Page 49 of Wynter

“Do you know how much you scared me?” Xavi extends his hands, reaching for me.

“I know,” I whisper, using my magic to bring him closer.

Xavi wraps his arms around me, not caring that we’re in mid-air. For a few minutes, we float near the ceiling, holding each other close. Then Xavi slowly pulls back.

“Think we could come down now?” he asks softly. “Not that I don’t like flying—I mean, levitating—but it would be nice not to have my feet dangling in the air.”

I giggle and take us down. When our feet touch the ground, I take his hand and lead him to the couch. Where I introduce him to a perfectly docile Snowball, who starts to purr when he pets her. So much for my ferocious guard fuzzy. But if that means she likes Xavi, then I’ll take it.

“So you really didn’t write that article?” I ask softly.

“I’d never do that to you, Zoe. Ever.” Xavi grabs my hand. “I could never do anything to hurt you. I’ll spend my entire life proving it to you if I have to.”

I shake my head, and Xavi’s face falls. “You don’t have to prove anything, Xavi. I’m so sorry I didn’t talk to you first. And that I scared you. Though, that was Mini’s fault. I can’t believe she made you think I was going to jump.”

Xavi smiles softly and cups my cheeks. “The only thing that matters is you’re okay. That we’re okay.”

“We are.” I smile back and snuggle into him. I set Snowball on my lap, but she rolls onto Xavi’s. And starts to purr. “But did your boss really fire you?”

“He did. Said I wrote, and I quote, ‘a fluff piece promoting the Cleanly Den’.” Xavi sighs, then rushes to add, “But I did the right thing. I could never write anything that could hurt you.”

“So you lost your job because of me instead.”

“It wasn’t because of you. It was because of my boss. And that thief. If we could just figure out who it is…”

“You could get your job back?”

“Maybe?”

“Then we better get started!”

Chapter Fifteen

Zoe

Xavi and I set out for the skating rink on foot. It’s an hour’s walk, but he’s got the whole no-car rule, and neither of us can afford to fix a post-ice-block-van. Plus, walking gives us a chance to talk. And it gives me a chance to show off my powers.

I levitate everything in sight. Leaves. Pebbles. Snow. A bike. A car. And when the whole walking thing gets old, I levitate us, too.

“There’s something I really need to tell you…” Xavi says when we’re almost at the rink. He tightens his hand around mine, and I gently lower us to the ground.

“Should I be worried?” I tease as I wrap my arm around his waist. Because, honestly? I’m not. In the least.

Xavi already showed me his article for the Herald, and it’s all about how the Cleanly Den was framed. And the stuff I saw on his computer? It’s on the Gazette’s home page, just like he said.

“Yesterday…” Xavi trails off and swallows nervously.

“Yesterday…”

“When we were at that silver jewelry store by the rink…”

“Bitchen’ Baubles?” I can’t help smiling at the name.

“You said that Leith Rogowsky was also your mate.”

I swallow hard, because even hearing his name hurts.

“So yesterday, before you came over for dinner, I tracked him down.”