeks. “Do you like pancakes?”
“Yes,” he answered, closing the gap between them, “but not as much as I like your smile.” He pulled her into a long and passionate kiss, taking the weight off her wobbly knees by dipping her back. “Can I help?” he asked, pulling her upright.
“Sure,” she breathed. “Fix our coffee while I fill our plates.”
They sat, and Aedan watched her face as he generously added cream and sugar to her coffee, enjoying every second of the simple experience. “Are your parents joining us?” he asked, sliding her cup over.
“No. They went to let everyone know we’re home.”
Aedan added a dash of sugar to his coffee and sipped, thinking about Morrigan and Caitrin telling their family that Rhosewen had dragged a man home and that a deranged witch might follow.
Rhosewen finished filling their plates and began eating, taking several bites before addressing the colors in Aedan’s aura. “I know how you’re feeling, Aedan, and I don’t like it.”
“I’m sorry, Rose,” he replied, shaking his guilty head, “for all of it. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I hate that my lack of awareness has put you in danger, and I hate that I’ve already made a bad impression on your coven.”
“Medea has put a kink in things,” Rhosewen conceded, “but I’m not going to let her ruin this for me. And as for your concern about my coven—they’re fantastic, Aedan, the most understanding group of people you’ll ever meet. You’ll sweep them off their feet just like you did me.” She set her fork down and reached out, smoothing his frown. “Now stop feeling guilty. I don’t like it.”
She started to drop her hand, but Aedan grabbed it, pressing his lips to her palm. “I love you, Rose, and I’ll do my best not to let Medea ruin this for either of us.”
“Thank you,” she approved. “And I love you, too.” She stabbed another bite. “So, what do you want to do first, see the land or meet the people?”
“Meet the people. We can look at the land along the way.”
“Good idea. I’ll introduce you to the coven first. Then we’ll head to the coast. There are a couple of communities that way.”
“Sounds perfect.” He was easy to please. As long as he had her, he’d go anywhere.
~ * * * ~
As it turned out, Rhosewen’s coven was fantastic, welcoming Aedan like family. He could tell by their auras that they shared an extraordinary bond, and he fully understood why Rhosewen was so reluctant to leave home. Aedan would miss his old coven, but he was confident the new one would ease the pain.
On their way to the coast, Aedan and Rhosewen detoured to two different communities, where she introduced him to her closest friends. All of them were surprised by the speed and seriousness of the re
lationship, but supportive just the same, showering Rhosewen with blessings and lighthearted banter.
Once the main introductions were through, Rhosewen led Aedan to Cannon Beach, where they stopped at her aunt’s café for coffee then took their time exploring the nearby coast. Aedan looked forward to discovering the area’s secrets, but for the time being, he was perfectly content with his beautiful tour guide.
They returned home to find dinner being served by Morrigan, who beamed and added two plates to the table. “Will you join us?”
They agreed by taking their seats, so Morrigan smiled and filled their plates. “How was your afternoon?”
“Great,” Rhosewen answered. “I took him to Cannon Beach.”
Morrigan sat, and Caitrin tossed his paperwork aside, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “Thank you, my sweet peach,” he whispered. Then he took a bite and looked at Aedan. “What did you think of Cannon Beach?”
“Beautiful,” Aedan answered. “It might be the perfect place to launch my business.”
“A few of our coven members own shops there,” Caitrin noted. “Our gallery is north of there, in Seaside. What will you do tomorrow while Rhosewen’s at work?”
“I’d like to go with her,” Aedan answered, “join one of her tours around Mount Hood. If she doesn’t mind.”
“I’d love to take you to work with me,” Rhosewen agreed.
“Then it’s a date,” Aedan approved.
~ * * * ~
Still tired from their long journey, Caitrin and Morrigan went to bed early, but Aedan and Rhosewen stayed downstairs, cuddling on the couch as they flipped through commercial property listings in Cannon Beach. When Aedan caught Rhosewen yawning, he ignored her protests and carried her upstairs, setting her down outside her bedroom door.
“Are you really going to leave?” she asked, puckering up at him.
“I’ll never leave you,” he assured, touching her pout. “But yes, I’m going to the guestroom.”
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