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LIAM WAS DRINKING TEA in his parents’ kitchen with his mother. His siblings were outside doing whatever teenagers did on a beautiful summer Sunday, and his father was at work.
Iris hadn’t been able to come early with him. She was hanging out with her friends but would try to make it to the meeting. She and her friends had made the plans long ago, so cancelling wasn’t an option.
Liam had come for a meeting, but he was early on purpose. It was the perfect chance to spend some time with his family.
He had already tried sunbathing with his sisters, but the heat had been too much for him. He and Gabriel had also built a Lego spaceship. Gabriel had been collecting Lego sets since he was a child. It was a tradition for Liam and Gabriel to assemble all his new Lego sets. Ever since Liam had been old enough, they had added magic to make their Lego even more fun.
Before his father had gone to work, Liam had also helped with fixing his car. With a few spells, it didn’t take long.
They only used the car when they had mundane errands. Like when Liam’s parents went grocery shopping. Otherwise, teleportation was more convenient—and time-saving too.
“So, how is the wedding planning going?” Mary asked her eldest son, bringing her teacup to her lips.
Liam cringed, staring at his own cup of tea. “Uh, it’s...”
“Are you having second thoughts?” Mary set down her tea and furrowed her brows.
“No.” It came out like an automatic message.
“Are you going to marry Iris?” Mary asked with a rephrased version of her earlier question.
“Yes.” His mother would have heard the uncertainty even if he had tried to hide it, so he didn’t bother.
He still hadn’t stopped thinking about Ciara. It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried; he had.
And with those feelings resurfacing, he wasn’t sure what to do about the wedding. Could he marry Iris when he also had feelings for Ciara?
Mary’s expression softened as she smiled at her eldest son. “You know you’re still very young, don’t you?”
“I’d hope so. Being twenty-two and everything,” Liam said and smiled at his mother.
Mary smiled back. “Almost twenty-three now. It’s only three weeks until your birthday.”
Liam grimaced, shaking his head. “Oh, don’t remind me.”
“But that’s not my point,” Mary said, adding seriousness to her tone. “What I meant is that it’s not too late to have second thoughts. If you don’t want to get married yet, tell Iris. She has to understand and value your opinion.”
“She’d be wrecked if I told her that.” Hurting Iris was out of question. She deserved only the best, and he wanted to give her that.
Mary placed her teacup down. “You have thought about calling off the wedding.”
Liam sighed. “I have.” The words came out in a slow blur, and they barely felt real. “I want to stay with Iris, so it’s not about that. I love her. There’s just so much going on now. With the witch hunters and everything.”
Mary nodded. “There’s nothing wrong with feeling that way. But you have to tell Iris before the wedding has been set up and paid for. It wouldn’t be fair to leave it until last minute.”
“I know.”
“Will you call off the wedding then?”
“I’ll have to think about it.”
“Think fast,” Mary advised. “Just remember, even marriages might not be permanent.”
Liam smiled with amusement. “I’m not getting married just to get a divorce, Mum.”
“Of course not. But if that’s what is bothering you, remember that it’s not as final as it may seem. Or it doesn’t have to be.”
Liam smiled. “Thanks. I don’t know if it’s some Mum superpower or whatever, but you always manage to help me out.”
Mary smiled fondly at hearing those words. “Of course, dear.”
***
IRIS COULDN’T MAKE it to the meeting. She was still stuck with her friends and had texted Liam about it, so he told the others.
Thirty minutes before the meeting, people were arriving. Ciara and Henry were among the first ones.
“Hey,” Liam said to both of them.
“Hi,” Ciara said and turned to look away, seeming to be lost in her thoughts.
“Hi,” Henry said, smiling. “Iris isn’t with you?”
Liam turned his attention back to Henry. “No. She’s stuck with some of her friends.” His gaze flew back to Ciara. He could have sworn he saw her flinch.
Henry sighed. “I should have stayed with Jenna.”
“Iris hasn’t seen her friends in a while, so—”
“I know, I know. No worries. I’m sure we’ll be just fine without her here. Besides, she’s often away from meetings for work. It’s not any different now.” Henry patted Liam on the shoulder.
Liam smiled at his brother and gave him a slight nod.
“I’m gonna sit down,” Ciara said. She didn’t even glance at Henry—or Liam—before she headed to the living room.
Liam stepped closer to his brother. “Is everything okay with Ciara?” he asked, lowering his voice. He didn’t want anyone other than Henry to hear.
“She’s been acting a little odd,” Henry admitted. “I’m sure it’s nothing, though.”
Liam nodded and turned to glance towards the living room where Ciara had gone. Whatever was wrong with her, he hoped it wasn’t bad.
***
THE MEETING WAS SHORT and uneventful. The witch hunters hadn’t resurfaced with any recent attacks, so there was little to report.
Once the meeting had ended, Liam left for home. Iris came home a little later, and they decided to spend a nice evening together.
They were watching a romantic movie when Liam’s thoughts drifted to the conversation with his mother. His mother had been right. He needed to talk to Iris about the wedding.
He didn’t even know how the wedding planning was going. And it was his wedding.
“Iris.”
“Yes, honey?” Iris turned to face him with her beautiful blue eyes. She was completely oblivious to what Liam was planning to say.
At first he hesitated, but then he forced the words out. Before the words left his lips, guilt already gnawed inside him. “A-are we rushing into things?”
“You mean the wedding?” Her full attention was on him, concern clouding her eyes. “Are you having second thoughts?”
Seeing the hurt in her eyes made his heart ache. “I love you and I want to marry you, but I’m not sure if it’s the right time.”
It wasn’t. Not when he still harboured feelings for another woman.
And with witch hunters undoubtedly plotting something, the wedding didn’t sound ideal. He still wanted to marry Iris, but waiting seemed like the best thing to do.
Iris didn’t say anything, still letting his words sink in.
“What if we wait another year? Would you consider that?”
“Of course I would,” Iris said. “But I’d rather not. I mean, I love you, Liam, and I want to marry you.”
He wanted to make her happy. She deserved that.
“I want to marry you, too.”
“Then why won’t you?” Iris asked and smiled at him, taking his hands into hers. “I don’t mean to push you into marriage. I don’t want you to feel like this is rushed. But I don’t see why we should wait. Is there a reason?”
“It’s just the witch hunters and everything else going on right now.” If only she knew...
“They could be a problem ten years from now.”
“True. But we’re so young, too. I—” Their age wasn’t the problem; it was just an excuse.
“It’s not like we’re going to be much older a year from now.” She continued to smile at him. “Liam, I want to do this with you, and I hope you want this too.”
He was being silly. He wanted to marry Iris.
“But you’re still having second thoughts?” Iris asked.
Liam stayed silent. His eyebrows furrowed as he thought it through. Even if he still had old feelings for Ciara, he loved Iris and was engaged to her. Letting those old feelings affect his relationship with Iris wasn’t fair. After all, with or without those feelings, he wasn’t leaving Iris.
“It’s okay to be nervous. I am, too. But if that’s holding you back, we’ll be engaged forever.”
Liam chuckled. “Would that be so bad?”
“No, but I’d rather call you my husband.” Iris smiled at him. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. And I...” Liam’s voice drifted off, and he looked at his gorgeous fiancée.
“And what?”
A smile brightened up his face. “I’m no longer having second thoughts, I suppose.”
Iris’s eyes widened, and her face brightened. “You want to get married this year?”
Smiling at Iris, Liam nodded. “Yes.”
***
THE FOLLOWING WEEK went by with Liam hardly seeing Iris. She was working long hours, and they only saw each other briefly before heading to bed.
Even though Liam hated it, he was okay with it. It wasn’t Iris’s fault. It was her job to take care of the sick and the injured. Liam was proud of what she did for a living. Yes, he would have preferred to see her more. But knowing the situation was temporary made it alright.
It helped to be back at work, too. His summer holiday was over, and he no longer had as much time to think about Ciara. In fact, he spent more time thinking about his future with Iris.
Perhaps his rekindled feelings had only been the cause of the threat—the witch hunters. He had merely been worried for Ciara and had misread his own feelings.
He was going to marry Iris, and it was the right decision.
***
TWO WEEKS PASSED, AND there weren’t any meetings. By the time the next meeting took place, the end of August was nearing.
Just like the previous time, Iris couldn’t make it. She was busy at work. That was why Liam had gone to his parents’ house early again.
To his surprise, Ciara, Henry, and Jenna were there, too. It was the first time Henry had brought Jenna with him. Everyone was having dinner when Liam arrived, so he joined them. He hadn’t eaten since lunch, anyway.
Liam knew Jenna back from the school years. She had been one of Ciara’s best friends.
Everyone was eating the vegetable pie Mary had cooked. Liam’s parents and siblings were busy talking to Jenna. They hadn’t met her properly before.
The only ones, who weren’t talking non-stop, were Liam and Ciara. As he kept stealing glances at Ciara, he couldn’t help but wonder what was going on in her life. He had heard nothing from either Henry or Ciara recently.
He could no longer keep himself from asking. “What have you been up to?”
Ciara turned to Liam. Her expression softened, and she smiled. “Gym.”
Liam raised his eyebrows. “Gym?”
“She lives there,” Henry said, joining the conversation.
“She goes there in the morning, and sometimes she won’t be back until late,” Jenna added.
“I’m also helping around, so it’s not just working out,” Ciara said.
“You know the owner?” Mary asked.
Ciara turned to face her and nodded. “From school, yes.”
Mary’s eyes widened as she grew intrigued. “Do I know her?”
“Him,” Henry corrected.
“Him?” Mary moved her gaze on Ciara. “New boyfriend?”
Ciara chuckled and shook his head. “The opposite. Ex-boyfriend.”
“His name is Jesse Kingston,” Henry told his mother. “Remember him?”
“Oh, yes,” Mary said and turned to face Ciara again. “You were dating before the tournament.”
Ciara nodded. “Yes, that’s him.”
“Are you working with him now?” Ray asked.
“No. I’m just helping around,” Ciara said and smiled at Ray.
Liam wished he hadn’t asked. He had never been a fan of Jesse Kingston, and that wasn’t about to change. Something was off with that guy and had always been.
Fortunately, Henry’s teasing pulled Liam out of his thoughts. “How does it feel becoming old?”
He scoffed at his younger brother. “I doubt twenty-three is considered old in most scales.”
“You sure?”
“Quite certain, yes.”
“Old enough to get married,” Henry said and shoved his fork in his mouth.
From the corner of his eye, Liam spotted Ciara moving her gaze to her plate and her shoulders tensing. Something was still going on.
“I’m pretty sure I’ve been old enough to get legally married for a few years now,” Liam said, pushing aside any thoughts of Ciara’s odd behaviour.
“Fair enough,” Henry said, his mouth full of food.
“Will we celebrate your birthday before school begins?” Poppy asked Liam.
“Liam agreed to have birthday dinner with us on Wednesday,” Mary said, answering for Liam.
Gabriel sighed, dropping his fork onto his plate. “I don’t want to go back to school.”
“Then you won’t get a cool job,” Ciara said, flashing a smile at Gabriel.
The bored look on his face turned into a small smile. “I mean...it can’t be that bad.”
“All your friends are there,” Liam said.
“Boarding school would be a nightmare without friends,” Gabriel said and grimaced at the thought.
Polly sighed. “Such a drama queen.”
“Polly!” Mary scolded.
“Sorry!”
***
BEFORE THE MEETING began, Liam spotted Ciara near the living room doorway. She was standing alone, so he made his way over.
When she noticed him, her shoulders tensed. It seemed like a habit of hers. He didn’t know what it was about, but he was hoping to find out.
“Are you okay?” Liam asked, no longer caring if he was too straightforward.
Ciara’s eyes widened at first, taken aback by his bluntness. Soon her expression turned into a frown, though. “O-of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Liam shrugged.
The two went silent. Liam pondered on ways to make Ciara spit out the truth, but she interrupted his thoughts by continuing to talk.
“So, are you having a party or just dinner with Iris for your birthday?” she asked, changing the subject.
“I think we’ll have a lazy day at home.”
Ciara smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Still not a fan of your own birthday?”
“I don’t hate it, but I don’t see the point in having an enormous party.” Liam couldn’t help but smile, pleased to know Ciara remembered his quirks.
Ciara nodded. She was looking around, avoiding Liam’s gaze.
“When was the last time you celebrated your birthday?”
“Last year with a nice dinner at home,” Ciara said, smiling.
“But I bet you still don’t fancy the idea of celebrating your birthday by partying.”
“I don’t fancy the idea of any parties,” Ciara admitted.
“So, you—”
“Gather around!” Doherty shouted, making his voice louder with magic. It was like using his wand as a microphone, channelling his voice through it. “We have a meeting, you know!”
People hurried to the living room. The first ones in the room took a seat. The rest remained on their feet—some leaning against the walls—because there weren’t enough seats for everyone.
Liam stayed standing next to Ciara. She was listening to what Doherty had to say, as if he was telling them about a secret spell that could make the witch hunters disappear.
There was that familiar concentrated look on her face, and her eyes stayed fixed on Doherty’s face. She was forcing herself to focus harder than she needed to, and Liam had no idea why.