Cauldrons and Cat Tails (Moonvale Matches #2)

23. Kizzi

CHAPTER 23

Kizzi

R une’s home was something straight out of a storybook. It was perched beside the water, with dunes and palm trees at its back, and it was as picturesque as a cottage could possibly be. Even scattered with signs of little ones, toys and art projects strewn about, it was adorable.

Rune’s mate, too, was a pleasant eyeful. He was a fae, I thought, with a stocky build and pointed ears. Garren, his name was. He was draped in the light flowy style of clothing that was popular in the beach town. It was surprisingly comfortable—I had purchased myself a new outfit at the market after settling at the inn.

Tandor and I were seated at the family’s dinner table as if we belonged there. Technically, Tandor did belong, but I was an outsider, and they accepted me with open arms. It was enough to tighten my throat and make the backsides of my eyes prickle.

Dishes were passed around the table. Some of the foods were familiar, things I had tried before, but some of them were new. The scent of herbs and broiled vegetables permeated the air, assuring me that whatever the foods were, they were sure to be delicious.

I loaded my plate up with a scoop of red rice, some grilled meat, and a healthy serving of the vegetable dish. Fresh baked bread was served on the side, still steaming from the oven. My mouth watered.

“So, Kizzi, do you have any plans for Hallow’s Eve? It’s right around the corner. Two weeks away, right?” Rune asked as she helped her little ones fill their plates.

I nodded as I swallowed a mouthful of rice. It was so delicious my toes nearly curled. “Yes, actually. Hallow’s Eve is a big deal for the Moonvale witches. My coven performs quite a few rituals.”

She looked intrigued. “I thought you were a witch, but I didn’t want to assume. You radiate magical energy. I’ve had quite a few friends who were witches. What kind of rituals?”

I glanced at the little ones. “Some are hard to explain. But we celebrate the year, thank the Old Gods for blessing us with magic, ask for continued use of magic, that sort of thing. The veil is the thinnest on Hallow’s Eve.”

Garren chimed in, “The fae celebrate the year as well, but we do so a little differently. There’s usually a feast, as well as a party.”

Tandor nodded his head. “Same with orcs. We celebrate our wilder tendencies.”

A tiny voice chimed in—Cely, Rune and Garren’s daughter. “Are we making cookies?”

Garren snorted. “Of course we are, Cely bug. Cookies are essential for a successful Hallow’s Eve.”

“Almond and brown sugar?” Tandor asked.

Rune nodded with a smile. “Only the best cookie in the entire realm.”

Tandor nodded with a dreamy look on his face. “I remember those. It’s been ages since I’ve had one.”

The evening passed quickly, full of calm conversation and warm laughs. My stomach was pleasantly full.

Little Ash squealed, and then giggled with glee. I glanced in his direction.

My stomach bottomed out. Shit!

Hex escaped from their jar, again, and was creeping over the edge of the tiny boy’s plate, absorbing a few grains of leftover rice. The little one was absolutely thrilled, for some reason, clapping his hands and squealing again.

I stood up from as fast as possible, nearly knocking my chair over. I leaned over and tried to scoop Hex up, but they turned to liquid in my grasp, simply dripping back down onto the table. I tried to scoop again but had no luck.

Stubborn familiar .

I gave up and plopped down onto my seat while Hex solidified and continued their rice feast.

Tandor cleared his throat. “Um, that’s Hex,” he said by way of explanation.

“Oh, right,” I said. “That’s my familiar. I’m sorry, they’re very stubborn. And hungry, apparently.”

The parents stared at Hex with expressions somewhere between shock and awe. “Your familiar?” Rune choked out.

I sighed heavily. “Yep. I haven’t really learned how to control them yet. They just sort of… do whatever they want. Just ignore them, that’s what I usually do.” And try to forget they exist, most of the time.

Hex gurgled.

“Huh... Okay then,” Garren said. He clapped his hands together. They shook slightly. “Who’s ready for dessert?”

F or such a warm, sunny town, Tidegrove was frigid at night. I flexed my fingers and toes to ensure they hadn’t turned into icicles. Wind howled with a vengeance outside the small cottage-like inn room, looking for a way inside. It pushed against the windows, rattled the walls, sought cracks and weaknesses.

The temperature fell rapidly as the suns slipped past the horizon and the moons took their place, and I was forced to throw my cloak on top of my nightgown as I huddled in the bed for warmth.

There was a tiny hearth in the corner of the room, but it was broken, collapsed from the previous guests. If there was another room to occupy, I would’ve jumped at the chance of a room with a hearth, but the fates were against me.

I shivered so violently my muscles ached—my teeth nearly snapped from their chattering.

Tandor laid on the floor beside the bed with just a pillow, looking annoyingly calm. He had tugged his cloak on as well, but he looked perfectly normal. Not a shiver to be seen.

I remembered how deliciously warm he had been when I’d woken up snuggled next to him in Sunhaven. How his skin radiated heat. Lucky bastard .

My chattering teeth clacked loudly in the relative quiet, echoed only by the whirling wind outside.

I had forgotten how horrendously cold the nights on the coast could be.

I shuddered to think of how cold it would be in the mountains—where snow was constantly on the brink of falling and ice crystals lingered in the air. I would need to purchase something warmer to sleep in or find us somewhere with a roaring fire in the hearth.

Clack clack clack.

Even Hex was curled up tightly in the bottom of their jar, cradled in the center of my bag. I had checked on them before crawling into bed to make sure they weren’t frozen solid.

“You sound like a woodpecker.” Tandor’s rich voice drifted up from the floor.

“Sh-shut up,” I stuttered. I clamped my jaw shut to fight the chattering. “I forgot how freezing the coast gets.”

“It’s not so bad.” I heard rustling, like he had turned on his side.

“Th-that’s easy for you to say. You radiate more heat than a fire.”

He chuckled quietly. “It’s an orc thing.”

I pulled the lightweight blanket over my head to try to find more warmth. It didn’t help.

Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Tandor?” I asked.

“Hmm?”

“Will you… will you get up here?”

“Kizzi, are you asking me to come to bed with you? I’m honored.”

I huffed out a breath. “Never mind.”

Without another word, Tandor stood from the floor, removed his cloak, grabbed his pillow, and slid into the bed. He slipped under the sheet and spread his cloak over the thin blanket, then he laid perfectly still.

I felt the difference immediately. Delicious warmth seeped from his skin, crawling through the space under the blanket and thawing my frozen body. I scooted as close as I possibly could without touching him. Mere inches separated us.

Slowly, my taut muscles relaxed as Tandor’s warmth drifted over me. I ached to shove my face into his side, tuck my feet between his legs, and curl my body around his—and I was pretty sure he would let me, with the love potion still lurking in his system—but I resisted the urge.

This was enough.

“You know I won’t bite unless you ask, right? You can come closer,” Tandor murmured.

I ignored him.

I ignored him until I couldn’t resist the temptation anymore. Slowly, I rolled so my back faced him, and then I scooted over. Inch by inch.

He stayed where he was, perfectly still.

When my back brushed against his side, his delicious heat sinking directly through our clothes and into my skin, I sighed. My heartbeat thudded heavily in my chest. Tandor stopped breathing entirely.

I was much warmer, but I still wanted more.

Like he could read my mind, Tandor gently lifted his arm and tucked it around me, allowing me to rest my cheek on his bicep.

I was achingly aware of every inch of contact between us. Every brush of skin. Every rustle of fabric against fabric. I wasn’t quite so tired anymore.

It took ages, but eventually, sleep claimed me.