Page 56 of Rewitched

“How did you find the astrological work?” Rune asked, jumping at the chance to restart the conversation.

She smiled at him. “Why do I get the feeling this question is a little redundant when you’ve obviously been keeping a close eye anyway, watchman?”

“Kind of true, but I’m only alerted if anything goes particularly wrong or danger presents itself to you,” he said. “The grimoire is already detailing significant improvement, according to Bronwyn. I just wanted to hear it from you. Part of my job is to make sure you’re feeling okay.”

“That’s handy, therapy is expensive.”

Rune stifled a laugh. “I’m not sure I’m qualified to go that far, but I’m serious about this potential threat, bearing in mind the warlock who’s involved in proceedings.”

“Ah, that.” She clasped her hands behind her back and kicked a few leaves.

“We have to assume he has some role to play in what happened to your protection circles…” Rune said, thoughtful concern audible in his voice.

“That wasn’t him.”

“You don’t know that, Belle.”

“I do.”

She couldn’t shake it. In their first week together, she’d almost entirely forgotten the clanging alarm bells and red flags that were originally attached to Artorius. When the reminder did occasionally appear at the front of her mind, it felt impossible to associate the man that she’d met with those nightmarish past actions.

Belle tried to explain. “This whole time, everyone’s been banging on about the importance of instincts, and something’s not adding up. The way Bronwyn spoke of him, I was expecting a monster. I thought he’d be awful and cruel and reluctant to share any knowledge at all. I thought he would be—”

“Belle, you cannot be naive about this man,” Rune interrupted firmly, stopping in his tracks again.

“I am aware,” Belle snapped, turning directly to Rune to stand her ground. “Obviously. And I’m not ignoring it, I’m not an idiot. But he has treated me with kindness and generosity and nothing else. I have to take him as I find him for now.”

“You can’t seriously like him, with the knowledge that you have, with everything that he did,” Rune scoffed.

“I’m not saying I do or don’t like him. I’m telling you that I am fully aware of the situation I have willingly put myself into.”

Rune held his tongue, but she could have sworn she heard the word “impossible” muttered under his breath. They continued their walk in frosty silence.

“Is it much farther?” Rune asked curtly.

“Thankfully, no,” Belle retorted.

After what felt like forever in the stilted silence, they reached the row of shops below Belle and Ariadne’s maisonette. Commuters were filling the streets now, scuttling by with heads down and headphones on. The café below was dimly lit, with Mr. Ricci setting out the trays of freshly made pastries. The familiar smell of coffee and warm baked goods plumed outwards.

“I have something for you,” Rune said shortly, avoiding eye contact. He held out his palm, and with a quick click, a small green bottle materialised with a flurry of sparks. “Thought you might be tired, so I’ve been working on it for a couple of nights.” He offered it to Belle, who took it suspiciously. “A revitalising potion. Should help with the lack of sleep, and it’ll mean you can lay off the caffeine a bit. Although I now see that you literally live inside a coffee shop, which makes a lot of sense.”

“Above one. But…That’s very thoughtful. Thank you.”

“I’ll see what I can find out about the protection circles.”

“Look, I…”

“Belle! Hey! God, something in here stinks, I bet it’s that cat food,” Ariadne called. She was tossing a heavy black bag into the communal bins. Squinting closer, she froze. “Oh, sorry…I didn’t realise you had company.”

Belle willed herself to think on the spot. This was the first time that Ariadne had ever seen her with someone magical, apart from Bonnie and Alvina, who were both well versed in keeping the secret.

“It’s…This is…”

“I’m Rune,” he introduced himself smoothly over Belle’s stammering, extending his hand out warmly to Ari. Knowing her friend like the back of her hand, Belle could tell that Ari was trying to remain collected but was in fact bursting with delight on the inside.

“It’s such a pleasure to meet you.” She grinned, overly cheery. “I’m Ariadne, I live with Belle. Are you guys coming in? I just brewed a fresh pot of coffee.”

“Rune was just leaving,” Belle immediately responded. There was no way that this could end well. She shot Rune what she hoped was a loaded look.