102
Emma
Kai had lied as he told me that they would be gentle, but I didn’t care anyway.
And I don’t care now.
Even when I feel them still on me with every move I make.
“If we hurry, we can be at Corvina’s by tonight,” Kai celebrates, closing the last bag to carry outside.
“Should I carry you?” Ace asks hopefully, the pill box already in his hand.
I shake my head, flashing him a wide smile. “No. It’s all good.”
“Okay,” he says, crestfallen, and I feel a bit sad at his slight disappointment.
But the witch had said that he has to choose between the day and the night, or it would kill him.
And even if I would love him to touch me again after how he touched me yesterday, I think it is important not to overdo it with those meds.
“Ready, babe?” Kai holds his hand out to me, tearing me out of my spiralling thoughts. “Let's not miss it this time, please.”
Taking his hand, I laugh, feeling his impatient emotions stream over to me. “Let’s get out of here.”
We leave the tavern, and I wave to Pansi, who waves back with a smile, while my mates don’t even look his way as they are too concentrated to flee the place.
Reaching Hilda, who is standing next to the alley we came out of the day we were catapulted into this witchy town, and she barely opens her mouth to wish us a good morning, as Kai is already gesturing around impatiently. “Let’s get going, trainee witch. We have no time left to waste.”
She pouts but catches herself swiftly, and we walk into the narrow street until we reach an arched stone gate with ivy climbing up the walls surrounding it.
“I’m so sick of this,” Kai mutters under his breath, and I take his hand, squeezing it as we wait for Hilda to create the portal in what seems to be in slow motion.
As the portal is finally standing, sizzling steadily, Kai pushes Hilda to the side before she can turn around happily to announce to us that it is ready. “Well, it was a pleasure, baby witch. Have a nice life.”
I giggle, pulling my hand out of my mate’s grip, and I go to hug Hilda. “Thank you for everything, Hilda. I hope to see you soon. Come and visit us one time.”
She flashes me a happy smile while her eyes fill with tears. “Oh, I’d love to.”
Kai clicks his tongue, wrapping his arm around my waist and dragging me away from her, following Ace through the portal.
My eyes well up as well as I wave at Hilda, who waves back before we get through the portal, landing from a bustling town to an eerily silent ruin.
Kai takes a deep breath and continues walking without setting me down. “Goddess, I can’t wait to be home.”
“I want to eat Mom’s strawberry pie,” Ace says as we reach the car, and Kai agrees with him as he repositions me on his shoulder, careful not to apply too much pressure on my belly.
I look back at Ace with a big smile, loving how he looks forward to getting home and seeing his family. “Oh, I would love a slice too.”
Kai squeezes my ass before he lets me down and opens the door for me to get into the car. As I settle into the backseat, they get into the Beetle as well, and Ace drives us back to Corvina’s house.
During the hours it takes us to drive back, I close my eyes, listening to the hushed voices of Kai and Ace blabbering about random things, and I smile to myself, my heart beating lighter.
Corvina is already waiting for us in front of her cosy home, waving at us excitedly as Ace drives through the gate, halting on the dirt road before her beautiful garden begins.
“My babies brought my baby home,” she announces as she walks towards us with open arms.
Kai walks straight up into her hug, lifting her from the ground before putting her back down with a chuckle. “Hey, Aintín, we missed you. But we really need to go home.”
Corvina looks at him, laughing, shaking her head. “Come in and eat. Let your wife rest, and tomorrow morning I’ll send you back. I’ve already talked to your mother. Something happened, so they are happy that you are coming back.”
My chest squeezes, Ace’s and Kai’s expression darkening as they turn serious. “What happened?”
“She asked me not to tell you and let Emma rest. It has time. Everything is under control. But please,” she looks up to Ace, laying her hand onto his cheek, and a smile grows on her lips as she changes the subject. “Glad to see that you are doing alright.”
“Corvina, please,” I plead, taking a step forward, kneading my fingers. “You have to tell us something.”
Letting her arms slump, she sighs. “Come in first. Let me make you something to eat. You need to be fit tomorrow if you want to travel back to your realm.”
She looks back at Kai, her expression turning serious. “And your Luna needs to rest.”
“Yeah, I know that,” Kai mutters, annoyed, picking up the bags to get into the house.
We follow him silently, and Ace and I go upstairs, noticing that the rooms have changed since we were gone.
Stepping into a large bedroom with a huge bed, I giggle to myself while Kai and Ace dump the bags onto the floor next to the windows.
“But we need to sleep,” I joke, getting onto my knees to go through our things, and Kai hugs me from behind, tickling me.
“Of course, princess,” he whispers into my ear, chuckling.
After finally listening to my pleas to let me go, he straightens back up and puts his hands into his pockets. “What are you doing?”
Caressing my hair off my shoulders, I open the next bag, rummaging through it. “I’m searching for the souleaters you bought at the market.”
The atmosphere suddenly shifts, Ace closing the door abruptly, making me jump.
“Why?” Kai asks with a strange tone laced in his voice.