“But it hurt you?” She frowned, and his heart swelled. There was something about the look she was giving him that just filled him with a happy content feeling.
“Yes, it still hurt me,” he replied. It was confusing, but anything was progress in his mind, especially if it meant he and Faye could finally progress in their relationship. Maybe he could even ask her to marry him. Then again, after the disaster that’d been Bex’s wedding, maybe not.
“Why?” Her eyes widened, and he longed to remove the hurt from them, maybe soon.
“I don’t know,” he answered, half-truthful. He had a good idea what the change was, but he didn’t want to voice it until he was sure. Only problem was that he had no idea how to find out if he was right or not. In theory, all he’d have to do is find the woman Faye was talking about. Except, he had no idea where they’d met, what her name was, or anything else. He daren’t ask Faye either, he didn’t want to get her hopes up.
“Oh.” She pushed herself up from the sofa, and he already felt bereft at the loss of closeness. Even if they couldn’t touch, he always felt more complete when she was near him. “Dinner?” she asked, breaking through his thoughts. He nodded once, and got up to help.
Chapter Four
“Faye, are you listening?”
“Huh?” she asked her older sister. Well, her middle sister. Mia was between her and Bex in age.
“Obviously not. I’d ask if you were in love, but...”
“We all know Reese is it for me,” she replied without thinking. Except now, she wasn’t so sure. Images of the toned redhead from the day before assailed Faye’s mind. Yes, she definitely wasn’t so sure anymore. She shouldn’t be feeling like that about anyone other than Reese, should she? She’d known they were meant to be mates since they were children, and her magic had sparked when they’d touched for the first time. Oh the blissful innocence of youth, when they could touch without the pain. It’d all stopped when they’d turned eighteen, though the arrival of Faye’s familiar, in the shape of a raven, had stopped her from doubting that they were meant to be together. It all just added up towards one thing, he was hers.
“We do, yes. Now, I was trying to suggest you used this potion...”
“It won’t work,” Faye interrupted. She was grateful to Mia for trying, but there were some things she knew deep down were true. And one of them was that no amount of potions or spells was going to sort the problem she had. Magic would, but it wasn’t the kind of magic that could be cast or brewed. It was a more fundamental magic that would be the answer. One that was entwined with the very nature of the universe itself.
The redhead crossed through Faye’s mind again, and she shook her head to get rid of the image. How could she be thinking of another woman like that? She had Reese, and he was all she needed. Even if he couldn’t give her some things.
“Will you at least try?” Mia asked, her eyes begging Faye, who sighed.
“Fine,” she gave in, knowing it would likely be easier to do so than to listen to her sister berate her for the rest of the afternoon. She wasn’t even sure why Mia had the afternoon off work. She really shouldn’t. She wasn’t like Faye, whose job as a makeup artist had weird hours. Instead, Mia worked in a lab, mixing things. That was where her sister’s talents lay, in potions and other mixes. Faye’s powers were far more subtle. More in line with the finer arts. She could use her magic to create stunning makeup, even some cake decorations. But what she wouldn’t admit to anyone, was that she failed every time she tried to do any bigger magic.
When she’d been little, her eldest sister, Bex, had often done the spells underhandedly, then passed them off as Faye’s work. She’d gotten lucky in the sister department. She glanced at Mia, who was scooping up potion from her cauldron and putting it into a small vial. The potion shined a light pink, and sparkled in the light. Yes, Faye was very lucky in the sister department, she didn’t know how she could ever repay all the other two did for her.
“Here you go,” Mia said, handing her the vial.
“Thanks,” she muttered, slipping it into her pocket. “I still don’t think it’ll work.”
“I know,” Mia replied instantly, “but it’s at least worth a try, Faye. Anything is better than seeing you in as much pain as you’re in now.”
“I’m not in pain,” she insisted, the returning look on Mia’s face showing how little her sister believed her.
“Not physical pain maybe.” Mia sighed. “Have you tried the necklace recently?” she changed tack.
“No. You know I...”
“Here.”
Before Faye could protest further, a long jewellery box was thrust into her hand. She should’ve known Mia had this planned. She put a lot of stock in the necklaces their Grandmother had left them. In fact, Mia was wearing hers already, the stone nestled against her chest. She’d never admit it, but seeing the stone always made Faye a little jealous. She’d known her mate the longest, much longer than Mia had known Felix, and yet her own box was lying stubbornly unopened.
“Just try,” Mia said.
“Fine, but only because it’s you.” And because it was easier to give into her, than it was to fight it. Slowly, and knowing what the outcome would be, Faye pressed the catch. She drew in a sharp breath and almost dropped it when the box opened for her, revealing a necklace just like Mia?
?s, but with a slightly pinkish glow to the stone. “But...”
“Has something changed recently?” Mia asked, perceptive as always. Well, apart from the time she managed to accidentally get herself love potioned without realising it. If Faye wasn’t so distracted right now, then she’d definitely be ribbing her sister over that.
“No, I...well yes.”
“Which is it?” Mia smirked. Damn sisters. Always thinking they knew better.