Chapter 14

The next morning, Holly woke to the soft glow of sunlight streaming through the cabin’s frosted windows. The warmth of the light was a welcome contrast to the cold, dark magic they’d fought in the forest the night before. For the first time in days, the tension in her body began to ease, replaced by a quiet sense of calm.

She stretched, feeling the stiffness in her muscles from the exertion of the spell. Her whole body was a little achy, and her mind felt like it had run a marathon, but there was relief in knowing they had stopped the threat.

Hexi was nowhere in sight. That had to mean he’d already gone looking for breakfast. She pulled on her robe and went out to the living room.

Demetrius, who’d insisted on standing guard just in case, was already up, if he’d even slept. He stood in his usual spot by the front windows, his back to her. He was silhouetted against the morning light, and Holly couldn’t help but admire the quiet strength he exuded, even when things had been at their worst. He had been a steady presence through it all, protecting her, standing by her side without hesitation.

“Morning,” she said, her voice still rough with sleep. “Still all clear out there?”

Demetrius glanced over his shoulder, his expression softening just slightly when he saw her. “Still all clear. No sign of Morgana or anything you need to be worried about. How are you feeling?”

“Tired,” Holly admitted, rubbing her eyes. “But I think I’ll survive.”

Demetrius nodded, his eyes thoughtful as he turned back to the window. “You did an amazing job last night.”

“Thanks.” Holly smiled faintly, remembering how willing he’d been to defend them against the dark magic. “We all did. I can’t believe Morgana was part of it. I knew there was something off about her.”

“I felt it too. Something about her was definitely not right. Oh, by the way, I fed the cats. It was that or I thought Hexi might bite me.”

She laughed. “Sounds about right. Thanks.” That explained Hexi’s absence.

Demetrius’s gaze stayed on the woods beyond the cabin, his expression unreadable. “The magic is still out there, you know. It’s quieter now, but it’s not gone. I don’t mean Morgana. Just the presence of whatever created her.”

Holly’s stomach twisted at the reminder. They had restored the balance, but the dark magic was still present. It always would be. It was in the land, woven into the very fabric of the town. They hadn’t destroyed it—they had simply kept it from consuming everything in its path.

“I know,” Holly said, her voice quiet. “But it feels different now, don’t you think? Calmer. Almost like it’s been changed.”

Demetrius offered her a small, almost imperceptible smile. “That’s because you balanced it. You didn’t fight the magic—you understood it. Very impressive.”

“For a witch like me?”

“For anyone.” The tiny smile morphed into a real one. “ You are very impressive.”

Holly’s body warmed at his words, though she couldn’t shake the lingering unease. She had always thought of magic as something that could be controlled, something she could bend to her will. But now she understood that some forces were bigger than any one person—bigger than any spell. And those forces had to be respected, not fought.

Quite a tough way to learn that lesson, but she certainly wouldn’t forget it.

Just then, there was a soft knock at the door. Holly jumped.

Demetrius frowned. “I’ll get it.”

When Holly saw Neeva standing in the doorway, her hands clasped in front of her nervously, Holly let out a sigh of relief. “Hi.”

Neeva stepped inside, her face still pale but her expression softer than it had been the night before. “Hi. I—I wanted to thank you both. For helping me fix what I’d done.”

Holly stood, brushing the sleep from her eyes as she approached Neeva. “We couldn’t have done it without your help.”

Neeva shook her head, guilt still shadowing her features. “I should never have messed with that magic. I thought I could control it, but I was wrong. I’m sorry for putting you both in danger. For putting us all in danger.”

Demetrius crossed his arms, watching Neeva carefully, but his expression wasn’t as disapproving as it had been. He was clearly all right with allowing her to make amends.

“It’s done now,” Holly said gently. “And thanks to your help, we fixed it and it’s not a threat to us or the town anymore. That’s what matters. Besides, it’s the Christmas spirit to forgive.”

Neeva nodded, though she still seemed unsure. “I wanted to make things right. I’ve caused enough damage in this town, and I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

“You did that.” Holly smiled, the warmth of her magic thrumming just beneath her skin. “But you can certainly help us keep an eye on the magic. It’s part of Nocturne Falls now, but that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down.”

Neeva’s eyes brightened slightly, relief washing over her features. “I’d like that. I owe it to the town.”

Demetrius nodded in agreement, his voice low but firm. “We all do.”

The three of them stood in the quiet of the cabin, the sunlight streaming in through the windows, casting beams of light across the room. Holly’s hope had returned—not just for herself but for the town. They had faced the darkness and come out the other side, and now they had a chance to move forward.

As Neeva excused herself, promising to return later to discuss the next steps, Holly turned to Demetrius, her heart full but still heavy with the weight of everything they had been through. It was going to take a little time to put that completely behind her.

“What happens now?” she asked quietly. Exhaustion was starting to catch up to her.

Demetrius’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, she saw something in his gaze—something deeper, more vulnerable than she’d ever seen before. “Now we keep going. We keep watch, we protect the town, and we make sure the magic stays balanced.”

Holly nodded, the weight of his words settling over her. But there was something else between them, something unspoken, that lingered in the air. She had grown closer to Demetrius over the past few days—closer than she ever imagined possible. He had been there for her in ways she hadn’t expected, and now that the immediate danger had passed, she didn’t want to lose that connection.

“Demetrius,” she began, hesitant. “I couldn’t have done this without you. I mean that. Thank you.”

Demetrius gave her a small smile, his eyes softening as he looked at her. “You’re welcome. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. You’re stronger than you think, Holly. Still, I’m glad I was here.”

Warmth spread through her, and she allowed herself to acknowledge the feelings that had been simmering just beneath the surface. Demetrius wasn’t just her protector or her ally—he had become something more. And as much as she had tried to deny it, she couldn’t ignore it any longer. She had feelings for him, feelings she’d never wanted, but there was no turning away from them now.

“I’m glad you were here too,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, a deep silence spread between them, the air thick with unspoken words. Demetrius’s gaze lingered on hers, and Holly’s heart raced as she wondered what he was thinking—what he was feeling.

He reached for her, but before either of them could say or do anything, there was another knock at the door.

Holly blinked, the moment shattered as she turned toward the sound. She opened the door to find Flavia standing on the porch, her cheeks flushed from the cold, a bright smile on her face. She held a white cardboard box in her hands, the warm aroma of cinnamon wafting from it.

“Sorry, I just had to come by and check on you,” Flavia said, stepping inside and shaking the snow from her coat. She held the box out. “And bring you this. A cinnamon bun from Mummy’s, fresh from the oven. Thought you might need a little something. How are you doing? Are you all right?”

Holly smiled, grateful for the distraction, even though her heart still fluttered from the moment she’d almost shared with Demetrius. She took the box. “Thank you for the cinnamon bun. It smells great. I’m fine. Still a bit tired, but I suppose that’s to be expected. Thanks for your help, too. You and Charisma were fantastic. I couldn’t have done that without you. I owe you both.”

“You owe us nothing. We were happy to help.” Flavia’s eyes twinkled with curiosity as she glanced at Demetrius. “You know, the town’s been buzzing about what happened. No one knows the full story, but word’s spread, and there’s talk about some kind of ancient magic being released and Morgana’s part in it.”

Holly exchanged a glance with Demetrius, her smile fading slightly. “Yeah, well, let’s just say Nocturne Falls has a little more magic in it now than we realized.”

Flavia’s smile brightened. “I’m just glad you’re safe. That we’re all safe. And if there’s anything the coven can do to help, just say the word.”

Holly nodded, her heart warming at the offer. “Thanks, Flavia. I’ll let you know. We probably just need to make the coven aware of everything that happened and to let them know to keep an eye out for any strange occurrences. That would be helpful.”

“Stranger than usual, you mean?”

Holly laughed. “Exactly.”

As Flavia chatted for a few more minutes, catching Holly up on the latest gossip in town, Holly felt a sense of normalcy returning. The danger had passed, and life in Nocturne Falls was back to its usual quirky self. But as Flavia left, Holly couldn’t ignore the way her heart tugged toward Demetrius.

When the door closed behind Flavia, Holly turned to find Demetrius watching her, his expression unreadable once again.

“Everything okay?” he asked, his voice low.

Holly nodded, though her heart still raced. “Yeah. I just … I’ve been thinking.”

Demetrius raised an eyebrow, waiting.

Holly took a deep breath and started toward the kitchen. “You want some of this cinnamon bun? They’re fantastic.”

He followed, as she’d expected. “You were thinking about whether or not I’d want some cinnamon bun?”

She smiled. “No.” She opened the box. The pastry was enormous and smelled like everything that was right in the world. She got out a knife and two plates. “I was thinking, I don’t know what’s going to happen next. With the magic, with Nocturne Falls … with us.” Just saying the word made her nervous, because what if she was overthinking this and there wasn’t an us? What if this attraction was all one-sided? Her side alone. She took a breath. “I do know that I want you here. I want you to stay. In my life.”

Demetrius’s pupils widened, and for a moment, Holly thought she saw a flicker of emotion—something raw and real—flash across his face. He stepped closer, his voice a low murmur. “I’m not going anywhere, Holly. I’ve decided I need to stay in Nocturne Falls. Any doubts I had are gone. This is where I want to be. In fact, I want to put down roots for once in my life.”

Holly’s heart swelled at his words, and she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “I love that idea.”

Demetrius’s mouth curved into a small, almost shy smile, and Holly couldn’t help but smile back. They had faced the darkness together, and they had come out the other side stronger, closer. Whatever happened next would probably be an even bigger adventure.

He bent closer and kissed her. She shut her eyes and sank into him, easing her hands onto his chest as his cupped her elbows. The kiss was sweet and soft and tentative, both of them figuring out this new ground together.

She’d never again smell cinnamon without thinking of him.

They broke apart, each smiling, each quiet with the wonder of what had just happened.

As the light of the winter morning filled the cabin, Holly felt a sense of peace settle over her. The dark magic might still be out there, lurking in the shadows, but for now, there was light. There was warmth. And there was hope.

And that was enough.

For now.