Poppy scanned the room, letting calm settle over her mind and heart. She could feel Molly here, in the clothes spilling out of the drawers, the unmade bed, the half eaten cookies by her tea set. She’d been happy here. Loved. And the child had always known it. This was her refuge, the place where she could go play, or calm herself. It was safe. It was secure. The room echoed that.
There’d been tears here. Scrapes and bruises from a growing child, but nothing had tainted her. Nothing had truly hurt her spirit.
Poppy brushed a hand over a frazzle-haired doll perched at a small table. “Hold on, sweetheart. Just a little longer.”
She needed something of Molly’s, something she loved. A stuffed animal or blanket she favored. Poppy lifted the covers and revealed a scraggly bear, its matted multi-colored fur detracted from the missing eye, but just barely. There were large stitches where someone, most likely Helen, had reattached his legs, arms, and head, mimicking a colorful mini Frankenstein. Looking at the sad toy, most people wouldn’t see its value. But Molly did.
Poppy stretched for the mangy bear. Fur crunched under her hand, and she couldn’t imagine what had dried on the toy. “You’re just what I need.” She hugged the bear before turning to Drake. “Can you clear off the table?”
He didn’t question her. He moved quickly, efficiently, sliding stuffed animals off the chairs, and carefully placing the china tea set on the dresser before brushing crumbs off the table.
A dark lock of hair fell over his forehead, and breath stole from her chest. For the first time, she could lean on another person. She didn’t have to handle everything on her own, or hold it all in until she collapsed from both worries and exhaustion after a spell. He was there, silently supporting her in whatever she needed. She was scared this was something she could get used to. Something she couldn’t live without.
Fishing a map out of her back pocket, she spread it over the table, eying the layout of the forest. It wasn’t the largest park in the area, but it covered miles of rough terrain.
Placing the bear on the edge of the map, she lifted a chunk of amethyst that rested on the end of a chain from her shirt.
She held the chain dangled from one finger. “If this is going to freak you out, you should step out now.”
“I’m staying.”
His jaw was set, his eyes determined. Thick, muscled arms crossed in front of him. He knew what she was. There was no way around that. They’d known each other for too long. But knowing something and seeing it were two different things. Sure, he’d seen her mix a few potions, dry herbs, gather materials, but that was preparation for her craft. This was different. Personal. No one outside of her family had seen her practice, and to let him in now meant something she wasn’t ready to acknowledge yet. “If you faint, you’re on your own.”
His lips twitched. “I think I can manage.”
Deep breath, she closed her eyes, stilled her heart. Focused. Her breathing deepened as her mind sought out Molly’s.
Poppy gasped as she connected with the girl. Molly was scared, cold. But safe. For now anyway. She wandered around, tears spilling at her feet as she tried to navigate a forest that looked the same everywhere she looked.
Poppy cleared all thoughts, envisioning a white canvas in her mind. Her finger curled around the chain, harnessing it before she twirled it. The stone swirled beneath her closed eyes. She didn’t need to watch it. She could feel it.
Her mind rushed from white into the thick green of the forest as she searched over hills and valley. There was so much ground. So many places for a little girl to hide.
“Help me, sweetheart. Come on.” She felt the first trickle of recognition as Molly’s mind latched on to hers. The amethyst swung wide, arching across the page before the point planted into the map.
Breath Whooshed from her lungs as her eyes fluttered open. “Found her,” she whispered as the energy that charged her fled, leaving her weak.
She glanced to Drake, using precious energy she needed to conserve the first moments after a spell.
His eyes were wide, locked onto the gravity defying stone. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
Her gut clenched. Was he repulsed? She should have sent him away, shouldn’t have let him see what she was. She hadn’t been thinking straight, she scolded herself. She’d gotten too comfortable with him.
“That was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.” He brushed his hand against her shoulder.
Power flowed back into her, staggering her with its strength. She sunk to the ground, holding a hand to her head to stop her vision from spinning. What was that?
Her mouth fell open as she shifted, all weakness in her limbs gone. How was this possible? It normally took her days to fully recover from a spell like that.
He knelt in front of her, his eyes filled with worry. “Are you all right? What happened? You went completely pale.”
“I’m fine.” Deep breath. More than fine. “I get a little shaky after spells. It will pass.” It wasn’t a lie. That’s normally how it worked. She didn’t know why power had surged back into her, but until she figured it out, she wanted to keep it quiet.
He helped her up, leaning her body against his, but she didn’t protest. She didn’t need his assistance, although normally, it might’ve been necessary. Instead of balking at their closeness, she relished the feel of him against her, the strength that surrounded her.
Helen jumped from the couch when they came into view. “Did you find her?”
Reaching out, Poppy smiled. “Yes. She’s okay. She’s about a mile southeast.”
Helen burst into tears before lunging into Poppy’s arms for a hug.
“Southeast?” Sheriff Sommers scratched his chin. “Everything indicates that she headed north.”
“She’s southeast. You’ll find her by a small creek.”
She’d barely finished speaking before he was barking orders into his radio.
“Thank you, Poppy. Thank you.”
Poppy shook her head. “You don’t need to thank me. I’d do anything to help find her.”
“Bless you.” Helen gripped her hand one last time.
Fifteen minutes later, a cheer rang out when news spread that Molly had been found alive and well.
“You did it,” Drake pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You saved her.”
A blush crested her cheeks. “I didn’t do much.”
He cradled her face. “You did it all. I’m so proud of you. Come on, let’s head home.”
She nodded, emotionally drained from the experience.
He was quiet on the short drive home, allowing her to think about Molly. For a brief moment, her heart eased, a feeling she’d gone without for too long. She’d made a difference, and right now, with Drake by her side, she reveled in who and what she was.
Moonlight lit the street when Drake parked in front of Poppy’s house. She’d left a light on inside the living room, a beacon in the dark.
Drake exited the car, rounding the vehicle to open her door. He held it open, waiting, watching. She shivered under his gaze, his eyes caressing her, possessive, intense. She wasn’t afraid of it. It was… delicious.
Taking her hand, he slowly drew her out of the car and into his arms. “Thank you for letting me stay with you today. I’ll never forget it.”
Her heart raced at his touch. With Molly’s disappearance, she hadn’t thought about what had almost happened in her kitchen earlier. What was happening now.
Awareness prickled her skin as he rubbed his cheek against her hair, breathing deeply. Her belly flipped and energy hummed along her skin. This was power. Pure, raw, power. It surged through her during spells, filling her until it left her bereft. Feeling Drake around her, holding her, it was the same heady sensation. Greedy for more, she pressed into him, relishing the hiss that escaped his lips.
“I needed you there,” she said. In magic, she’d never needed anything. Had never leaned on anyone. She’d always been enough. But Drak
e had given her something that she’d lacked. She’d felt confident, secure. The tendrils of doubt that normally bound her were absent.
She tilted her head back so he’d see the truth in her eyes. “I needed you.”
Fire lit his eyes as he pushed her against his car, capturing her lips the moment her back hit metal. Breath whooshed from her as her senses reeled. Too much, too quickly, the world swirled away, leaving only Drake.
His lips molded hers, pinning her to the car with both his body and her need. She felt treasured, secure. Desire rushed over her, stripping her of any hesitations.
His mouth teased her, coaxing her, taking until she opened for him. He moaned against her mouth at his first taste, his hands diving into her hair, anchoring her.
Shivers skated along her skin. He didn’t tempt her with his kisses, didn’t beckon. He consumed her.
This is Drake! Not the man from the prophecy.
But she didn’t care. He was her best friend. A man she’d loved and respected for longer than she could remember. She didn’t want to think about someone else. Drake was here, with her. And she wanted to be with him. Not because the prophecy dictated that it should be so, but because it felt right, because after all these years, she wanted a part of him that no one, not even fate, could take from her.
Her arms snaked around him, gripping his hard body to hers. She relished the bunched muscles in his shoulders. He was hard, sturdy, and she’d never felt more feminine.
One of his hands trailed down her body, fisting at her hip before he ripped his mouth away from hers, trailing hot kisses down her neck.
Her eyes rolled back, her head rolling to the side, offering him full access, silently begging him to take more. To take everything.
She’d been kissed before. This wasn’t a kiss. This was a full-bodied experience. He awakened parts of her that she’d never felt, all from tiny scrapes of his teeth. Her hands clenched his shoulders, needing to get closer. Needing more.
He groaned, burying his face in her neck, holding her as they shook in each other’s arms. “If I don’t stop now, I don’t think I’ll be able to.”
She swallowed nodding. She couldn’t think, didn’t want to. She only felt. He didn’t step away, didn’t release her. He held her in his arms as if he could absorb her.
She felt cherished, needed for something other than what she could give. For the first time, she was enough. Just Poppy. Not the witch, but the woman.
He leaned back, smoothing hair back from her face. “Can I see you tomorrow?” His voice was hoarse, but his eyes never left hers.
Her body ached, pleaded for more of his gentle assault. But it was more than how he made her feel. She wanted all of him. “Yes.” She shook her head, remembering. “No, wait. I have to work. A client needs more stock.”
“What do you need to do?”
“I need to make more bath products. Lotions, soaps, shampoo.”
“Well, can I help you?”
A smile curved her lips. “I’d like that.”
He nuzzled a soft kiss against her lips. “I’ll be here.” Setting her away in degrees, he released her.
Walking to the door, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She turned, catching his eyes devouring her in greedy gulps. It helped soothe the ache in her heart now that he’d let her go, but just barely.
“Keep walking, sweetheart. If you stop, I might not let you go again.”
Her heart thrilled at his words, at the truth she saw echoed in his eyes. She crossed into her house, closing the door quietly behind her and listened as he drove away.
All she could think about were his words, his praise, his kiss. They were drugs to her, and she flew high off of him.
Chapter 5