“As a witch, I also prefer the ambience of the library after nightfall. It gives the illusion that this place is full of secrets to be revealed. That I’m uncovering hidden knowledge with each chapter I read. It isn’t nearly so romantic in the light of day,” I muse, running a hand over the unread page. My blatant curiosity must be written on my face. But I should be wise, hold my tongue, try not to get off on the wrong foot.
Quietly, I close my book, deciding that I should end our chance midnight encounter while everything is going so well. It’s the most beguiling night I’ve had in my years at the academy, maybe in my entire unremarkable life. Plus, he really did come here to read, so I don’t want to be a distraction. Standing up from my chair, I gather my things and look over at Norrell one last time.
“Goodnight,” I whisper, a wistful smile on my lips, as I move away from the table.
“Until tomorrow.” The invitation hangs in the air between us. I look at him in confusion for a moment until I comprehend his meaning. He wants to do this again… on purpose. He chuckles softly as I gasp my surprise.
The memory of the night we met flashes in my mind. He swept me off my feet, and it made me a fool for him. But the bookends of our relationship were such contradictions. Fool me once, as the saying goes. There’s no second chance after what he put methrough. Hurling my mug across the room would be so very cathartic, but I hold back because it would upset the cats. And it’s too pretty to break just because ofhim. He’s broken enough in my life as it is. I’m so angry at myself. I should have known this was a possibility. I’ve been wrapped up in so many other issues, it simply didn’t occur to me he’d ever travel here.
He certainly wasted no time claiming a spot in my house. His response arrived mere minutes later according to the time stamp. The gall of this male to show his face here again. Clearly the invitation wouldn’t apply to him. He lost all goodwill when he walked out on me while my parents were still fresh in their graves.
What in all that’s magickal is the meaning of this? On the surface, this play looks like it’s meant to torment me, kick me while I’m down. No doubt he’s heard about my latest misfortune. If I was more generous, I’d say it was because he knew my house well. No, he’s a cold-hearted male. He’s up to something.
Searching for hidden meaning between the lines, I read aloud his brief response, “Thank you for your generous offer to host guests in your home. I roundly accept the invitation and will arrive the day after tomorrow. I look forward to reacquainting myself with Monstera Bluff.”
I blow an angry raspberry at the screen, vexed by his stupidly polished message. Like we’re distant acquaintances. Well, I guess that’s close to the truth nowadays. It’s the first I’ve heard from him in nearly fifteen years. But the tone annoys me beyond measure, as irrational as it is. I can’t believe I’ve invited him back into my home, even if it was inadvertent. I’m a glutton for punishment, apparently.
I should tell him no. Emphatically. Unequivocally. Deny him access to me and my home. How dare he do such a thing when he knows I wouldn’t want him here? But then he’d know he stillgets under my skin. He and the fae share equal status as villains of my story. If I’m forced to live a life without wielding magick ever again and possibly face a future without my coven or my family’s shop, it would do me good to thicken my skin. I can’t face the fae again, but Icanface Norrell. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? Face your fears?
Everything I hold dear is in jeopardy. Cohabitating with an ex-mate for a few weeks on top of all that will be easy-peasy, right? I owe him nothing beyond fulfilling the obligations of this invitation. One I won’t revoke…for now… so he has nothing to hold over me. All I need to do is tamp down my discomfort around him and go through the motions of hosting. Eventually he’ll leave. And I’ll have proven to him and myself that I’ve moved on. After that, I’ll make sure I never see him again.
What I would pay for a spell to erase him from my memories… Especially of the day he decided he didn’t want to be with me any longer and left. End of story. End ofourstory, anyway. One misfortune in my life and he’s gone, off to do his own thing. Time has given me some clarity, though. In hindsight, I see now that even if my parents hadn’t died, his priority was never going to be me. That’s a lowering thought in and of itself.
It did a number on me. If the love of my life could leave me to twist in the wind right when I needed him most… may love never find me again. I’d have been better off without it. He ripped my already broken heart straight out of my chest and stomped on it with all his might. Ground it down with his heel for good measure. Fifteen years is a long time to resent someone. But I try not to let it show. A Mayweather picks herself up, dusts herself off, and keeps marching forward. Still, behind closed doors, I drift alone in my oversized ancestral home, haunted by the ghosts of old heartache.
If nothing else, his unwanted invasion of my home will show me and everyone else what a small, contemptible male he is indeed. There’s not much worse he can do to me beyond mocking my hardship. Or rubbing a new mate in my face. A family that could have been mine. It’s been long enough. There’s no doubt he moved on. Every possibility ran its course through my mind a million times since he left. But maybe after this he won’t live rent-free in my brain for thenextfifteen years. Honestly, I should hand him a bill the moment he steps through the door.
I never begged him to stay or tried to find out about his life after he returned to his clan without me. It’s best not to know. A break should be clean. He’d made his decision. I’m truly in the dark about what he’s been up to, especially since information from his clan is sparse. It’s not my business anyway. He can do as he pleases.
My eyes prickle, a sure sign this good-for-nothing male is going to make me cry again. I pour more tea into my mug and then absently scratch Earl Gray under his chin until the sensation passes. Forcing my attention back to my laptop to get some work done, I note the names and contact information for the next four so I can confirm their accommodation at my home. Carefully, I compose a response to the thread confirming that Niven Whitehall—my old friend—Cyrinda Ariti, Tallie Sureheart, Aurelia Woodrum… and of course, begrudgingly, Norrell Snowstrider… are the lucky winners, so to speak. I write back directly to a few others who weren’t as quick on the draw to let them down gently. There will be more options sent around today to make sure everyone is accommodated. They won’t be left stranded.
The message makes it official. Norrell will be here in two days. And I’ll be the talk of the town all over again. I drink the last dregs of my tea in one long hot gulp. A bad idea. It burns allthe way down. The mug clatters on the table as I set it down with shaky hands. It conjures the memory of Cara’s arrival, telling her that everything turns into a tempest in a tea pot here. If only I could take a vacation until this passed.
I’m about to get up to place my mug in the sink when my cell phone rings, Clancy’s name on the screen. My centaur friend always has his finger on the pulse of the community. “Good morning, Mayor. Who do you want to gossip about this fine morning?” I drawl facetiously, guessing the nature of the call.
“Fire and ashes, Ada. I just read your email. Did that scoundrel really take you up on your offer? Are you okay with this? I have a mind to tell him exactly where he’s welcome…” Clancy scoffs, sending me into a fit of ringing laughter that ends on a sigh.
“You could have knocked me over with a feather, I won’t lie. If I knew he was even part of this, I’d have added the disclaimer, ‘Not you, Norrell. Kick rocks with a stubbed toe.’ Imagine if I had, what fun that could have been. Alas, he wrote back lightning fast, like he wanted to make sure I’d be forced to share space with him. It’s confounding why he’d do this when he could stay anywhere else in town. Surely, he heard about what happened to me. I would rather not see him again, but it’s done. I won’t go back on my word, especially as a town council member. If he behaves badly, all the better to get over him,” I declare, despite the deep sense of resignation churning in my gut.
“And he damn well knows you wouldn’t. That’s why he did it. You lead with your heart, and he took advantage of it. Well, he is persona non grata around here. Believe me, memory runs long in these parts. So much so, he’ll mistake us for a big ol’ herd of elephants. Everyone remembers what he did and they’ll make sure he knows it too. It’s a shame we don’t have an elephant shifter around here toaccidentallystomp some sense into him.Now that would almost repay him in kind,” Clancy muses, wrenching one of the few genuine smiles from me all week.
“In another era we could have blamed it all on a rampaging elephant broken out of a nearby traveling circus. It’s almost too perfect, no doubt the scheme would have gone off without a hitch,” I joke, breaking into dry laughter. I hold the phone away from my face when it borders on unhinged.
“He is just plain lucky I don’t have any stray cousins who ran away to join one. It would really come in handy for plotting our revenge by elephant right about now,” he bemoans with a sarcastic flair. “Now let’s think outside the… tent. How do we feel about lions? With nary a tamer in sight? If we’re considering lions, there are some favors I could call in…”
“Well, if we’re talking about revenge plots, let’s focus on less maiming and more shaming. Send him home with his tail between his legs, if he had one that is. I think that would be most satisfying to witness,” I suggest playfully.
“Now that’s an idea I can really work with. I think you’re on to something. Ashes, he has got to be up to something, though. I don’t like it. I’ll keep a close eye on him. Everyone else will be doing the same. If you’re out and about today, why don’t I take you to lunch? You’ve been spending too much time alone this week. It’s not good for you,” he coaxes.
“No, not today, but thanks for the offer. I’m not ready to face more scrutiny. And I have so much work to do at home to get ready for my guests. I’m not above dropping a few fire ants into you-know-who’s bed. If you hear any complaints, it’s purely coincidence,” I quip, steering the conversation back to irreverence.
“Are you sure you can’t make it? I excel at running interference. Hanging out with me is like having a fifteen-hand busybody barrier at your beck and call.” We both chuckle. I can always count on him to make me laugh. “You know I canspot them a mile away. They’ve got that hungry gleam in their eyes, like they’ve been offered one of those delicious Pearlhouse Pastries cakes they only make at Yuletide. How do I know that? I see it every time I look in the mirror. Takes one to know one. And if someone starts acting too outrageous, we’ll feign some important town business, and you can just hop on my back. I’ll skedaddle us on out of there.”
“I’m sure you would,pony express. Soon. We’ll go soon. But not today,” I answer, trying to mask my melancholy with some giggles.
“Okay, Ada. But call me if that answer changes. Or if you need anything at all. You’re one of my best friends and I hate that I can’t do more to help you. This week has been tough. After everything that’s happened to you, and to Ben and Cara, we need to stick together, now more than ever.”
“I will. And thank you. You do way more than you give yourself credit for,” I assure him.
