Page 113 of Freed By the Witchbone Knife

I chuckled and lifted it to my lips, taking a sip. The flavors hit my tongue—cinnamon and clove with a hint of something citrusy. It was good. Really good. Maybe a little bitter at the finish, but that could just be the clove.

“It’s delicious.”

“Yeah?” Her face lit up. “I’ve been tweaking the ratios all week. Trying to get it perfect for the holiday season.”

“Well, you nailed it.” I took another sip, feeling some of the tension drain from my shoulders. The warmth spread through my chest, soothing.

“So.” Iris leaned back in her chair. “How are things with Axel?”

The question made me wary, given that I was certain she had a crush on him. “Everything’s…good. Complicated, but good.”

“Complicated how?”

I hesitated. How much should I share? “He’s been really protective since everything with Ambrose started. Which is sweet. But also kind of intense.”

“He seems intense in general.” She traced the rim of her mug with one finger. “I’ve never seen him with anyone before. In all the time I’ve been here.”

“He keeps to himself,” I agreed.

“And now suddenly he’s driving you everywhere. Picking you up. Staying close.” Something in her tone made me look up, but her expression was neutral. “Must be nice. Having someone care that much.”

“It is.” I took another drink of tea, trying to read her mood. Was she upset? Jealous? It was hard to tell. “But it’s also...I don’t know. We haven’t made any commitments to each other.”

“Do you want to?”

Did I? The mate bond conversation over the weekend hung heavy in my mind. The way Axel had pulled back, convinced I’d change my mind once I got my magic back.

“I do,” I admitted. “But there’s a lot of complicated stuff in the way.”

“There always is.” Iris smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It definitely surprised me at first.”

“Surprised you?”

“Well, yeah, seeing both of you together. You’re this smart, accomplished professor. And he’s...” She paused, searching for words. “I don’t know. A recluse who lives in the woods and barely talks to anyone. It’s an unusual match.”

The description stung a little, even though it wasn’t entirely inaccurate. “He’s more than that.”

“I’m sure he is.” She took a long sip of her tea. “I just meant it was unexpected. But good. Good for both of you.”

My head felt a little fuzzy. Probably just tired from the long day. Three lectures, office hours, the constant vigilance. It was catching up with me.

“Are you okay?” Iris asked. “You look pale.”

“Just tired.” I blinked, trying to clear my vision. The edges of the room seemed softer somehow. “It’s been a really long week.”

“I can imagine.” She stood, moving back toward the counter. “Let me get you some water. That might help.”

I watched her go, my eyes feeling heavy. The warmth from the tea had spread through my whole body now, making my limbs feel loose. Relaxed. Maybe too relaxed.

Something nagged at the back of my mind. Something felt…wrong. But I couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

Iris returned with a glass of water, setting it in front of me. “Here. Drink this.”

I reached for it, but my hand was clumsy and I bumped the glass rather than grabbing it. “I think...something’s off.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. I just feel...” I tried to stand, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate. The room tilted. “Iris?”