“Are you OK?” he whispers, placing his arm around the back of the sofa and over my shoulder.
I nod. “I think so. It’s all a lot to take in. I still don’t really understand how I…wecan use our powers to stop witch hunters.”
“I think it will be made clear by Nana and your granny, although I’m not sure they really know.” He tries to reassure me as I turn to look at him. His big green eyes glisten in the light of the fire like emeralds set in magma.
“But what about all of us? Greg knows. His family knows. How are we meant to stay here and stay safe? They want me. I don’t think we know the extent to which they will go to havethat.” Panic is beating in my chest.
“I’ll protect you. I’ll protect all of us,” he whispers.
“And what if they get you?”
“They won’t.”
“You don’t know that, Sam.” My voice raises in frustration.
Gloria comes in. “Hey now, what’s happened to the love?”
I fold my arms and look at the fire. “I’m sorry, Gloria, it’s just all a bit…”
“Much?” she says. “I understand. It is for us too. From what I and Cerci have read, it seems that your twin flame enhances your powers if you wish to do the binding ceremony. It also offers more protection for us here in Brindlewood. We could offer sanctuary for others of our kind away from the growing dangers of hunters. If they know we have twin flame witches in our vicinity, more will come for protection and to support us. And if you have a baby… well…” She stops herself. “I am sorry, that is getting far ahead of myself. We have lived quietly and secretly for decades. Scared of hunters. Scared of the normal folk. And I am not saying we will start shouting out what we are from our thatch rooftops, but we, with strength, maybe can find weakness in those who want to do us harm.”
Sam brings his hand to my face, pulling my chin gently from the fire towards him. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, Harri. I promise you that.”
Every single part of me is screaming inside. He is perfect. Brindlewood is perfect. My family is perfect. Being a witch even is perfect. But I don’t trust Greg. No, I don’t trust his mother. I know these people. I know that it is ingrained in them to take what is theirs and leave no mercy in their path. I have seen it. I’ve seen my own father and Greg’s father make deals they know others will lose their whole livelihood on. I’ve seen Mrs Belfour ruin other women’s lives with rumours and setups. And these faceless hunters? Well, they just seem terrifying. The thought ofany of my loved ones being caught up in this is killing me.
I look at the clock over the fireplace and it reads 4 am. Tiredness hits my body in sudden realisation.
I nod to Sam, hoping it reassures him. I turn back to Gloria. “Do you mind if I stay here tonight?” I ask.
“Of course. My home is your home now, Harri. You both get some rest. I need to call Cerci again. We have a lot to talk about.”
Sam takes my hand and leads me up the stairs to his room. A blue and white painted room with a single bed in the corner, most likely the same from when he was a child. Shelves in the corner still display sport trophies and childish figures that he has left up there.
“Cute.” I laugh, a welcome distraction from what has just happened.
He blushes. “Hey! Don’t judge! I just have not had chance to decorate.”
I smile and roll my eyes. “Sure, Sam.”
He grabs me, putting me over his shoulder before throwing me down on his bed. He pulls off my jeans and my jumper and climbs onto the bed.
He lies on top of me and kisses me gently. “I really do love you, Harriet Chattox.”
My heart warms at the sound of my family’s name being used in my name. Chattox. I push his hair back off his face. “I know.” I smile. “I really love you too, Samuel Thorne,” I tease.
He lies down beside me pulling me back into his lap and holding me close in his arms. I can hear his heartbeat slow in his chest as I relax into him. We are one, and it’s going to be incredibly hard to break that.
Twenty-Three
I awaken to the birds singing outside the window, the sun sending its warm beams through the gap in the curtains and lighting the pillow beside me with a warm glow.
I turn to face him, still sleeping peacefully next to me, arm still draped over my waist. I study his face. He is so beautiful. My eyes are drawn to his full lips, lips that I crave on every part of my skin.
I kiss him gently. The feeling of love spreads around my body as I press my fingertips onto his chest. I feel him stirring beneath my touch before his lips begin to kiss me back. Sleepily he pulls me into him tighter.
“I need to go back to the cottage,” I whisper into his lips.
He grips me tighter and groans like a petulant child. “Stay,” he whispers delicately into my ear.
