Page 112 of Rituals & Rivalry

“I’ll buy you a new one.” I kiss the top of her head. “I’ll buy you a hundred.”

Silence passes for a moment.

“Is this a bad time to say that I’m falling for you?” she whispers.

I pull away to look her in the eye, and more than ever, I can tell she wants to run away. Her eyes are wide, her lips parted. I can sense the words dancing on the tip of her tongue. It’s like she’s prey, and I’m the hunter.

She doesn’t know how close to the truth that is. Being close to me is dangerous, but I’ll never hurt her or anyone else. Never again.

I shake my head. “Never a bad time.”

As scared as she is—as we both are—she remains, smiling sheepishly, gazing at me with something that can only be described as affection.

Of course, the cottage disagrees with me. The room rattles. This is probably what an earthquake feels like, and the walls appear to be squeezing in on us. Just an illusion, but this always feels so real.

“Guess she didn’t like that,” she mumbles, seemingly unaffected by it all.

But I’m not.

I’m still not.

Because this cottage, everything it’s become, has always been my responsibility.

And I ruined her. Usually, it doesn’t affect me, but it does now—and she wants it to. Can Aurora hear how she’s wailing? Can she hear that she’s wailing my name, that she has been all along? Or is that just for me?

Wendy. My first love.

Trapped in the walls of this cottage.

Refusing to leave me, even though I’m finally ready to move on.

Chapter 34

Aurora

“I’ve never been in love before,” I tell Farrah factually as we walk through the park with our warm drinks—hot chocolate for me, coffee for her. I have no clue how she drinks coffee at this time of the night and manages to sleep, and she’s not spilling her secrets. “But I think I’m close to it now.”

Really close. Truthfully, Sterling isn’t the only one I’m in love with; Starbrook has stolen my heart, too.

At this point, I’m used to the cottage. As long as it’s not raining on me, I’m happy. I’ve gotten used to the rattling. To her laughter.

But there’s clearly something wrong with Sterling.

The last time he came over, he went quiet until he asked me to go to his place instead, where he’s suddenly normal. Every time I invited him over, he said no. He’s always been a weird guy, at least in my eyes, but it’s getting to a new level.

Then again, I guess no one wants to hang out at a haunted cottage—except for my mom. And me, I guess. I feel almost bad for leaving it alone, like it was for so many years, as ridiculous as that sounds.

It does sound ridiculous. I feel ridiculous. Because I’m bonding with a cottage like it’s a person. More importantly, I’m letting myself fall in love, which is the stupidest thing a girl can do.

“I knew you two were going to be good together,” Farrah gushes. “Please, continue not telling me the details, but I’m happy for you. Maybe it will be my turn next.”

“I bet it will be. I have a good feeling.”

Not that my abilities have ever ventured into love magic—not even close. Even Venus, the signifier of love in astrology, hasn’t really spoken to me. Maybe she will now that I’m falling in love. Love itself sure does feel a lot like magic. Totally unbelievable and invigorating, just like unraveling the mysteries of the stars.

“I’ve never been lucky in love.” She lifts a shoulder. “Weird, considering my magic, but it’s easier to help other people. Can I tell you a secret?”

I stop walking, looking at her solemnly. “Anything.”