Sahira’s amber eyes swam with tears. “But to me, you’ll always be that vulnerable baby who needed protection and who I love very much.”
When Sahira’s voice broke, Lexi crossed the room and embraced her. They clung to each other before Lexi pulled away.
She’d needed to hug her aunt, and now, she also required her space.
“It’s going to take me some time,” she whispered.
“You have to forgive me one day,” Sahira said.
“I already do.”
“You’ll have to trust me again.”
Lexi stared at the floor before lifting her eyes to her aunt. “I trust you… but I don’t. If that makes any sense.”
“It does.”
Sahira set her spoon down, turned off the fire, and with tender care, she moved the pot to another burner. She spooned some of its contents into a bowl and put it in the fridge.
Lexi wasn’t sure how to respond or what would become of them, but she was at a complete loss. Instead, she stood there as Sahira worked.
She used to find watching her aunt make her potions one of the most relaxing, fascinating things to do, but now there was something almost sinister in it. She could be putting anything into those bottles, and Lexi would never know.
She gulped at the possibility and glanced around the room as she sought to think about something,anything, else. Her gaze settled on the window; she should see the horses. It had been far too long, and they were once her refuge.
Then she recalled Malakai’s attack on her in the barn. “Did you ever cast a spell to revoke Malakai’s invitation to our home?” she asked Sahira.
“The day he attacked you,” Sahira said. “I should have done it before then, but I was afraid of enraging him if he found out. But he can’t come in here again without a new invite, and since he’s not getting one, he’s permanently banned.”
“Good.”
“Lexi.”
She turned to find Cole standing in the doorway with his hand resting against the frame.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He studied her before his attention shifted to Sahira. “I knew a dark fae named Sindri. My father had his powers bound after he tried to start a rebellion. It took a coven of witches to do so, and it weakened them considerably, but you alone were able to bind hers. How?”
“He was probably a full immortal who was well aware of his powers. Lexi was young, not fully matured, and taking the potion from the time she was a babe,” Sahira replied. “It also sounds like his was a permanent binding.”
“It was.”
“Hers was never meant to be permanent. I couldneverdo that on my own. I’m not sure a coven of witches would succeed in doing it either. She’s too powerful for that.”
“I see,” Cole murmured before looking to Lexi and smiling. “We have to go.”
Lexi started walking toward him.
“Wait,” Sahira said.
She opened the fridge, removed the bowl, and, using a small funnel, she poured the potion into two different bottles. She capped them both and rounded the island with them in hand. When she held them out to Lexi, she found herself unable to take them from her aunt.
“It’s the healing potion,” Sahira said.
Lexi still didn’t move.
