We stepped into the sorceress’s territory, and despite the chill in the air and the weight of everything pressing down on us, Xander’s grip on my hand remained firm. Steady. Like I was the only anchor he had to sanity. And even though he was under a spell, he still chose me. Not Matteo. Not Adriana. Me.
That thought alone was enough to ignite something warm and wild inside me.
Still, my nerves were dancing under my skin as we approached the cottage.
This place wasn’t evil. I could feel it. But there was power here. Ancient and quiet—like something that had seen too much.
I expected darkness. Cobwebs. Bones hanging from the ceiling and bubbling cauldrons filled with the essence of tortured souls. Instead, I stepped into… beauty.
The sorceress’s house was unlike anything I could’ve imagined. Sunlight streamed through arched windows draped with lacey curtains, casting warm glows on the polished wooden floors. The air smelled of lavender and rosemary, sweet and clean. Shelves lined t
