Page 64 of Rewitched

“Mum, stop. Things have been knocked off-kilter since I set foot in Hecate House, so maybe the magic system is just a little unbalanced for me right now. It might not be anyone behind it.”

Bonnie nodded hesitantly. “Perhaps…Why hasn’t that watchman of yours been in touch? He’s an impressive warlock. I’d feel better knowing that he was on the case, at least.”

Belle shifted on the edge of the mattress, kicking one foot against the other.

“I haven’t exactly told him what’s been going on yet. In fact, I told him to back off.”

“Oh, Belle. You need to—”

“I don’t need him to protect or watch anything. I can look after myself.” Belle shrugged. “Whatever it is, I can deal with it.”

Bonnie rolled her eyes. “Belle Blackthorn, you are the most stubborn girl I have ever…”

“Fine, fine. I’ll tell him. Not that he’ll do anything. He’ll just run a hand through his hair and thumb his jawline and brood.”

Bonnie lay back against the cushions with her eyes closed, her energy levels depleted again.

“Get some sleep, Mum. I’m not saying that I’m the untapped genius of my witching generation or some kind of potions master, but I think there might be some colour coming back to your cheeks already.”

21

Truth Time

BELLE WASN’T ENTIRELY sure how a summoning even worked between witch and watchman, but she thought of him. Tried to make it a clean line of communication, tried even harder not to dwell on his piercing dark eyes, the way his hair constantly fell into his face, that smirk. She hoped it was some kind of telepathic phone system, one that wouldn’t pick up on the unsubtle pounding of her heart at the thought of his arrival.

“You rang?” Rune shook out his head a little before dusting down the collar of his shirt, unbuttoned just below his collarbone.

“Hi.”

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Rune asked, glancing around Artorius’s living room to take in his new surroundings. He shrugged off his coat and threw it onto the back of a floral armchair. “You know, it’s funny. I was just getting ready to pay you a visit myself.”

“You were?”

“The watchman spell has been highlighting a feeling that I wasn’t entirely comfortable with.” He gestured to somewhere amongst his ribs underneath his shirt. “Right here. I’ve been feeling this real, tangible dread when I thought of you.”

Belle shot him a look across the living room. “Charming.”

“Not like that. Like something was wrong. I needed to check you were okay days ago, but I’ve been torn as to whether I should step in. I know you don’t like me being around.”

“I never said—” She stopped herself. Another time. “Well, you were on to something. Against my better judgement, I’ve been told I need to tell you if anything weird is going on, so…”

His face darkened. “I was right, wasn’t I?” He took a step towards her, closing the space between them as though it were instinctive. “Something is wrong. What is it?”

“It’s a long story.” Belle hesitated. “Can I get you a drink? While we talk?”

“Later. Like I said, imminent danger first, please.”

Belle sighed, brushing her hair out of her eyes. “Okay, truth time. You’re not going to like it. In fact, you’re going to freak out.”

“And putting off the subject for as long as possible is really going to help with that.”

“Subfuror Incantare,” Belle blurted.

Rune’s brow raised. “What about it?”

“It happened.”

He took another step towards her, close enough now that she noticed his scent again, the burnt caramel and earthy tobacco. “What do you mean, ‘it happened’?”