Page 42 of Secrets of Ruin

“I don’t want to upset you; that’s the last thing I’m trying to do after everything you’ve been through,” Sahira said, “but I… I… I had to say something.”

“And now you have,” Kaylia muttered.

With that, she opened the door and strode into the hallway. Sahira remained standing beside Lexi.

“I had to say something,” Sahira whispered.

Lexi gave her a tremulous smile as she squeezed Sahira’s arm. “Yes, you did. It will be fine.”

Sahira hoped she was right.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

At first, Kaylia strode down the hall with irritated strides that left Sahira and Lexi trailing her. But as she walked, Sahira’s words dug deeper into her brain.

What Sahira suggested was impossible. She was the strongest witch in existence. She had a lot of power and would know if someone was casting a love spell over her or using a potion against her.

She was infuriated with Sahira for suggesting she could be so weak or that Fabian, the man she’d loved for centuries, would ever be capable of doing such a thing. He was far different than Brokk, but he was a good man who had loved her.

An immortal didn’t ask someone they didn’t love to marry them. But would that love drive him to use a potion or spell against me?

She hated herself for thinking it as guilt surged back to fierce life. He was a good man! How dare you doubt him!

Kaylia’s step slowed as it became difficult for her to keep walking. She should close the door on all her doubts; they weren’t fair to a man whose life was unfairly cut short, but now that it had been cracked open, her mind churned.

I have a lot of power now, and I did then too, but not as much as Fabian. He was older and more experienced. He knew things I didn’t and still don’t.

Warlocks were more likely than witches to dabble in darker magic and more likely to use those arts against another than witches. Fabian hadn’t been one of those warlocks.

At least as far as you know. It’s not like they make their practices well known.

Most warlocks were secretive about their abilities, but so were the witches. They couldn’t risk exposing any vulnerabilities to an enemy.

She’d believed she’d known everything about him, but looking back, they never discussed their practices with each other. They each had their separate time with their covens, which was a private thing.

I have no idea what kind of magic he practiced.

The realization was like a kick to the gut—one that left her laboring to breathe as her steps slowed enough that she could hear Lexi and Sahira behind her again.

I would have known if he cast a spell or used a potion on me!

But there were plenty of times he’d given her a drink before they got together. They’d been friends. She’d gone to his home, and he to hers.

They’d swapped tales, recipes, and concoctions. All of them had been innocent things, like a better way to help a tree grow or to cast bones. They’d shared their knowledge but never delved deeper into their practices.

Fabian had been arrogant, boastful, and not much for the work that went into some spells, but he was also fascinated with her, and they’d worked well together. There hadn’t been an instant spark, and as much as she hated acknowledging it, he hadn’t made her become completely unhinged during sex like Brokk did.

The sex between them had been great, but with Brokk, it was fantastic. She never had that level of chemistry with Fabian… or any other man until Brokk.

When she first met Fabian at the party, she found him too smooth and perfect. When he extended his hand to take hers, not one speck of dirt marred his skin.

His was the hand of someone who never got dirty, and she’d always preferred her men willing to plunge their hands into the earth. She’d liked them rougher, less composed, and without their hair so perfectly styled.

Fabian had made advances on her that night, but when she politely rebuked them, he’d taken it all in stride. It wasn’t until later in the night, when she told another witch she would be hunting for shantoo mushroom tomorrow, that he overheard her, and they started a conversation again.

He knew of a place where the fungus grew in abundance and would be happy to take her there. Kaylia had planned to spend most of the day trying to find the shantoo, but Fabian’s help would give her more time to create the potion she required to chase the imps from her garden. The small creatures disliked the smell of them and would flee from it.

Eager to get the annoying creatures away from her herbs, she’d agreed to go with him. The following morning, they gathered the mushrooms and learned more about each other.