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“She was.”
I blow out the candles.
“Wait, don’t go—”
Her spirit disappears. There’s no reasoning with her. She’s hurt, and I have a feeling she’ll be this way for a long time.
This is my first time casting a major spell since my father died, and it was successful, but it doesn’t feel like it. What did I hope to hear from her? Something actionable. A way to make her leave us alone.
But it’s impossible. She’s wounded eternally. I don’t think any of us can help.
A cold shiver runs through my body, and the walls rattle. The wailing, louder than ever, sounds only I can hear.
A medium…
Before I can ponder on those words—or any other—my vision goes fuzzy. Dark. Then light.
And I drop to the floor.
Chapter 41
Sterling
Aurora
I called in sick.
It’s nothing serious, I promise.
Be back soon!
That’s what she texts me as I wait outside the cottage to bring her to work, just like I do every day.
Me
Do you need me to take care of you? You can come over to the cabin.
Or you can come to mine.
I’ll call in sick too.
Aurora
You’re sweet.
But I’m fine. I have my mom’s famous soup and a healing potion. I’ll be better in no time.
With a final glance at the cottage and a text to let her know she can ask me for anything she needs, I go to work. If I were a braver man, I would knock on the front door and confirm she’s well.
The cottage is haunting me. It always has, but it feels especially taunting today.
Something has changed.
I think about Aurora all day. I suppose that’s nothing new, but I miss poking my head out and seeing her at her desk. I miss meeting with her and Jewel to discuss events and magic. I miss driving her home.
How did I become so sappy so quickly? She’s missing one day of work. It’s not the end of the world, and it’s too early in the relationship for me to be this attached to her. Then again, it was probably too soon for me to confess my love, but that happened before I was ready for it. I’m the one steering the car, but so much of what we’ve become feels completely out of my control.
I text her again at noon.
