“I mean, unless you don’t plan on bein’ the town witch.”
“I am the town witch,” she corrected with a roll of her eyes while picking up her sandwich. “Not the town healer, but I am the witch. I’ll be the connection to the outside world for the pack, and I’ll take up my responsibilities to the magic here, to help it flow and connect with the pack. The land, the magic, it’s struggling without direction, but I think it’s starting to expand again. Slowly, but it’s expanding.”
“The pack is growin’, so we need more land. Plus, everythin’ should finally be healin’. Right?”
“Right,” she agreed while staring at her sandwich. She couldn’t bring herself to take a bite, her stomach suddenly flipping a little. “The people here too. I got a list from the coven with therapist names and numbers, with actual training and certificates by the way, who were in the know of the supernatural community. I passed it onto Scarlett a few days ago, so... that should help as well. Help people to actually get better.”
“No more suckin’ it in because wolves don’t have emotions they let others see,” Henrik muttered, loosely quoting Colburn’s dad. “It’ll be good for them to learn some communication skills. All of ‘em. The shit they all put their mates through...”
“This is what happens when you bottle things up for years,” she commented idly before pointing her sandwich in his direction. “Don’t say it. My situation was different.”
“I’m not gonna say it,” Henrik said while raising a hand up in defense. “But uhh... did I tell you Tristan is back in town?”
She had a full mouth and was unable to really respond, but her eyes went wide all the same. Tristan was back? That was amazing. She had met his mate in passing only one time while in the diner, and she liked the woman, but had been a little... distant. Things had been rough right about that point.
But Tristan? She liked the kid. He was never scared of her fire, and he felt like an outsider as well. She understood that, being the only witch in a town filled with wolves. He had been five or six years younger than her, so she didn’t know him too well, but after hearing some of what the others had to say...
There was also mention of a tattoo at some point, one that he wanted. He was going to be the first person she offered a little ink to, followed by Silver.
“And Rodolphe as well. He came crawlin’ back smellin’ like a woman and sadness.”
Violet choked on her sandwich, remembering suddenly that she had never called Sam back. Shit, she was the worst friend ever imaginable. Oh, crap, there was probably a whole list of phone calls she needed to make, but Sam first.
Oh, poor Sam. Poor Rodolphe. There was no telling how the pair of them had fucked everything up, but given how Rodolphe had apparently told Sam he was a wolf and they were soulmates, and the fact that Sam didn’t believe in love being something that was real and could last forever...
Ohhh, Sam had mentioned he was a virgin as well. Shit. She really needed to make that phone call.
“I never called Sam back,” Violet explained as she finally cleared her throat after taking a sip of tea. “But if Roddy is back, I can at least talk to him and get to the bottom of things.”
“You’re sure Sam is the girl he’s been seein’?” Henrik questioned as he eyed her, then shook his head. “Nevermind. Stupid question. Shouldn’t ask a witch about things they just seem to know.”
Actually, it was called intelligent reasoning, but that too.
“I have so much to do,” Violet groaned, shaking her head a little at the thought. “I haven’t checked in on Silver, I’ve barely even really spoken to Ariana and Scarlett, I’ve met Gina once, I still haven’t walked the entire perimeter, and—”
“And you’re one witch, Violet. You can’t do it all at once and in one day. But, if you gotta figure it out, start with the people who are hurtin’ most, then go down from there.”
Right. People first. Then the land. And then...
She let out a long sigh before taking another bite of her sandwich. Because no, it wasn’t people first. She had to take care of herself first. She couldn’t help others if she was drained dry.
And there were a lot of others to help. So many others.
It was time for Garoureve to move forward, and to heal. After so long of being stuck in limbo...
“Things are gonna get better around here,” Henrik said, interrupting her thoughts. “I can see it already, and I know the others feel it. It’s been gettin’ better regardless of us, but with us here, now... things can become whole once more. Things can heal.”
“It’s going to take a long time,” she warned, knowing just how badly years of suffering could damage the soul... Maybe she should call one of those therapists.
“Life is a journey, Little Witch, and well, this town is finally movin’ forward again. Sure, it’s gonna take a long time, but it’s better than sittin’ where they were.”
She took another bite of her sandwich before shifting on the couch to tuck herself against him. Henrik shifted hands for his food, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, holding her close.
Moving forward. That was what they were all going to do. What they all needed to do.
“Hey, Henrik?” she whispered, not glancing at him, but instead staring into the fire. So long, fire had been her only companion. Fire and ice. She had forgotten the beauty in it, and the beauty in life. She had forgotten happiness and hope.
“Yes, Little Witch?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.