Chapter 2

TWO

B riar felt the loss of control immediately, her stomach dropping as if she’d just plummeted over the first hill of a roller coaster. One moment she was carefully navigating the winding road, and the next, the steering wheel might as well have been decorative for all the good it did. The vehicle slid sideways, tires finding no purchase on the slick surface.

“No, no, no,” Briar chanted, her voice rising in pitch as panic set in, threatening to overwhelm her hard-won composure. She pumped the brakes gently, trying to remember every winter driving tip she’d ever learned, but nothing seemed to help. The car continued its inexorable slide toward the edge of the road – and the sheer drop beyond.

In that moment of terror, with her heart pounding so loudly she could hear it over the howling wind, Briar’s magical training kicked in. Without conscious thought, she lifted one hand from the steering wheel, palm glowing with soft golden light. Words of power, half-remembered from countless practice sessions, tumbled from her lips.

“Fervidus Attritus!” she cried, willing the spell to create friction between her tires and the icy road. The words tasted of nutmeg and smoke on her tongue, a warmth that spread from her core to her fingertips.

For a heartbeat, warmth flooded the car. Briar felt the surge of magic, saw the golden light intensify – and then fizzle out, overwhelmed by the unnatural energy of the storm. The spell dissipated like mist in strong sunlight, leaving behind only the acrid scent of ozone and bitter disappointment. Her heart sank, a leaden weight in her chest as she realized her last hope had failed.

The edge loomed closer, a yawning darkness beyond the flimsy guardrail that seemed to beckon her toward oblivion. Briar could see it now, a void that promised to swallow her whole, erasing all her dreams and ambitions in one cruel instant. She closed her eyes, bracing for impact, a lifetime of regrets and unfinished business flashing through her mind.

I’m sorry, Fia. I tried... I hope someone else can make your dream for Enchanted Essences for Kids come true.

I’m sorry, kids at the orphanage. I wanted to make your lives a little brighter.

I’m sorry, Mom and Dad, wherever you are. I think you would’ve been proud of me.

And then, everything changed.

A wave of heat, far more intense than her failed spell, washed over the car. It was like stepping into a sauna, the sudden change in temperature so dramatic that it stole Briar’s breath away. Her eyes flew open as she felt the SUV slow, then stop, mere feet from disaster. The howling wind died down to a whisper, and for a brief moment, the air cleared as if by magic.

That’s when she saw it.

A massive shape in the sky, backlit by the storm clouds. Briar’s heart leaped into her throat, a mixture of awe and excitement replacing her earlier fear. She caught a glimpse of leathery wings easily spanning twice the length of her car, beating against the wind with powerful strokes. A long sinuous neck stretched out before a body that seemed to ripple with muscle beneath iridescent scales.

“A dragon,” she breathed, her voice barely audible over the howling wind. In all her years in the magical community, she’d never seen one up close. They were notoriously reclusive, rarely intervening in the affairs of other magical beings. To see one now, in this moment of crisis, felt like a sign.

Its eyes captured her attention and held her transfixed in a moment that seemed to stretch into eternity.

Golden irises as bright and fierce as the heart of a flame met hers. They flashed with an intelligence that confirmed everything she’d ever read about dragons – ancient, wise, and incredibly powerful.

In that instant, Briar felt... seen . Recognized, somehow, though she’d never encountered a dragon before. It was as if those eyes could peer into her very soul, reading the story of her life in an instant.

And then it was gone, vanishing into the maelstrom as quickly as it had appeared, leaving Briar breathless with wonder. The wind rose again, snow obscuring her view, but Briar remained frozen in place, hands locked on the steering wheel, heart pounding a frantic rhythm in her chest that seemed to echo the beating of those massive wings.

“Incredible,” she whispered, voice trembling with a mixture of awe and lingering adrenaline. Her mind raced, trying to process what she had seen. Dragons were rare enough in the magical world, but to have one come to her rescue? It defied everything she knew about their typical behavior.

Slowly, cautiously, she eased the door open and stepped out into the storm. The wind bit at her cheeks, snowflakes catching in her eyelashes and clinging to her hair, but Briar barely noticed. She turned in a slow circle, searching the sky for any sign of her savior. But there was nothing – only swirling snow and the distant, muffled sound of wind in the pines.

Briar hugged herself tightly, the adrenaline of her near-miss leaving her shaky and cold. Her breath came in short, visible puffs, hanging in the air before being whisked away by the wind. “Get it together,” she muttered, stamping her feet to get the blood flowing again. The cold was seeping through her boots, reminding her of the very real dangers still present. “You’re okay. The car’s okay. And you just saw a dragon up close. That’s... that’s something special.”

Even as she tried to process what had happened, to fit it into her understanding of the magical world, Briar knew she had experienced something extraordinary. Dragons helping humans – or witches, in her case – was practically unheard of.

With a final glance at the sky, a mix of longing and curiosity written across her features, Briar climbed back into the SUV. She sat for a moment, hands resting lightly on the wheel, and took a deep breath. The scent of pine and snow filled her lungs, grounding her in the present moment.

“Thank you,” she said softly to the dragon that had saved her, hoping that somehow, her gratitude would reach it. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but she infused it with all the appreciation she could muster. “I don’t know why you chose to help me, but... thank you. I owe you my life.”

Feeling steadier, Briar carefully put the car in drive. The storm had lessened somewhat, though whether from natural causes or her mysterious savior’s intervention, she couldn’t say. Either way, she wasn’t going to waste the opportunity. With utmost caution, she continued down the mountain road, every sense alert for further danger.

As she rounded the final bend, the full glory of Whispering Pines came into view. The town nestled in the valley below, a sea of twinkling lights that shone defiantly against the darkness. Even from this distance, Briar could feel the warmth and magic emanating from the place. It called to her, promising safety, community, and new beginnings.

Briar smiled, the tension of the past hour melting away. Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever mysteries awaited her in this new chapter of her life, she was ready to face them. She was home.

As she navigated the final stretch of road into town, Briar’s mind wandered back to the golden-eyed creature. A dragon? It seemed impossible, and yet... In a world of witches and magical skincare, who was she to say what was and wasn’t real?

One thing was certain: her adventure in Whispering Pines was off to an unforgettable start.

The quaint streets of Whispering Pines welcomed Briar with open arms. Even at this late hour, windows glowed with warm light, and the occasional pedestrian hurried along the sidewalks, bundled against the cold. Christmas decorations adorned every lamppost and storefront, transforming the town into a winter wonderland.

Garlands of evergreen, studded with twinkling lights and shimmering ornaments, stretched across the main street. Each shop window told a different holiday story – enchanted toys that danced and played, magical snow globes with miniature worlds inside, and displays of festive potions that promised everything from perfect gingerbread to harmonious family gatherings.

Briar’s GPS chimed, announcing her arrival at her destination. She pulled up in front of a charming cottage, its porch festooned with twinkling fairy lights that seemed to dance with a life of their own. For a moment, she simply sat in the car taking it all in. The events of the night felt surreal like a vivid dream slowly fading in the light of day.

But as she stepped out of the car, the crisp mountain air filling her lungs and carrying with it the scent of pine, spice, and something indefinably magical, Briar knew it had been no dream. She had been saved by something extraordinary, something that defied explanation. And now, standing on the threshold of her new life, she felt a thrill of excitement coursing through her veins.

Whispering Pines, it seemed, had secrets. And Briar Rhee was determined to uncover them all.

With a smile on her face and a spring in her step, she grabbed her overnight bag from the backseat. The leather strap was cool against her palm, grounding her in the reality of the moment. The rest of her belongings could wait until morning. For now, all she wanted was a warm bed and the promise of new adventures to come.

As Briar climbed the steps to her new home, the wood creaking softly beneath her feet, she cast one last glance at the star-filled sky above. The storm had cleared completely now, leaving behind a tapestry of twinkling lights against the blackness. Somewhere out there, her mysterious savior soared on leathery wings. And though she couldn’t explain it, Briar knew with bone-deep certainty that their paths would cross again.

“Welcome home, Briar,” she whispered, her breath forming a small cloud in the cold air. She turned the key in the lock, the tumblers clicking into place with a sound that felt like destiny. “Let the adventure begin.”

The cottage door swung open, revealing a cozy interior. A wave of warmth washed over her, banishing the last of the night’s chill from her bones. Briar stepped inside, leaving the cold and uncertainty of the night behind. Whatever challenges tomorrow might bring, she was ready to face them. After all, she was a witch in a magical town with a dragon watching over her.

What could possibly go wrong?