But I could feel it. The forest was watching.
It didn’t feel like a threat, though. It felt comforting.Affirming. As if to affirm I’m here for a reason.
And now I’d have to spend the rest of my life peering into the woods hoping, once more, to glimpse the beauty I was just shown.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
LIORA
Ididn’t even bother arguing with Torin this time. Instead, I let him drop me off at the castle and promised I’d text him or get a ride home with one of the girls as needed. I wasn’t sure how long he was going to keep this up for, but I didn’t have the heart to argue with him after the experience we’d shared today.
My brain was still playing unicorn re-runs on a loop.
A freaking unicorn. In the garden. Bowing.
Sure, why not.Totallynormal Sunday, as Bracken said.
I was still buzzing with excitement when I rounded the castle, unsure of what door to enter, to find absolute chaos on the lawn.
There I found Sophie bouncing up and down, squealing at a pitch that could shatter glass, currently wrapped around a tall, lean man with dark-rimmed glasses and California written all over him. His suitcase lay abandoned at his feet, and he was hugging her back with a fondly exasperated expression, as if this wasn’t the first time she’d assaulted him with her entire body weight.
Beside them, an older woman with a floral headband, a bright pink jumper, and paint-splattered jeans, was laughing, arms spread wide as five Scottie dogs zoomed frantic circles around her legs like wee hairy satellites. Sir Buster raced around the outside of them, having an absolute fit, which they completely ignored, while Lady Lola sat close by, seemingly uninterested in the new arrivals.
Lachlan, Sophie’s boyfriend that I’d only met briefly in passing, stood behind them, arms folded, wearing a smug expression.
My heart did a little flip.
“Sophie?” I asked, stepping shyly forward. “Did the party start already?”
Sophie twisted so fast she nearly knocked the man over. “Liora!”
She barreled toward me, hair flying, her face lit up.
I caught her in a hug, laughing. “Someone’s excited.”
“Of course I’m excited!” she said, pulling back just enough to grab my shoulders and shake me a little. “Look who Lachlan brought me for Christmas. Early. Like a surprise package of emotional support humans. This is my second mom, Lottie, and my bestie, Matthew.”
“Oh, that’s awesome,” I said, waving at the new arrivals. “Welcome.”
“He’s here for the holidays. And Lottie too. They’re staying here. In Loren Brae. For two months!”
She sounded so giddy I half expected her to start tap dancing.
Matthew sauntered over, adjusting his glasses and eyeing the castle. “I see you’ve cleaned her up a bit since the last time I was here.”
“When I’m not busy trying to protect Loren Brae,” Sophie said cheerfully. “Matthew, this is Liora. She’s an astrologer and just joined the Order earlier this week.”
“Hi, nice to meet you.” I shook Matthew’s hand and found his eyes to be kind and his smile genuine. I was surprised he knew about the Order, but it seemed that it wasn’t as much a secret as I’d first thought.
“I’m Matthew. I teach history and make poor romantic decisions in foreign countries.”
I laughed, already liking him.
“Believe it or not, that’s the most succinct intro he’s ever given,” Sophie said.
Lottie trotted up behind him, five Scotties trooping along like a tiny army. “Oh, introduce me,” she said, eyes sparkling. “I need to know which one is the star witch.”
Lottie clasped my hands, her rings cool against my skin. Up close, I could see faint paint smudges on her fingers and a streak of something teal in her hair.