"Well, we're going to Nora's, and there are a lot of ears there, so–"
Suddenly, a honking sound makes us both jump. Kelsi and Ben pull up in his car and the werewolf stops it right in front of us, smiling from ear to ear.
"I heard that!" exclaims Ben, smiling like an idiot.
"You..." growls Liam.
"Ben," I say, "I like you, but if you don't get out of here, I swear I'll turn your car into a two-wheeler."
He goes white and immediately drives off. Liam and I watch them leave the parking lot, and I turn back to Liam, realizing I have a few seconds left before I die of embarrassment.
"I... Yes," I stutter.
He turns to me, and after a second of remembering what I'm saying yes to, he smiles, and gives me another quick kiss. Ah, I need a million more of these, at least...
"Awesome," he whispers. "Let's go."
"...Can I d–"
"No, Mara, no."
Damn it.
I don't think I'll ever get tired of riding this bike with Liam. For a little while, we just have fun, taking the highway and speeding between the cars to get to Nora's house. I can see where the sun has gone down on my left between the buildings as the sky takes gorgeous shades of pink and orange. I missed a sunny day, but I'm glad I didn't miss this. I hang on tight to the leather of Liam's jacket, and lean my head on his back. We're like a two-headed creature on his bike, enjoying the ride together, feeling each movement.
I wonder how our relationship would have been if it wasn't for all of this. The witchcraft, the danger, the mysteries. Perhaps we would have had a cute encounter in the parking lot of the university. A little crush, or love at first sight. Maybe we would have met during a wild college student party, waiting for our drinks at the bar, dancing together, and starting as friends. Or I would have walked into his favorite diner on the docks, and I would have fallen right away for that crazy sexy biker guy in his leather jacket.
I find myself smiling like an idiot, and create a million movies in my mind. I should really try to get a motorcycle license, so we can go on long rides together. ...Could we even leave Silver City?
Sometimes, I feel like this place is like a bubble. An amazing city, with all sorts of neighborhoods, humans, and werewolves. Buzzing with life, its nightlights and downpours, the seashore and the highways, the skyscrapers, the graffiti on the walls, the university, and the pretty family houses. The forest all around... Sometimes, I wonder what's outside. I know Clarissa had a life outside of here. She grew up in another city, with another lifestyle. But I am not her anymore. I am not little Mara, either. This is the first time I realize, I want... more. I want to study what I like, and I want to see more of this world I don't know anything about.
The world outside of Silver City.
However, when Liam parks his bike in front of the house, joking with Ben about his old rundown car being so late despite our detour, I keep all those feelings to myself.
They need me here, don't they? The Witch of Silver City. To protect them, to take over what Sylviana left behind. I let out a long sigh, taking off the helmet and shaking my hair out of the way. Not now, Mara. I guess we have more pressing matters right now.
This time, Nora's husband comes to greet us instead of his wife.
Damian Black is still as intimidating as ever to me, but strangely, I feel something has changed as he approaches me. He feels a bit... less threatening. At first, I wonder if that's because I can now feel my wolf, but no, his attitude really seems to have changed. He actually greets me first, although in a rather quiet way, a simple nod, before the others and lets us in. I wish I could mind-link Liam to ask him about this...
However, before I get any chance to whisper my question, Liam, holding my hand, guides me through the house and as expected, they are all outside again. Nora is trying to calm down her son as the little boy is crying silently in her arms.
"Sorry," she whispers as we come close. "Will tends to be a bit sensitive..."
Selena and Nathaniel are there too, but like Nora's other children, their daughters are not in sight.
"Who got babysitting duty?" asks Liam, curious too.
"All the big kids are at the movies with Isaac and his wife," chuckles Selena. "The babies are sleeping upstairs with Boyan. Danny's on night shift again, so he was lonely."
It looks like the huge brown wolf is the official babysitter of the family...
Once again, Nora prepared a feast, although it sounds like Nathaniel helped. However, we didn't come here just to eat. Quickly promising we'll be back soon, Liam and I leave them to get to Sylviana's tree. Liam's holding my hand a bit tighter, and I don't let go the entire way there.
I can feel it long before we approach the tree's location. No, to be precise, I feel what is missing. Everything I could feel before from that tree... It's gone, or going. So thin and barely palpable, like a mist just about to scatter. Strangely, the place around it still feels eerie, though. We slowly come closer, and the tree appears. I don't know if I was expecting to see it in... such bad shape. In the span of a few days, maybe a few hours, that tree has suddenly turned into a very pitiful thing. There aren't many leaves left on it, and the branches themselves look like they’re about to collapse. The trunk seems so weak, just a rub would turn the bark to dust.
Suddenly, I remember Liam next to me, and look at him, a bit worried. However, he looks fine, just staring at the tree with a calm expression.
