Page 113 of Hexed & Hazy

“I love you.” The words I’ve been wanting to say for weeks, months, finally gush out. “The hex. It was Farrah⁠—”

“I know.”

“Right.” I nod. “You know, but I talked to her. We resolved it, and I did it all for you—and a little for her. To make things right. For you. Because I love you⁠—”

She presses a finger to my lips. “Stop talking. I love you, too.”

And then she kisses me, so firm and certain, even though I’ve done enough to make anyone uncertain. Rowan is the only one who doesn’t doubt me. She weaves her fingers into my hair and kisses me deeply, claiming and warming me with her fire.

When she pulls away, I’m talking again.

“I want to name the garden after you,” I say. “Donnie says I can name it, and I want… I want it to be for you.”

She tilts her head to the side. “That’s very sweet, but I have a better idea.”

I blink. “Do you?”

“Mhm. You’ve done more than enough to prove your love for me. You, a man without magic, broke a hex. You made right by everyone you’ve ever been with, and I… I see you. How much you’ve done. That’s enough for me. You’re enough for me.”

Those words are all I’ve ever wanted to hear, and for the first time in weeks, I’m warm all over in a way only Rowan can make me feel.

“Well, it’s not enough for me.”

She tugs at my shirt, leading me into my house. “Luckily for you, you’ll have plenty of time to make up for it.”

Chapter 38

Rowan

“I don’t know if I can do this,” Farrah whispers, looking at Aspen with wide eyes. “Are you sure you can’t just…? I mean, you’re probably better at this than I am.”

“It has to be you.” Aspen sighs softly and shakes her head. As disappointed as she seems to be, she’s been patient with Farrah. More than I have been. “Reversing a hex is easier than making one, and you seemed to do that so effortlessly. What are you worried about?”

Seth covers his mouth to hide his laughter. At least one of us is amused.

“I haven’t cast any spells in two weeks,” Farrah says.

Aspen squeezes her shoulder. “That’s not so long. You’re a natural, darling. Stop holding yourself back.”

It’s been a week since the Frost and Fern festival, and Farrah and Aspen have had plenty of time to plan for this. Seth and I have gathered around Ozan’s shop with them after hours, all too much like the time we originally found out about the hex.

The past week hasn’t been perfect, but Seth and Farrah’s conversation seems to have lessened the hex to where it’s been manageable. Now, it’s time to get rid of it. For good.

Farrah moves onto her knees and begins her salt circle, but she stops, glancing at me. “I’m really sorry about everything⁠—”

“Please. Stop apologizing,” I say. It isn’t the first time she’s done so, and while I don’t doubt her sincerity, words can only do so much. It’s time for action. “If anyone knows about magic gone wrong, it’s me. When we were trying to break the hex, I burned poor Seth.”

He winces. “That one hurt more than the hex, let me tell you.”

“You aren’t the one who sprained an ankle,” I snap playfully.

Farrah chuckles and tucks a piece of her straw-like hair behind her ear. Something tells me she’s trying not to apologize again, which I appreciate. Aspen sets smoky quartz points around her, and I stand back as Seth joins her in the circle.

There they stand, the two of them, surrounded by salt and protective crystals. Aspen passes Farrah a dark tincture, and Farrah clears her throat.

“The past is the past,” she says. “So let it stay there. Release this hex and let this man love without fear.”

Not the strongest of spells—and written in English rather than the language of spellcasters, which is unusual—but it may do the job. Love witches have more mundane spells anyhow, and at least we know her intentions plainly.