Page 38 of Resurrecting the Witch
But I also didn’t want anything to threaten what had transpired the last few weeks between us. I was about to die if I didn’t get inside her cunt and claim her as mine, but I knew I couldn’t do that until she knew the full truth about me. Tasting her had been a momentary lapse in judgment, one I hadn’t regretted in the slightest, but it also hadn’t been fair to start something physical with her until she knew my whole truth. I had many opportunities over the last couple of weeks to tell her, but I hadn’t been able to get the words past my tongue. They froze up because I didn’t want anything to ruin the bright light I’d found with her. I hadn’t wanted to utter Lady Orla’s name in her presence. I should have shared more sooner, but anytime my own history was brought up, I deflected in a way that had started making me feel guilty, despite guilt not being an emotion I feel often.
“Does Cliona know about Lady Orla? And her grandparents?”
“In what way?” Guillermo asked. He was good at his job. He always asked questions in a way that wasn’t condescending or felt belittling. He was genuinely curious, in the way most witches were, but his went another level since he was able to connect with someone’s soul as an empath. Whatever he saw in mine must have passed the test since I was here to begin with. He was a good male.
I blinked at him not fully knowing how to answer his question. “Does she know what I did for Lady Orla? Or my own history with the Ó Cuinn coven? Or how the sídhe were responsible for pushing her grandparents out of Ireland in the first place?”
“I think she knows more than what she shares with me,” he answers in a way that doesn’t give me any more information. “You need to tell her; only then you will find out your answers.”
I sighed heavily and knew the bastard was right. “I know.” I rubbed at my temples and heard the timer ding signaling the end of our time together.
“You got this,” Dr. Luna said and stood up to walk me out. He clapped me on the back. The show of brotherhood was more appreciated than he knew at that moment. “Just be honest with her. Cliona appreciates honesty more than anything.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. I haven’t exactly been forthcoming the last two weeks,” I admitted.
“You also aren’t expected to share every sorted detail of your past with someone you just met. I know you haven’t slept with her yet, and since I have gotten to know you since you’ve been here, I know that was a conscious choice on your part.” He narrowed his eyes at me and noted my gulp. “She will too, Patrick. Just be patient with her.”
“I will always be patient for Cliona. I will be anything and everything for her.”
He laughed and opened the door to shoo me out. “Stop by Lennox’s and tell her you are going for a Schmidt tactic, and she’ll give you something to bring with you,” Dr. Luna said and shut the door.
I walked out of Town Hall only a few moments later onto the bustling streets of the Town Square. The Samhain Festival was only two days away. It would start Friday afternoon. I hadn’t had a chance to look at the full itinerary, but I knew, based on the other sabbats, that there would be customs from several cultures implemented so everyone was able to celebrate in community with one another.
If Lennox could help, I only needed to walk across the street to The Witch’s Brew, where she was working. I hadn’t seen a day where she wasn’t behind the counter slinging coffee and making recipes.
The familiar smells of coffee beans and pumpkin surrounded me as I entered her shop. The tables had a few residents reading or writing. There was a group of older ladies in the corner that were working on needlepoint in the oversized chairs.
“Fancy meeting you here, Patrick.” I jerked in surprise at Tonya’s voice as she turned around on a stool at the counter. She was alone, drinking what looked like a fancy drink in a bright green mug. “Do you have a few minutes?”
Feck me, I hadn’t come in here with the intent of seeing Tonya. Why couldn’t this female take a hint? Or maybe she needed to discuss her training, in which case I had to keep it together.
“I’m actually just here to see Lennox.” I nodded toward the register where she was checking someone out.
“It will just take a few minutes, I promise.” Her shoulders deflated, and I heard the desperation in her tone. My gut was telling me she might need a friend. I took a closer look and saw her normally perfect appearance slightly disheveled. Her blonde hair was in a messy bun on the top of her head, and she had on less makeup than I’d ever seen her wear.
I sat down on the stool next to her and waited for her to speak.
“I wanted to apologize.” I jerked my head to her. Tonya was beautiful in all rights, but I’d never been interested in her in that way. First, she was human, and I got the sense the few humans on this island had a more haunting past than the rest of us creatures. She had curves and often wore tight-fitting clothing, so you had no choice but to notice them. Her face was painted in cosmetics a good portion of the time and she always had confidence about herself that was nice to see in anyone, especially a human not amongst their own kind.
“Apologize for what?”
“Oh don’t play dumb, Patrick.” Staring straight ahead, she took a sip of her coffee. “I have been trying to get you to notice me for months and I acted like an idiot in front of Cliona.”
“You aren’t wrong there.”
She shoved my arm, muttering, “Asshole.” I grinned at her, and she chuckled. “I’m trying to apologize for being rude and you aren’t making it any easier, you know?” She had a sad look in her eyes that had me wanting to comfort her, but I knew that would be inappropriate. If Tonya had done anything the last few months, it was making her intentions clear she was interested in me in more than a defense instructor type of way.
“I do know.” I nodded and stood up. “Thank you, Tonya. I accept your apology, but maybe talk to Cliona too?”
“It’s on the list.” She nodded and held out her hand for me to shake. I didn’t want to touch her, but I shook it anyway as part of the human custom. I walked toward the counter and smiled at the look on my mate’s best friend’s face that promised violence at my interaction with Tonya.
“Do I need to chop off your balls for talking to another woman in my shop?” Lennox narrowed her eyes at me in accusation.
“It offends me you would even question my intentions in talking to Tonya.”
She shrugged. “I would do so much more for her than promising to cut your balls from your body, Patrick.”
“I know you would. It’s why I’m here.”
