Page 50 of This Witch Is Not Wicked

I stared at her, breathing hard, the words on the tip of my tongue, our faces so impossibly close.

I wasn’t sure who moved first. But suddenly we were crashing into each other, our mouths colliding. My hands threaded through her black hair, and hers slid up to my shoulders.

I pried open her mouth with mine and slipped my tongue inside, and she let out a little moan that turned me molten. Enid was always so put together, so guarded, but it felt like she was losing control in this moment as much as I was, and it made me even more feral for her.

I wrapped my arms tight around her so that her body was flush against mine while I kissed her like I might never get the chance again. Maybe I hadn’t answered with my words, but I hoped this kiss would be answer enough.

Her hands moved from my shoulders to my neck, and her nails grazed my skin, sending shudders through me as we continued to kiss.

It was as amazing as I thought it would be. A small part of me had thought kissing her would satiate my curiosity, but now I knew it would only make me want more. So, so much more.

A knock sounded at the door, and we split apart. I stared at Enid as her fingers went to her lips, horror flashing in her eyes.

Fuck. I’d gotten carried away in the moment.

“Enid,” I started, but a voice cut me off.

“Nevan, are you in there?” Cillian yelled.

“What is your brother doing here?” Enid hissed. “Does he know about Ambrose? Let me guess, he wants to exile me again.”

“No. Of course not.” I strode to the door and opened it to reveal Cillian, arms crossed and an annoyed expression on his face.

“You closed your lab in the middle of the day to visit your girlfriend?” He glared at Enid over my shoulder like it was her fault. “You’re the only healer we have, Nevan.”

“I know,” I said, an edge to my voice. “That’s why I’ve suggested hiring another healer. I do have a life, you know.”

Cillian sighed.

“We’re done here anyway,” Enid said behind me, and I turned, trying to catch her gaze, hoping she’d give me some kind of hint about how she felt right now.

But a mask had slipped over her face, and I had no idea what she was thinking.

“Good,” Cillian said. “Because you have patients that need care.”

My shoulders slumped. I couldn’t say anything else, not with Cillian here and not when Enid clearly didn’t want me to stay.

“Okay,” I said finally, voice full of resignation. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the festival?”

Enid didn’t look at me, just nodded, and I turned and walked out the door, letting it close behind me without a look back.

CHAPTER 21

Enid

Ipaced inside my cottage. The morning sun shone bright, yet I was tired and irritable after a night of tossing and turning and questioning everything.

Nevan had kissed me. I’d asked him if he wanted Ambrose to come next month, and instead of answering, he’d kissed me.

It had been everything I thought it would be. And that was what had terrified me the most. The kiss had felt impossibly intimate—like Nevan was revealing so much of himself, his feelings, with his mouth on mine.

Vine jabbed its tail at the door.

“I know I’m supposed to go to the festival.”

Apparently there was some huge celebration today, and I was meeting Nevan soon. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to meet him when I didn’t even know what to say after yesterday. I was also confused how Fiona had overheard us. She shouldn’t have been able to hear Ambrose’s voice. That was the entire point of the curse laid upon the Fair Folk. Maybe it had something to do with the town’s magic, but I couldn’t think about that right now because Vine was currently pushing me toward the door.

“Hey, stop that.” I swatted at it, and it flopped to the floor dramatically. “Just give me a minute.” I bit my lip, making a snap decision to tell Vine the truth. “Nevan kissed me yesterday.”