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CIARA SPUN AROUND, hands twitching and ready to cast a spell if she had to fight Theo. “Stay away from Gabe.”
“I’m not here to hurt him. Or to hurt anyone for that matter.” Theo’s eyes softened, but Ciara didn’t let her guard down.
“What are you here for? After vanishing on me three weeks ago.” Her voice was thick with accusation.
Theo’s lips twitched, revealing a hint of a smile. “You missed me?”
Ciara clenched her jaw. She had prepared herself for that exact moment, going through the speech in her mind dozens of times. There was no doubt what she wanted from him. “I want you to tell me how I can heal Bill.”
Her friend was dying. She had already lost Doherty because of Theo. She wasn’t willing to lose Bill if she could do something about it.
Theo’s face hardened. “I can help you with that.”
“And you’re telling me now?” Ciara’s voice rose, and she walked up to Theo, fuelled by anger.
“He’s still...”
“The same he was when Liam took him to the hospital,” Ciara hissed, seething.
Theo nodded. “Then I can help, but I need to get to the hospital.”
Ciara’s brows furrowed. If Theo went to the hospital, someone would spot him. He would get caught. It was a miracle he had been able to visit her in secret after what had happened with Jesse. “You’re willing to get caught?” Ciara wasn’t even sure that Theo knew how to help Bill.
“I have a plan.” He didn’t smile, but there was smugness in his voice.
Ciara didn’t ask about his plan, even though she was curious. He likely wouldn’t tell her anything, anyway.
“Unless you tell your team about my whereabouts.” He raised an eyebrow as if he had asked a question.
“They don’t know anything.”
His lips twitched again.
“How—”
“I’ll help your friend tomorrow. He’ll be fine.”
Ciara’s eyes narrowed. “How do I know I can trust you? How do I know he’ll make it?”
Theo paused. “It’s me, Ciara.”
“That’s my point. You’re...” Ciara sighed—almost winced. “You’re one of them.”
Hurt flashed in Theo’s eyes, but Ciara refused to let it bother her. He had let her down enough times to erode her trust in him.
“I never wanted to hurt you.” His voice softened, and so did his expression. Sincerity shone through. He looked like the Theo he had been in Canada. The same Theo Ciara had fallen in love with.
“But you did.”
“I’m sorry.”
She sighed. Her hand moved to brush down his arm. The moment she realised it, she pulled it away.
He wasn’t complaining.
She had owned a house with him, had lived with him. They had been planning their future together. He had proposed, and they had started thinking about their wedding.
But he had ripped that all away by faking his death.
Ciara still didn’t know why. He owed her an explanation, but she wasn’t sure she would get it. She was, however, sure she couldn’t trust him without one.
“I’m sorry about everything.”
But the words meant nothing. He was a witch hunter. He killed innocents for his own cause—for the witch hunters’ cause. His actions spoke louder than any words could.
“You’re still with them.”
“It’s not...” He frowned and shook his head, but his eyes stayed on Ciara. He was looking for words, but didn’t seem to find the right ones.
“It’s not what?” Ciara sounded bitchy but she couldn’t care less. She wanted answers.
“It’s not as simple as you think it is. You...you don’t understand, Ciara.”
“Then help me understand!” She shook her head in disbelief. “You won’t talk to me. Fuck! You even faked your own death and let me believe you were dead. What kind of person does that?”
“Ci—”
“For an entire year, Theo!” It wasn’t until a moment later that she realised her cheeks were moist with tears.
She tried to hate him and even failed at that.
“I’m sorry. You’ll understand everything soon, I swear.” His eyes were feverish, pleading for her to understand.
“But you won’t tell me anything now. Heck, you won’t even help Bill now.”
“I can’t go to the hospital right now.”
“You shouldn’t have hurt him in the first place.” Ciara’s jaw clenched. The memory of Theo torturing Bill returned to her mind, and for a moment, she absolutely hated Theo.
“I’m sorry.” He refused to look away. “He didn’t deserve it, and I’ll make up for it.”
She didn’t believe the latter, but there was no point in arguing. Especially not before Theo would actually help her with Bill. He was her only chance.
“You cursed him then?”
“Don’t worry, it can be undone.”
“And you’ll undo it? You promise?”
His gaze darkened, not leaving hers. “I swear on my mother’s life.”
Ciara’s eyebrows rose. Theo was serious. His mother meant everything to him. It had to be the only thing that hadn’t changed since his false death.
“Will you ever tell her?” She ran her hand down his arm, dying to comfort him when she saw the troubled look in his eyes.
“We’ll see.” His shoulders slumped, but his hand reached out for Ciara’s hand. He took it off his arm but didn’t let go.
Holding hands together was familiar, and somehow it brought Ciara a sense of comfort. She had missed the little things about him, including holding hands. They were no longer a couple, and they had no future, but she let herself enjoy the moment while it lasted.
“I’m sorry.” It wasn’t the first time he apologised, but it was the most intimate apology. He gripped her hand firmly yet tenderly, his eyes locked onto hers. “If I ever get a chance, I will make things right. P-perhaps you’ll understand why all of this had to happen. Not today, but...soon.”
“Theo—”
His finger flew up to her lips, silencing her. The sensation tingled her lips, and her breath caught in her throat.
“I never wanted this to happen. I never, not once, wanted to hurt you, Ciara. And I know it’s hard for you to believe that, but you’ll see. I’m not...I’m...I’m still me. I’m still Theo, the same guy you once loved.” His eyes glazed over with tears. “I have done terrible things. To you and to others. And I’m so sorry it all had to happen. I won’t let anything hurt you again, Ciara. I swear it on my life.”
His unexpected reaction puzzled her. A tear slid down his cheek, and he looked utterly hopeless.
“Theo—”
“Ciara.”
She looked into his eyes, looking for an answer, but it wasn’t there. Not on sight. He was still hiding something from her, but it would be useless to question him. He would tell her eventually—or so he kept saying.
“I’m sorry.” Ciara’s voice wavered. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She needed that hug—needed to feel his warmth. The same warmth she had nearly taken away.
His arms snaked around her, holding her against his hard chest. Seeking comfort, he nestled his head on her shoulder.
––––––––
THEY BARELY TALKED, but they spent the day together. Theo even cooked.
Ciara didn’t mind. She needed a break. A little flashback wouldn’t hurt anyone.
Because it was just like old times at their house. Theo had always been the one to cook.
Except, in a way, everything was different. They used to talk a lot more. The silence was killing Ciara, but she couldn’t talk about her friends. She didn’t know if she could trust Theo with all that information.
She trusted him enough to let her own guard down little by little. After all, she was the only one who could get harmed if the situation went sideways.
He couldn’t talk to her much, either. He stayed mostly silent until they were doing dishes in the kitchen.
“Cigarettes?”
Ciara turned around, spotting her cigarette pack in Theo’s hand. “I don’t smoke all the time.” She tried to brush off the subject and continued to fill her dishwasher.
“But you smoke.”
Ciara nodded.
“When did you start?”
“About a year ago.” Around the time you died.
She heard his breath hitch. The pack landed on the kitchen counter, and soon Theo pulled her away from the dishwasher. He brushed her hair behind her ear, a frown crowning his facial features.
“Because of me? Because of what I did?”
“My life, my choice.” Ciara moved away and continued to load the dishwasher. When she finished, she washed her hands and wiped them dry.
Only then she turned back to look at Theo, whose eyes were still on her, never having left.
“You still smoke.”
Ciara shrugged. “Sometimes.”
“And this?” Theo flung open a cupboard. The cupboard with all the liquor. The bottles took up all the space. Below the counter near the kitchen aisle, there were even more bottles.
Ciara snapped her fingers, and the cupboard door slammed shut. “Trust me, Kellan already lectured me about this. And so did my therapist. And...” Ciara sighed and rolled her eyes. “Point is, you’re not the first.”
Theo’s frown didn’t ease. The opposite. “You’re playing with your safety.”
“I don’t go out and get wasted. I do it here, at home. So chill.”
He had no right to lecture her. She had issues, but she was only hurting herself. Unlike he had been. He was the one to have caused a majority of her issues.
“Jesse attacked you at your own flat. It doesn’t matter where you are. It’s not safe.” Theo’s jaw clenched.
“The house is warded.”
“So was your flat. Yet Jesse just walked in.” Theo shook his head, flames of rage dancing in his eyes.
“His friend owned the flat.” Ciara rubbed her arm, frowning at Theo. “And you...you knew he’s a witch hunter. You knew I didn’t know that and—”
“I nearly killed him for touching you.” Theo’s voice had gone lethally low, and every word coming out of his mouth sent chills down Ciara’s spine. “If I had known what he was planning, I would have killed him. Next time I see him, he’s dead.”
Ciara found herself at a loss for words, overwhelmed by Theo’s words and the impact they had.
“He’ll never touch you again.”
She had to lean against the kitchen counter. “So you know...”
“I know you slept with him. He didn’t shut up about it.”
Ciara wanted to hurl her guts up. The memory of her night with Jesse—and all the other moments spent with him—made her feel used.
“And I swear I wanted to kill him for it.”
“He had been planning to kill me since summer. I think he had been waiting to get you out of the picture first.”
“If I could have, I would have killed him last summer.” Theo’s fingers glided softly along the contours of her face. “If I had known about his plan...I would have come to your flat straight from the warehouse.”
Ciara’s gaze wandered down to where Theo’s scar was hidden under his shirt as she said, “I had just stabbed you.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Theo shook his head. “I would have come.”
She looked back up. “I...”
“Are you okay, Ciara?” He frowned. “After what he did...” His eyes softened, but his jaw clenched. As if he was fighting back the anger, trying to shove it somewhere deep within himself.
“I’m okay right now.” Ciara didn’t look away, no matter how intense the moment was. Her heart thudded, and she thought her chest might explode. Everything had changed, but Theo still had some effect on her.
Which wasn’t good.
“Good.” His breath hit her skin, sending tingly sensations across her body. His hands rose to the sides of her neck, brushing her skin tenderly.
In the same instant, her hands flew up to his collar, pulling him in. His lips were rough—but even more so familiar. The same lips she had kissed every day in the past—when they had lived together.
His hands moved down, his arms wrapping around her securely. Her hands moved up to his hair, pulling him closer—if it even was possible. They gasped for air between kisses, but his lips were back on hers in a flash.
Her hands roamed down, but she froze when her hand reached his abdomen—the spot of the stab wound from when she had stabbed him.
He pulled away, knowing what was going on. His fingers intertwined with hers, and he squeezed her hands. “I’m fine. It’s fine.”
“I can’t believe I...”
His hands moved to cup her face. “I know why you did it. You were protecting your friends, and I can live with that.”
“What if I can’t?” She hated what she had done. Had it even been necessary?
He leaned his forehead against hers. “Maybe you can after I do this.”
Her brows furrowed, and he pulled away. She was about to ask what Theo was talking about, but then she spotted the object in his hand. His wand.
“Theo, w—”
He pressed the wand against her palm, his hand closing around hers. Ciara’s vision went blank.
For a moment, there was nothing. All she could see was white. Perhaps a bright light.
When she regained her vision, Theo was gone.