I almost whimpered when he stepped so close his arm brushed my suddenly sensitive nipples. Then he pushed past, and I could finally breathe again.
I swayed on my feet and closed my eyes, before pulling myself together again. Whatever this was they were invoking in me—thesesensations—surely it would stop soon? Their effect on me didn’t make any sense.
I coughed to clear my throat, and then stepped through the veil myself. The colors around me in the woods and along the path immediately brightened, even in the dark. Moonlight lit the flowers that blossomed beside the cobblestones, and the air felt lighter and easier to breathe.
The two men were waiting for me. I wondered if they could sense the difference on this side of the veil, or if it was simply my magic responding to being close to home.
“All right, follow me, and don’t go wandering off the path,” I said, pushing past them. “Most of the witches and warlocks who live here have protections on their homes and the land surrounding them, and there’s no telling what might happen if you trip one of those. Especially if they realize what you are.”
The men frowned and pressed their lips and brows into identical scowls.
I tried really hard not to laugh, but a small smile escaped.
We walked through town, the main road paved and wide enough for a single car, or three or four people to walk abreast. Small, doll-like houses were dotted along the roadside, each home with its own garden and flowers aplenty.
There was color everywhere.
“Your town is beautiful,” Kyle said from behind me. “Nothing like ours.”
I knew it was Kyle even without looking back, because his tone was lighter and happier than Xander’s.
“Thank you,” I said. “How did you find us?”
Or findme, was more the appropriate question.
“We—” Kyle started, but Xander cut in.
“We spoke to a wolf shifter at a gas station a hundred miles back. He said to stop at Eagle Point, and we’d find a coven somewhere in the woods nearby.”
I frowned, weaving off the main street onto a narrow, stepped path that led to the high warlock’s mansion. “But the forest is vast. How did you findmein all that? Was it simply a coincidence?”
Neither of them answered.
We reached the high warlock’s home, which was the grandest building in our town. If it were any larger, we could almost use the term ‘castle’ to describe it. Not quite, but I always felt intimidated by its size.
I stepped up to the entrance of the well-lit building and turned to the two men. They both looked strangely uncomfortable.
“What is it?” I asked. “Did I say something wrong?”
Kyle shook his head. “No. It’s not your fault. All I know is, we were searching for a coven, and we foundyou.”
I looked at Xander, who shrugged.
I sighed. They obviously didn’t have an answer, but them finding me was truly like finding a needle in the proverbial haystack. It was so unlikely as to be almost impossible.
I shouldn’t have left the protection of the veil. And yet, despite the beauty of my home town, I felt so stifled in the coven’s grounds all the time. There was a whole world to discover beyond the veil, and we were supposed to remain here, in a single field in the forest. Forever.
“We’d better go in. He’s probably aware by now that we’re here.”
Kyle reached out and touched my arm.
I gasped as shivers of awareness tingled through my body. Xander glanced away, angry ripples coursing over his face.
What the hell is that about?
Kyle dropped his hand, and the strange moment passed.
“Well, come on then.” I stepped up to the large black door and knocked twice. “This should be interesting.”