“Well, have a great Christmas,” Callan said. He leaned in closer and cradled a piece of the winter leaf crown I had worn for the night, which was undoubtedly looking unruly after the festivities. “Winter looks good on you. Every season does.”
I shivered at the proximity and at the sweetness in his words. How did he still have the ability to make me nervous after I had spent so much time with him?
“Really? Are you sure I don’t look like a wilted flower?”
“That’s impossible,” he said, eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
I held my breath but didn’t move, completely rooted to the spot. In that moment, I didn’t care whether there were scouting plants on every tree. I wanted Callan Rhodes’s arms around me.
After what felt like an eternity under the glistening winter stars, Callan took a step back then continued to walk backward toward the academy. “See you in a week, local.”
“Have a good Christmas,” I squeaked, and I thought I saw the tiniest twitch of his lip before he disappeared into the darkness.
Chapter Forty-Six
Afew days later, on Christmas Eve, I dressed in a deep-green sweater, black skirt and tights, and warm boots before driving to Bryce’s house. His home was fifteen minutes away in a housing community slightly outside of Weed proper.
I smiled as the giant wreath I had made for them came into view as I approached the house but shivered a little at the red berries that adorned it.
My session with Petra the previous night had involved a concoction of red berries and had been more strenuous than any before. So far, there were no signs that we were breaking down the binds on my magic, but Petra had a plan to take things a step further, which we would be testing after Christmas.
I scanned the rest of the front porch before knocking, noticing Aunt Vera’s touch everywhere. Rosie—our family rose bush—was climbing up the front of Bryce’s house as if it had been there for years, not months, and was blooming the softer hue of pink that it took in winter.
“Come in, come in.” My aunt somehow managed to hold open the door and pull me in for a hug all in one movement.
“These are for you and Bryce.” I handed her the wrapped gifts—perfume and cologne I’d made at the academy. I used what I knew about my aunt and Bryce to create scents that I hoped would make them always crazy for one another. I might have been a little inspired by Callan’s nefarious activities with my pheromone profile.
“Put them under the tree,” Aunt Vera said.
It was strange seeing such a tall tree with my aunt’s ornaments on it. We had only ever had small or fake trees in her apartment. But Bryce’s ceilings were twelve feet tall, and the tree extended nearly all the way up.
“Hey, B. Merry Christmas.” Bryce extended his arms for a hug.
“I hope you’re ready to be the judge of the Christmas cake decorating contest this year. It’s not for the faint of heart, but since you were brave enough to marry into the family, I’m sure you’re up for the task.”
My aunt called out from the kitchen, “If I don’t win, you’re sleeping on the couch tonight!”
“And ifIdon’t win, we’ll know it was rigged,” I shot back.
Bryce stuck up his hands. “You two are making this sound real appealing.”
I laughed and placed my tiny presents under the tree. “It looks like Rosie is doing good outside there. Did you have any trouble moving her?”
“I was terrified to unclip her from the trellis on your balcony,” Bryce admitted. “We got a couple friends to help, but once we attached her over here, she seemed to do great. One of the friends that helped is a gardener, and she was impressed with how well it transferred.”
“Did your gardener friend know what kind of rosebush it is?” I asked.
Bryce and I moved into the dining room.
“I don’t think so. She did say she thought it was a rare variety.”
“Are you talking about Rosie?” Aunt Vera asked.
“Yeah, do you know what species it is?” Bryce asked.
“I’m not sure. We’ve always just referred to it as a trailing rosebush.”
“Do you mind if I take a cutting of it?” I asked. I had forgotten all about trying to identify it with the books at Evergreen Academy.
