It hurt to say it but it hurt even worse to mean it.She nodded slowly. But her eyes—Gods—her eyes looked like she could see straight through me.
“I’ll give you time,” she whispered. “Just… don’t shut me out.”
I didn’t promise that because I couldn’t.But I did tell her the truth instead.
“I’ll try,” I murmured.
And for me—that was a confession.She turned to leave, but just before stepping out of my bedroom—which felt so damn right I wished I could reach out and stop her from leaving—she paused, looking back at me with something warm and devastating.
Then she was gone and the bond pulsed once more—slow, steady, undeniable.I winced, because I knew that I wasn’t pushing her away. Not really. I couldn’t bring myself to break what we had between us. If I wasn’t allowed to have her, then I was going to keep her friendship, but a part of me knew that in doing that,I was only hurting us both even more.
Chapter 26
Hanna
Making my way back down onto the coven’s floor, I exited the elevator and found Tabitha waiting in the doorway of her apartment. A smile was playing on her lips as she watched me, her narrowedlooktelling me, along with the twinkle in her eyes, that I wascaught.
I just wasn’t sure what I’d been caught doing. I looked around, making sure that I was the only one on the floor.
“What did I do?” I asked, dragging out the words as I got closer, feeling very much like a naughty child who’d been seen sticking their hand in the cookie jar.
“I don’t know,” she drawled out. “Whatdidyou do?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “I haven’t done anything, I swear!”
I walked into the arms she held open, surrounding myself with her love, reminded of my grandmother.
“I know you don’t mean to, but I’m certain things have been set into motion,” she whispered to me.
Taking a deep breath, I nodded, realizing what she wanted to discuss.
Oh, she’s good.
“I think I found him,” I told her, and instead of askingwhoI was talking about, she patted my back.
“Yes,” she confirmed for me, making my breath catch in my throat. “I think you did.”
I pressed my face against her shoulder, taking a deep breath. The scent of herbs and magick were rich on her, and it soothed me the way it had the first time she’d hugged me. It made me realize that no matter what, I had a place that I could call my own.
“When did you first know?” she asked, rubbing her hand along my back.
I sighed, memories flooding my mind.
The day the coven moved into the Everlock Clan Building had felt alive, like the air itself was holding its breath. Magick had hummed under my skin, soft and restless, and the scent of sage hung thick around the new apartments. I pretended to help with a crate of candles, though I was mostly watching everyone else—new faces, new energy, new unknowns.
And then I saw him.
Savla.
He wasn’t helping with the unpacking or laughing with the others. He stood off to the side, half-shadowed by the birch trees that were planted along the side of the building, sunlight spilling through the leaves and catching the dark waves of his hair. His sleeves were rolled to his elbows, a sprinkle of sawdust marking his shirt. He looked… somewhere else. Like he was listening to something no one else could hear.
There was a stillness to him that didn’t fit the chaos aroundus. Everyone else buzzed with motion and chatter, but Savla was carved from calm. He was quiet and untouchable. And Gods, something about that drew me in.
But in the next moment, he looked up—and caught me staring.
My breath stuttered in my chest when his eyes found mine and held, steady and unreadable. There was no smile, no acknowledgment, just that unwavering look—deep enough that I forgot what I’d been pretending to do. The noise around us blurred into nothing.
I looked away first. Not because I wanted to, but because Ihadto. My heart was pounding, and my fingers fumbled with the nearest candle like it mattered—when it definitely didn’t.
