Kira winced. Chelsey’s bluntness hit her squarely between the eyes. Was she? No, she didn’t think so. Although that first morning, waking up in Joshua’s arms… The heat of his closeness, how aware of his body she had been. It felt like a dream she yearned to return to.
“He doesn’t want kids,” she murmured.
“He doesn’t?” Chelsey frowned. “Why would he agree to marry you on the basis that you were going to make super babies together if he doesn’t want children in the first place?”
Kira shook her head, not knowing how to ask that. It was all just so ridiculous. Maybe if she asked him directly, he’d answer. Or maybe he’d just make up excuses again. The image of the bubbling chasm from her dream-vision came to her again. But how was she supposed to bridge the divide alone?
How is he?
She shook her head sharply. She didn’t want to get locked up in all of this right now. Yes, things had been somewhat better between her and Joshua lately, and they’d had that moment. But trying to deal withemotions? Ugh, no. She was just going to take a deep breath, remember that they had other issues at play, and focus on what she could actually control.
“There haven’t been any further demon sightings, but I want to keep practicing my magic, so I’m able to fight them when they decide to attack,” she said, standing. She tested out her movements. While the bruising still throbbed, especially in her ribs, it was much better than it had been.
“Obvious subject change aside, I’ve been looking at our potions more closely. I think we might be able to combine a few of them to create new potions that we can use to fight demons, or at the very least, strengthen your fighting abilities. Maybe even get my magic to start flowing,” Chelsey added, a hopeful look in her eyes.
Kira thought of the potions room in Joshua’s house and grinned. “I have something to show you.”
***
“I don’t care what you think, the man loves you,” Chelsey said, clasping her hands over her chest. She gazed at the wall of ingredients with stars in her eyes. “Look at this! It’s not just the money, but look at how much thought he put into this place!”
Kira’s cheeks burned. She wanted to protest the word ‘love’, but somehow that felt as though it would cause even more drama. Nope. Best to just pretend like Chelsey didn’t say anything.
“So it looks like we have everything for your new potion except fresh thyme and rosemary,” she said instead, focusing on the notebook Chelsey had been jotting her ideas down in. “Let’s go to the store and pick some up.”
They headed out to the car, but when Chelsey tried to start it, the engine spluttered. They tried a few different things, but it still didn’t work. Kira groaned as she tried to decide whether she could make the walk. It wasn’t that far, and she was healing up nicely.
“Maybe you can call Joshua?” Chelsey suggested.
Kira hesitated. “He’s at work. I don’t want to disturb him.”
“Liar,” Chelsey said, sounding rather smug about it, too.
“Excuse me?” Kira demanded. “What do you mean?”
“I meeean you’re a lying liar who lies. I know what this is about. I’m not blind. You’ve been head over heels for Joshua Woods since the first time you laid eyes on him,” Chelsey crowed, clapping her hands lightly. “And now that you’re married, you want to be head over heels in joy, but he was forced to marry you, and you don’t know what to do with your emotions. That, and you have always had that streak where you think you’re not allowed to ask for help.”
Kira gaped at her younger sister. When did Chelsey become a shrink? “That’s not true.”
Chelsey pointed a finger at her face. “Liar. Any man who will live in our dump rather than his own place, waiting on youhand and foot, wouldn’t care about being disturbed at work, and you know it.”
Kira hated how right Chelsey was. She slumped in her seat, trying to think of a reasonable way to argue against it. Nothing came to mind, so she grabbed her phone out of her pocket. Quickly, she scrolled to Joshua’s number and hit the call button. After a couple of rings, it went to voicemail. Kira explained what happened and asked him to meet them at the grocery store.
“There,” she said when she tucked her phone back into her pocket. “If he gets the message, he’ll know where to find us.”
Chelsey nodded once. “And you’re sure you’re okay to walk?”
Kira nodded again.
They headed toward the store, and Chelsey suggested Kira practice the protective spell Gwen taught her. She wove golden threads between her fingers and stretched them out, testing how long she could make the threads. Chelsey reached out and brushed her finger against one of them; it clung to her skin for half a moment before dissolving.
Chelsey withdrew her hand. “It kind of sucks that I’m the only witch on the island without magic.”
“We don’t know that. There could be plenty of other witches that haven’t come forward because of the pack’s attitude,” Kira said, and at Chelsey’s shrug, she winced. Nope, that hadn’t been the right thing to say. She stared at the golden threads of her magic, hesitating. “We don’t know why my magic and Gwen’s have both come in like this. Maybe it will just take some more time with you.”
“Maybe. Or maybe I need to focus on other areas of my life. I’ve lived this long without magic, and I have my potions,” Chelsey said, straightening herself.
“You’re better at potions than either Gwen or I,” Kira said encouragingly.
