Page 48 of Little Witch

I thought about it honestly before answering. "Getting there. I've got my dad back. You've got your brother back. I've got you two." I glanced between them both. "That's a pretty good place to be getting to, all things considered."

"Good," Orias murmured against my shoulder, mouth trailing higher, toward my jaw. "Because I'd very much like to properly celebrate that, if you're not too tired."

"I'm exhausted," I said, already tilting my head to give him better access, already feeling Rowan's hand tighten around mine in silent agreement with wherever this was going. "Doesn't mean I want you to stop."

"Good answer," Rowan murmured, close to my ear, and I felt him shift closer at the same moment Orias's mouth finally found mine.

It was slow this time. No adrenaline chasing it, no desperation left over from a fight neither of us had been sure we'd survive. Just Orias's mouth against mine, unhurried, and Rowan's hand sliding up under the hem of my shirt, fingers tracing warm, deliberate lines against my ribs like he had nowhere else in the world he needed to be.

I hummed against Orias's mouth as Rowan's hand found my breast, thumb brushing slow over my nipple through the thin fabric, and felt the answering hitch in my own breath echo straight through the kiss. Orias smiled against my lips, clearly feeling it too, and deepened the kiss just enough to swallow the small sound that escaped me when Rowan's mouth found the side of my neck instead, teeth grazing gentle over skin still faintly pink from the day.

"Off," I breathed, tugging at Orias's shirt, and he obliged without hesitation, pulling it over his head and tossing it somewhere off the bed before helping me out of my own.

Rowan's mouth never left my neck the whole time, working lower with unhurried patience, and by the time both twins had me properly bare between them I was already trembling, caught between two sets of hands that seemed to know exactly where to touch and exactly how slow to take it. Orias's mouth closed over one breast while his hand slid lower, fingers finding me slick and aching within seconds, and I arched up into both of them at once with a moan I didn't even try to muffle this time.

"There she is," Rowan murmured, watching my face with an intensity that never seemed to fade no matter how many times he'd already seen exactly this expression. "No reason to be quiet tonight, love. It's just us."

"Good," I managed, before Orias's fingers found the perfect rhythm and stole whatever else I'd been about to say.

They took their time with me, trading off between mouths and hands until I was strung tight and shaking, until Rowan finally settled between my thighs and Orias pulled my mouth to his to swallow the sound I made when Rowan pushed inside, slow enough that every inch felt like its own kind of confession. Orias's hand found mine, lacing our fingers together against the sheets, and I let myself get lost in the two of them completely — Rowan's steady, deliberate rhythm, Orias's mouth trailing over every inch of skin he could reach, both of them murmuring low, filthy, tender things against my skin in equal measure until the whole day, the whole ordeal, finally burned itself out into something that felt only like pleasure and relief and the two of them, right where they belonged.

When I finally came apart between them, it wasn't loud. It didn't need to be. It was quiet and complete and utterly theirs, and I felt both of them follow not long after, murmuring soft things against my skin as we all came back down together, tangled and sweat-damp and entirely spent.

"Well," Orias said eventually, voice wrecked and satisfied in equal measure, pressing a kiss to my temple. "Ten out of ten. Would survive a magical prison again."

"Don't jinx it," I mumbled, already half asleep against his chest.

Rowan's hand found my hip, thumb tracing slow circles the way it always did right before sleep pulled him under. "Whatever comes next," he said quietly, "we handle it exactly like this. Together. All three of us."

"Deal," I whispered, and let myself sink into the warmth of both of them, exhausted and happy and finally, properly home.

A Few Weeks Later At The Festival

The smell of cinnamon, apples, and pumpkin spice wafted through the air, mixing with the cool crispness of the autumn breeze. The Halloway's Hearth stall was bustling, surrounded by the warm glow of lanterns and the steady hum of the annual festival in Autumn's Hollow. Everywhere I looked, there were bursts of color — fiery reds, burnt oranges, deep golds — the very essence of fall wrapped around the town like a cozy blanket.

Children ran past, laughing and chasing each other, while adults meandered between the stalls, admiring the crafts, baked goods, and fall harvests. Straw bales and pumpkins lined the streets, jack-o'-lanterns glowing softly in the early evening light. The whole town was alive with the spirit of autumn, but this year felt even more special.

It was our first festival since the woods had been restored. Since we'd balanced the magic. The darkness was gone. The Hollow was safe. The world was alive again, thriving, and it showed in every corner of town.

We were free. All of us.

We were home.

"Need a hand with that, little witch?" Orias' voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I turned to see him standing beside me at the stall, sleeves rolled up, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He was holding a tray of freshly baked pumpkin muffins, actually holding it correctly this time, which felt like real progress after several weeks of supervised baking lessons. His eyes glowed that familiar soft pink-violet in the fading light as he set the tray down, grinning at me in a way that still made my toes curl every single time.

"I've got it, but thanks," I teased, brushing a stray bit of pink hair from my face. "You've been slacking all day. Someone has to keep things running smoothly."

"Slacking?" He raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. "I've been working this stall with you since sunrise. I deserve at least a little credit. Perhaps a kiss?"

I laughed and kissed him anyway. The festival had been an absolute whirlwind, but the twins had stayed by my side the whole time, playful energy keeping me going even when my feet had started to ache hours ago.

"Don't ignore me," Rowan called from the other end of the stall, elbow-deep in a box of napkins he'd been meant to restock ten minutes ago and clearly hadn't. "I've also been working extremely hard today. Emotionally, if not physically."

"You ate more muffins than you sold."

"Quality control is exhausting." Orias defended his brother.