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Queen. Partner. Companion. Mate.… He kept dropping these words, and all were great to hear, but I wasn’t sure what they meant for me.
I thought about Peter and Jess.
“What does that mean exactly? Are we now bound to one another forever? Like a husband and wife?” I stuffed a clam cake in my mouth, forcing myself to stop talking.
Roarke sat silent until I looked up and met his eyes. “What we are to each other goes far beyond husband and wife. We are eternally linked. Can’t you feel it?”
I swallowed hard and took a sip of water, hoping to dowse the emotions rising inside me. Roarke’s words continued to drudge up thoughts and desires I’d secretly held inside for so very long. To love someone and to be loved in return. But that was the one word he had yet to use.
Closing my eyes, I searched for the link he described—a mark on my soul that belonged distinctly to him. A warm feeling flared in my gut, burning like wildfire and spreading throughout my veins. At its source pulsed an intimate beat, banging against my insides like the call of a ritual drum. My head lolled to the side, and I lost myself to its rhythm. Strong hands landed on my shoulders, followed by the trail of his swiping fingers down the side of my neck.
“Do you feel it, Milly? How our magic reacts to one another?”
My eyes popped open, reality slamming into me. What if this feeling was only due to our magic and nothing else? Sure, he’d called me his queen, his mate, but he’d called us partners as well. And in this moment, I felt like a fool, realizing that’s all we might be—business partners.
I pulled away and excused myself from the table. Walking outside onto the back deck, I looked to the sky and tried to lose myself in the stars. Shimmering high above me, the black canvas of night held its usual masterpiece painted in blues, purples, and pinks. But the longer I stared, the more the stars swirled together, muddling my hopes and dreams.
The glass door slid open behind me, and Roarke’s low voice drifted to my ears. “Are you all right?”
I wrapped my arms around my stomach and answered honestly. “I’m not sure.”
He eased up behind me, this time keeping his hands to himself. My heart clenched at the loss.
“Do you want to come back inside and talk about it?” He paused. “I’m sorry I upset you.”
I looked out over the water, trying to find the words to explain, but all the ones creeping onto my tongue were too embarrassing to say. “It’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
And he didn’t. These issues were mine and mine alone.
“Okay. Then I’ll give you some time while I go finish your deliciously magical meal.”
His response pulled a bark of laughter out of me, and I realized what a gift I’d been given. Whether love was truly a part of it or not, I’d been deemed a powerful witch—one strong enough to join the Weaver in this amazing world.
Not one to brood or dwell, I turned to follow him back inside. “I’m ready to join you now.” The words carried a double meaning, my heart hardening against them.
We finished the meal in amicable silence, broken only by Roarke’s praises in regard to my cooking. “Honestly, Milly, these are the most delicious clams I’ve ever tasted. What’s your secret?”
“Just the right amount of spice and love.” I shrugged, needing to keep some things to myself.
“Well, you’ve created the perfect balance.” He pushed back his plate and tossed his napkin down beside it. “What do you want to do for the rest of the evening? Any particular adventure piquing your interest?”
Again, I thought through the unlimited options but refused to become overwhelmed. “I want to go back to Tuscany and check on that vineyard.”
Roarke stopped midsip, his glass of Sauvignon Blanc stalling in the air. “Are you sure? I already explained the fire was just part of a dream.” He chucked back the final gulp of wine, his jaw twitching as he swallowed.
I rose from my chair to clear the dishes, the mundane task buying me some time.
“Yes, well, I’d still like to see it for myself.” I lowered my plate into the sink, realizing how silly it was to be doing dishes in the Weaver’s home. Instead, I imagined the table and kitchen clean, then stood awestruck when my will was immediately done.
The fire popped behind me, and I turned to find Roarke ready, pulling on his cloak. “Then we shall go so you can see for yourself.”
“Thank you, and I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I’ve always been taught to follow my gut.” I conjured a sweater of my own, questioning my words as I pushed my arms through the sleeves. If I did trust him, then why was I insisting we go? I shook my head and followed him out into the woods.
With a wave of his hand, a slice appeared, and we stepped through without delay.
The vineyard looked the same, and the beautiful stone winery still stood in front of us, unharmed.
“See, everything is good,” Roarke declared.
