Page 86 of Freed By the Witchbone Knife

Elle

Any cave progress this weekend?? Dying for updates

Right. I hadn’t updated her since Saturday’s attempt. Before everything went sideways at my office and derailed my day. Before Axel sat through my lectures like a growly, overprotective gargoyle. Before he called me his and then reminded me it was only temporary.

I typed back quickly, keeping the phone tilted away from Axel. Not that I was hiding anything. It just felt...private. Elle was my space. My friend from before all this.

Me

Much better. Got maybe 40 min in before we turned back. Real progress.

I considered telling her about my office, but that was better left for a phone call.

Elle

Yes!! At this rate you’ll reach the chamber soon. Once you have the witchbone knife, the Blackthorns lose all their leverage. You’re going to kick this curse’s ass!

Me

That’s the hope.

Elle

How are things otherwise? You and the grumpy wolf figure your shit out yet?

I glanced up at Axel’s broad back, at the way he moved efficiently through the kitchen, plating eggs and toast. He cared about me. I knew that. He showed it in a hundred small ways—the meals, the decorations, the way he’d sat through hours of physics lectures just to keep me safe.

But caring wasn’t the same as choosing. And me? I wanted to be chosen.

Me

Still complicated.

Elle

Ugh. Men. Call me later this week?

Me

Will do.

I tucked my phone away as Axel set a plate in front of me. The eggs were perfect, as always. A sprinkle of herbs from his greenhouse. Fresh toast with butter. A small bowl of cut fruit on the side.

He took the seat beside me, maintaining a careful distance.

We ate in silence.

Time blurred together after that.

Tuesday’s lectures went smoothly enough. Wednesday’s lab session ran long when Tyler needed extra help understanding vector components to work out the math for his acceleration tests. Dev stayed after to discuss the upcoming exam, and Sonny nearly took out a row of stools with his skateboard.

Normal. All of it—achingly normal.

Except for the parts that weren’t.

Axel drove me to campus each morning, walked me to my first class, picked me up each afternoon. He sat in the back of my lecture halls like a silent sentinel, arms crossed, daring anyone to look at me wrong. My students had started whispering about him—the mysterious, scarred man who showed up every day. A few theories had circulated. Bodyguard. Jealous boyfriend. Witness protection handler.

I didn’t correct any of them. I also didn’t tell him to stay home. Which meant my poor buns weren’t getting the free roam time they needed in the mornings. I tried to make up for it in the evenings with extra toys and plenty of time to wander around before bed. But…I still felt a little guilty.