The rich, savory scent of roasted meat and root vegetables filled the kitchen, a welcome comfort that finally managed to push back the medicinal smell of Eloise’s herbal teas. I sat at the heavy timber island, a plate of food in front of me that Demetrius had practically ordered me to eat. True to his word, he sat right next to me, his shoulder brushing mine, a constant and grounding warmth while Eloise occupied the stool across from us.
For a few minutes, the only sound was the quiet clinking of silverware, but the heavy silence in the room was impossible to ignore. The violet sparks from earlier might have vanished from my fingertips, but the anxious hum in my chest hadn't quieted down.
I set my fork down, looking across the counter at the ageless witch. "Eloise," I started, wrapping m
