Chapter 25

SWYN

Back at the motel, the tension between us lingers like a thick cloud. The drive wasn't exactly comfortable, and I can tell the guys are still on edge, especially Kel.

As soon as we pull into the lot, I feel an overwhelming need for space. Space to think, to breathe, and to figure out what the hell is happening.

"I need some time to myself," I say, getting out of the truck. I try to keep my voice steady, but all of their eyes are on me, scrutinising every word, every move.

Ri steps out of the driver's seat, his expression tight.

"Swyn, you should stay with us. It's safer."

"I know," I sigh, forcing a smile. "But I just need some time to process everything. Please, I'll stay in my room, lock the door, and won't open it for anyone, but you three. I promise."

Sol leans against the truck, arms crossed, watching me closely.

"We can't protect you if you're not with us."

"I'll be fine," I insist, though I'm not even sure I believe that. "I just need space. You understand that, right?"

Kel runs a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated, but he doesn't argue. Instead, he huffs out a breath. "We'll have dinner at ours. You'll come over later?"

I nod, grateful that they're not pushing too hard. "Yeah, I'll come by later. Promise."

Ri gives me one last lingering look before finally nodding.

"Alright. But don't do anything reckless."

"Never," I say with a weak grin, though I know full well that recklessness seems to follow me around.

With that, we part ways, and I head back to my room. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I let out a long breath, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on my shoulders.

The shadows in the room seem a little darker, and the quiet a little too still. But it's a welcome stillness, a reprieve from all the chaos swirling around me.

I place the Book of Shadows on the small desk in the corner of the room. Its weight feels heavier now, more ominous, as though it's holding secrets I'm not yet ready to uncover.

I stare at the leather-bound cover, the old, intricate designs embossed on its surface, wondering just how much of my family's story is written within these pages.

Remembering my promise to the guys, I rush back to the door and lock it, adding the safety chain for good measure. And then, for some reason, I move to the window and close the curtains.

The room is thrown into darkness, so I turn on the bedside lamp.

Sitting down at the desk, I carefully flip the book open, the pages crackling with age. The writing is old, but not unreadable. It starts with entries from my ancestors—spells, rituals, and warnings about the power of the bloodline.

Some of it feels familiar, like a distant memory buried deep inside me. Others are strange and unsettling, like I'm intruding on something sacred.

As I read deeper, strange things start to happen. At first, it's subtle. A page flickers on its own, as though caught in an invisible breeze.

I ignore it, chalking it up to nerves. But then, the symbols etched into the parchment begin to shimmer, glowing faintly in the dim light of the room.

My heart skips a beat.

"What the hell…?" I whisper, leaning closer.

The symbols pulse with an eerie light, and suddenly, it feels like the room around me shifts. My vision blurs, and I'm pulled into something—somewhere—else.

A vivid vision grips me, dragging me into the past. I'm no longer sitting in the motel room. I'm standing in a dark, ancient chamber. The air smells of burnt herbs and candle wax.

A woman—no, a witch in long flowing purple robes—stands before me. Her hair is long, fiery, and wild, her blue eyes glowing with power. I know her instantly: Melisande Nightshade, the high priestess.

She chants something in a language I don't recognise, but it resonates deep in my bones.

Behind her stands a man cloaked in shadow—Morfran. I know it instinctively. His dark eyes are cold, filled with rage and jealousy. He lifts his hand, dark magic swirling around him like a storm.

The room crackles with energy, and then?—

I'm yanked back to the present with a gasp, my heart pounding in my chest. The Book of Shadows is still open before me, its pages calm now, but I feel different. Changed.

I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the lingering terror from the vision. "Get a grip, Swyn," I mutter, but my hands are trembling.

I push the Book away, trying to breathe through the panic, but the room feels too small, too confining. The air is thick with something ancient, something watching.

I stand up, pacing to the window, trying to clear my head, but the memory of Morfran's eyes lingers.

As if on cue, a gust of wind sweeps through the room, even though the window is shut. The pages of the Book flip wildly again, and I hear faint whispers—so quiet I can't make out the words, but they sound like warnings. Or threats.

I grab the edge of the desk, trying to steady myself. "This is just the curse. It's just the curse," I whisper, as though saying it out loud will make it easier to believe.

The whispers grow louder, swirling around me like a storm. I clench my eyes shut, gripping the table tighter, feeling the weight of magic pressing down on me.

Suddenly, there's a loud knock at the door, and I jump, my heart nearly leaping out of my chest.

"Swyn, it's Ri. You okay in there?"

I take a shaky breath, pushing the Book closed. "Yeah," I call back, though my voice sounds far from convincing. "I'll be out in a minute."

As the voices in the room fade, I realise just how deeply entangled I am in this curse, this magic, and this battle with Morfran.

And the worst part? I don't know if I'll survive it.

Ri walks me back to their flat, his hand resting lightly on my lower back. There's a comfort in his touch, like a steady presence I've started to rely on more than I care to admit.

After everything that's happened today, a part of me feels like I need to get away, to be alone, but the truth is, I don't want to be.

The warmth from the flat hits me as soon as Ri opens the door, the smell of something mouth-wateringly delicious greets me, reminding me just how long it's been since I last ate.

Kel is at the stove, his back turned, but I can hear him humming something light and carefree, completely in his element. His casual ease makes him feel like sunshine in human form—always warm and inviting.

When he turns around, his face lights up with a wide grin.

"Perfect timing. Just finishing up."

I can't help but smile back. Kel has that effect on people; he makes you feel like you belong, even when you're the outsider.

"Smells amazing," I say, trying to keep my tone neutral, but it's hard when I'm so surrounded. All three of them have been nothing but good to me, protective in ways I didn't know I needed.

And yet, there's this undercurrent. Something between us that's only growing stronger with each moment.

Ri leans against the doorframe, watching me with those intense, stormy eyes. His energy is different—restless, like a caged animal always ready to pounce.

There's a rawness to him that draws me in, even when I try to resist it. His lips twitch into a half-smirk as he catches me looking.

"Hope you're hungry. Kel's been in here cooking up a storm."

The heat rises in my cheeks and quickly look away, busying myself with slipping off my jacket. Ri makes me nervous, but not in the way that sets off alarms.

It's more like he pushes at something inside me, challenges it.

"I could eat," I mumble, half-laughing, trying to ease the tension creeping up between us.

Sol guides me to the table with his gentle touch, always the one who seems to know exactly how to keep things grounded. There's something undeniably safe about him, the way his strength never feels imposing.

It's a quiet, protective force, and though I know I should be the one watching out for myself, a part of me is slowly letting go of that.

We sit down, and as Kel places the last dish on the table, my eyes widen at the sight. He's really gone all out. Roast chicken, garlic roasted potatoes, vegetables sautéed in some kind of herb-infused butter… it's a feast, one that makes me wonder how I lucked out in all of this.

"This looks incredible," I say, grateful for the distraction. "You didn't have to do all this."

He grins, sliding into the seat next to me, casually close. "I wanted to. Besides, it's not every day we have a guest who's this much fun to cook for."

I laugh softly, but there's no denying the way his presence is affecting me. It's not just Kel. It's all of them. I'm drawn to each of them for different reasons, and it's confusing as hell.

But there's something else now, a deepening connection. It's growing, like vines slowly wrapping themselves around us, pulling us closer together.

As we start to eat, the conversation flows easily. They talk about their childhoods, teasing each other in ways that make me smile.

Kel, always the joker, has this infectious energy. Ri throws in the occasional sarcastic jab, but there's affection in his eyes when he does it. And Sol, of course, keeps everything in balance, with his deep, quiet laughter and thoughtful remarks.

It's strange how natural this all feels, like I've known them forever, not just for a few days.

"So," Ri asks, leaning back in his chair after we've finished eating, "did you find anything interesting in the Book of Shadows?"

I freeze for a moment, my heart racing at the memory of the strange vision and the eerie way the book reacted to me earlier. I can feel their eyes on me, waiting for an answer. But I can't bring myself to tell them. It sounds ridiculous now—pages moving on their own? Symbols glowing? They'll think I've lost it.

"No," I say, shaking my head and forcing a smile. "Nothing yet. I guess I'm just getting started."

Sol raises an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. His gaze lingers on me, like a physical weight. But he doesn't press. Not yet.

"Don't worry," Kel says, nudging me playfully with his elbow. "You'll crack the case. You've got us now, remember?"

I smile at him, grateful for the light-heartedness he brings, but there's a flicker of guilt gnawing at me. They've all done so much, and here I am, keeping secrets. But maybe that's for the best. For now.

After dinner, we settle onto the sofa to watch a film, but I'm only half paying attention. Sol sits on one side of me, Kel on the other, both close enough that their warmth seeps into me. And Ri… he's taken the chair opposite, his eyes flicking to me more often than the TV screen.

There's tension in the air, an unspoken something hanging between us, and I can't tell if it's only me feeling it or if it's affecting all of them, too.

I should be scared, confused, unsure of what to do next. But instead, I feel… safe. Safer than I've felt in a long time.

I've kissed all three brothers, and I've slept with Sol, but none of them have made any move with me since. And Ri…well, he's an enigma. I can't work out where I stand with him.

I thought he didn't like me much, but then he kissed me earlier and tonight he's been pleasant. Every time I glance over at him, his eyes meet mine. But I can't decipher what he's thinking.

As the film plays on, I find myself drawn to Ri. There's something about the way he observes everything—the flicker of his lashes against his cheek when he glances down, the way his fingers drum lightly against his knee, almost like he's contemplating something profound.

He's different from the other two; while they exude warmth and playfulness, Ri feels like the calm in a storm, steady and reliable. But it's not just that. There's a depth to him that pulls at me, and I want to know more, even if the thought makes my heart race.

I shake my head, still trying to keep my eyes on the screen, but my thoughts keep drifting back to the strange atmosphere among us. I want to turn back to Ri and ask him what he thought of the kiss from earlier, but instead, I look down at the bowl of popcorn in my lap, fingers idly fiddling with the buttery kernels.

After a few moments, I catch Ri's gaze again. This time, it lingers a little longer. His expression is thoughtful, and I feel a flutter of hope—maybe he's considering what's happening between us, too.

There's so much unspoken, so much to unravel, but the intensity in his eyes makes me want to reach out, to know him better.

Then Sol nudges me with his shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Hey, Swyn, are you still with us? Or have you drifted off into dreamland?"

"Sorry! Just thinking…" I murmur, not wanting to reveal how my mind has been swirling with thoughts about each of them.

Kel raises an eyebrow, moving forward slightly.

"About what? Our collective failures in the kitchen or how hopelessly charming we are?"

I can't help but smirk, shaking my head. "No, I was just thinking about…well, about you guys."

"Us?" Ri's voice is low, almost a rumble, and it sends a jolt through me. The air shifts, like we're all waiting for something to happen.

"Yeah," I admit, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "You're all so different, yet…" I trail off, unsure of how to articulate what I'm feeling.

"Yet what?" Sol presses, his eyes bright with curiosity.

"Yet you're all so intriguing. I guess I just didn't expect to feel so drawn to each of you." My voice is low, whispered almost, but it hangs in the air, thick and charged.

Kel exchanges a glance with Sol, then turns back to me, his expression serious.

"You're not the only one feeling it, you know. It's like there's something between us, and it's growing."

"Growing?" I echo, feeling the weight of their words.

"Yeah," Ri interjects, leaning forward slightly. "It's like we're all connected now, and it's not just because of the magic or the curse. There's more to it than that."

"But is it real?" I ask. "Or is it just the magic and the curse?"

"Magic is real. The curse is real," Ri replies, leaning forward to stare at me intently. "So why can't this thing between us be real too?"

The air feels electric around us, and I can't help but shift closer to Sol, feeling the warmth radiating off him, grounding me amidst the swirling emotions.

But I find myself still glancing at Ri, wanting to explore whatever it is that's building between us.

The conversation lingers in the air, weaving itself around us as the movie continues to play in the background. And despite the weight of what's unsaid, I have a sense of comfort—like we're on the brink of something new and exciting.

Something that could change everything.

As the credits roll, I yawn, but I know I need to make a choice, a step forward. And maybe, just maybe, opening my heart to all three of them might be the answer I've been searching for.