“Take your time,” Willow said. “We have plenty of… oh wow.”
She stared wide-eyed at the vines that were curling around Briggs. They stroked and caressed his arms and chest before brushing against his face.
“The plants really like you, huh?” Willow said.
“It’s Cece’s magic,” Briggs said. “If she’s distracted, the plants tend to… do this.”
“That’s so cool,” Willow said. “Do you just walk around being petted by plants all day?”
“Something like that,” Briggs said with a grin. “Hudson and Rosalie were here last night for dinner, and the plants wouldn’t leave Rosalie alone. They were obsessed with her.”
Willow grinned. “That’s so cute.”
“Cece was embarrassed, but Rosalie thought it was hilarious,” Briggs said. “And two of Cece’s best friends came by the day before yesterday, and the plants did the same to them.”
“Is it because she can’t control the magic?” Mal asked.
“A little,” Briggs said, “but she has a lot more control over her magic than she did even a week ago. We’ve been, uh, keeping her magic topped up so she can learn to control it.”
“Right,” Mal said as Willow grinned at Briggs.
He could feel his cheeks heating up, and Willow’s grin grew larger. “You’re adorable when you blush, Briggs. I love that - oh!”
Mal growled low in his throat, and Willow squeezed his arm. “It’s fine, honey. I’m fine.”
He studied the vines that had curled around her waist and were busily exploring her expanding belly. “Are you sure?”
“They won’t hurt her,” Briggs said.
Willow laughed when one of the vines looped around the bun on top of her head before sliding across her cheek. More and more vines were wrapping around her waist, weaving together across her pregnant belly to form a shield-like barrier. A few of them wavered in the air between her and Mal, touching his arm briefly before returning to Willow.
She giggled. “They like me more than you, honey.”
She studied the way the vines were weaving into a wide, tight pattern across her belly. “What are they doing?”
“It’s a protection thing, I think,” Briggs said. “The plants want to keep the baby safe.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Willow said before lightly stroking the plants that covered her belly. “Thanks, plants.”
There was a puff of smoke from the cauldron, and the smell of rosemary and vanilla intensified. Cece made a sound of satisfaction before giving the potion a final stir and then closing the spell book.
She took off her robe and draped it across the altar before turning to join them. She took one look at Willow and hurried forward, her cheeks flushing. “Oh shit. I’m sorry, Willow.”
She waved her hands, and the vines slid apart, caressing Willow’s belly a final time before slithering back up the wall to join the others. The vines surrounding Briggs didn’t move, and he made a soft growl. They retreated reluctantly, as Cece apologized again to Willow.
“It’s fine,” Willow said. “I kind of love it, to be honest. It’s not every day that plants show their adoration for your baby.”
Cece smiled and took Briggs’s hand. “They adore the baby and you, and I appreciate you being so understanding about it.”
There was a moment of awkwardness before Cece squeezed Briggs’s hand and said, “Who wants some tea?”
CHAPTER 37
“I like what you’ve done with the kitchen.” Willow sipped at her peppermint tea.
“Honestly, it was all Briggs,” Cece said with a soft smile at him. “While I’ve been working on potions, he sanded and painted the cupboards this week and reattached all the doors. He also fixed the light and installed the dishwasher earlier.”
“That’s awesome,” Willow said.
