Page 57 of The Soulmate Bakery

‘Yeah, well, I’m tired of doing everything the way everyone else wants me to,’ Orion said, and then he latched his gaze on to mine. ‘And for what it’s worth, I think you’re going to be a witch who will do far more than just simple spells.’

A prickle climbed over my eyes, and I know my smile was shaky. ‘For what it’s worth, I think you’re going to be a great teacher one day, Hawthorne. Bossy, but great.’

‘I’d like to say I’m firm, not bossy,’ Orion teased.

‘I’m your first student, so I get to decide,’ I countered, swallowing against the emotion in my throat.

‘Fine, Reverie, you win,’ he conceded. ‘Now, do you mind healing me, because this is stinging.’

‘I can’t believe you didn’t just heal yourself.’ I looked down at the gash again.

‘You needed a test subject,’ Orion said, like it was obvious.

‘So you endured a painful injury for me?’

The question flew out of my mouth faster than I could think. I felt Orion’s heart skip a beat against the skin of my thumb, and I refused to look away from the gash. I couldn’t look at him. I couldn’t.

‘Easiest thing I’ve ever done, Reverie,’ Orion murmured, not barely above a whisper.

But I heard him.

I swallowed. I had to remind myself that this was Orion. Ex-friend. Ex-crush. Ex-everything. I wasn’t allowed to have feelings for him any more. Everything was going as it should with Silas.

‘You’re sure you want me to heal you?’ I pivoted.

‘Reverie,’ Orion’s voice held a command that made my head snap up. ‘You can do this. I trust you; I’m not worried about what will happen. Neither should you.’

‘I know – but I haven’t cast a spell on another person since Everly Catacomb.’

‘It’s a good thing I don’t have fangs then,’ Orion said, teasingly. ‘Come on. You’re going to cast the spell, heal my wound, and then we’re going to hit the Treasure Trove to help Melodie out with the after-school rush.’

‘Do you want a sir-yes-sir after that,’ I asked, sarcastically.

Orion looked like he was contemplating it, so I squeezed his wrist tightly.

‘Just give me the spell, Hawthorne.’

‘Bones splintering, skin tearing, heal the one who needs repairing,’ Orion recited. ‘And when you’re saying the spell, think of the skin knitting back together. Imagine what you want it to look like.’

I took a deep breath.

‘Every other thought is inconsequential.’ Orion’s low timbre was like melted chocolate, and it soothed some of my nerves away. ‘The only thing you’re focusing on is healing. Curing. Saving. Think of every time you’ve looked after someone.’

I thought of that instinct to protect, and I envisioned what I wanted Orion’s inner arm to look like. I wanted the skin to look baby pink and new. I wanted him to be OK – not just from the gash, but from the hurt in his voice when he spoke about his parents.

I hated him, but the part of me that didn’t wanted him to be OK.

My magic warmed my veins, spurred on by the images Orion’s words had brought forth. It was like I was shooting an arrow, and my magic knew exactly where to land it.

‘Bones splintering, skin tearing, heal the one who needs repairing.’

‘Open your eyes, Maya,’ Orion murmured, and my lids flew open on command.

Orion’s skin was healing. It was knitting together, covering the gash, until just a faint white scar was left. Orion’s dragon scales erupted over the closed wound, as I dragged my fingertips down the scar.

I lifted my eyes to his and sucked in a breath at seeing the proud smile on his mouth.

‘You’re going to break this curse, Reverie,’ Orion said, without any doubt. ‘You’re so much closer, and when you work past all that noise in your head, your magic is focused.’