Page 143 of Freed By the Witchbone Knife

She left with a pleased smile. I set the plate between our chairs and peeled back the wax paper, revealing six perfect candy apples, deep red and gleaming.

I took a bite of my candy apple and watched a small vampire trip over his cape on the front walk of the house across the street.

It was a shrill ringtone that broke the quiet a little later. Axel pulled his phone from his pocket. I stiffened when I caught sight of the name. Magnus. “I need to take a call.”

He set his candy apple aside and slipped through the front door, into the house before I could ask questions.

Why would Magnus be calling?

Wasn’t he trying to hide from the alpha?

Had something happened?

He was doing better—I was certain of it. Certain that he hadn’t felt the usual itch he associated with madness, especially now that there was a bond between us. It had healed something in him.

My muscles were tense as I tried to ignore the low murmur of his voice from somewhere inside, too quiet even for me to catch the words. I tended to three small witches while he was gone, which felt appropriate. We complimented each other’s costumes. My voice sounded forced, even to my ears.

He came back five minutes later, settling into his chair with easy movements, picking up his apple again.

“How does Magnus have your number?” The accusatory words were out before I could stop them. “I thought you were hiding from him.”

“Aye.” He took a bite of his apple, chewed, swallowed. “I reached out the other day. Told him about you—about us.”

My heart was somewhere in my throat. “What?! Why?”

There was a long silence. “I think…” His jaw worked. “I think I’m doing—better. Wanted his opinion.”

“On what?”

“Mates. If…”

“If mates help the madness?”

“Aye.”

My heart leapt. Our conversation was briefly interrupted as I passed out a handful of candy to a group of teenagers. Now that the evening was growing late, the ages had crept up. I didn’t mind.

“So…you think…”

He blew out a breath. “I think you might have been right. About you—us. Magnus agrees. Thinks the mate bond helped stabilize me. I haven’t had a single symptom since.”

A grin finally spread across my lips. “Ha! I knew it. I am your cure. And fairytales do exist.”

He shook his head, scrubbing a hand down his face. “I didn’t want to believe it. Hence, Magnus.”

My shoulders finally relaxed. “You’re really doing better? I thought I felt it, but…”

He reached across the distance for my hand, lacing our fingers together. “You complete me. It makes sense. My wolf is calmer than it has ever been.”

Warmth flooded my chest, trickling to my extremities. “That’s…”

I didn’t know what to say. It was too much—too incredible. Everything I had hoped for.

“Anyway, Magnus said he won’t keep looking for me. But he asked that I keep him posted if anything changes.”

“The only changes from here on out will be good ones,” I assured him.

He squeezed my hand. “I believe you, lass.”