“Yes, it could’ve.” He sighed. “And then I dare say we wouldn’t be sitting here. But we’ve all had near misses, Nick. There are mistakes I made when I was learning my craft that could’ve had dire consequences if someone hadn’t been there to fix them.” He met my gaze, expression fierce. “The only difference is that you made yours with no safety net.”
“Because I thought I didn’t need one.”
“Yes. And yes, you needed to be taught a harsh lesson because itcouldhave been so much worse. But stripping you of your magic for nine fucking years was never the answer.” His voice was like ice by the time he let go of me and sat back. “So don’t worry about putting me in a difficult position with the council, because I’m fucking thrilled that Dathal’s magic has broken your punishment. And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure the council can’t reinstate it.”
I let his words sink in.
“Thank you.”
David smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. “I know you were forced to leave your family to come here, Nick. But I’d hoped you’d come to think of us as part of your family too.”
My coven.
I might have resisted thinking of them that way, but as David spoke, I realised they’d become that anyway. Me sitting here with him discussing one of the most important moments of my life and trusting him to help me with it was proof of that. “I do,” I said, hoping he heard the sincerity of it.
His smile widened, making his eyes crinkle. “Then you should know there’s no need to thank me.”
He stood, so I did the same. “I should be getting home.”
“Thank you for coming here so late.” Apparently I couldn’t help myself.
David rolled his eyes. “Whenever you need me, Nick.”
I escorted him to the back door of the club so he didn’t have to wade through the patrons.
He paused in the doorway. “I know you didn’t leave Bude in the best of circumstances, but remember your old coven fought against the council’s decision.” He patted my shoulder. “Don’t forget that.”
I watched him leave then closed my eyes, resting against the doorjamb. He was right. I’d left my home under a dark cloud, too pissed off at my family to see that they were trying to help me. And when the anger faded, shame took its place.
And then it felt like too much time had passed.
I spoke to my family, not often, but I kept in touch. I’d never been back there, though.
Maybe it was time to swallow my pride and repair some bridges, if they weren’t already crumbled to dust.
I rubbed a thumb over my wrist, staring down at the solitary link. Maybe Dathal had erased more than just the spell suppressing my magic. Maybe he’d unlocked a part of me I thought was shut off for good.
* * *
My phone rangwhile I was helping Kevin behind the downstairs bar an hour later. It wasn’t as busy as a Saturday night, but busy enough for me to cover while Nya, the other bartender, went on break. I checked the screen between orders, smiling when I saw Dathal’s name.
I wanted to answer it, wanted to know what they’d found out in the Fae Realm, because I knew by now that he had no issue telling me all about the investigation. Whether he was supposed to or not.
And I wanted to talk to him, just to hear his voice. Although you wouldn’t initially know that English wasn’t his first language, there was a richness and a lilt to his words that gave him away if you listened hard enough. And I always listened.
But talking to him would have to wait, at least until Nya came back.
My phone burnt a hole in my pocket until finally I escaped to the relative quiet of my office. I hit Call on Dathal’s number. My heart rate sped up in anticipation and I rolled my eyes. I was twenty-nine, not nineteen again, but something about Dathal made me feel as wild and reckless as I had back then. Not necessarily a good thing, but hopefully I’d learnt to recognise where the line was and not cross it this time.
I was just about to hang up when Dathal answered. “Hey.”
I smiled automatically, settling back in my seat as his voice washed over me. Even muted as it was through the phone, it sent a shiver down my spine. “Sorry I couldn’t answer earlier. I was helping out behind the bar.”
“Don’t apologise. I knew you’d be busy.”
It felt like that was directed at someone other than me, and sure enough, I heard another voice in the background. “Is this a bad time?”
“Yes.” Dathal said but carried on talking before I had time to take offence at his bluntness. “Axel and I are on our way to meet Max and Gabriel at the police station. We may have a lead on the witches that were helping Melhak smuggle and refine the Blue Alhuirn.”
