The Sea Witch

Not the body of a mermaid.

Not the body of anything else seen in these waters.

I am my own magic.

“I have always loved you. Every day. My heart is not mine to give because it is already yours.”

“I didn’t doubt you. I doubted my expectations.”

Iker raises a brow and his eyes are on my mouth. “And what were your expectations?”

“That you wanted to be here as much as I wanted you to be here.”

At this, he draws me in until his chest touches my bodice and I can feel his legs through the layers of my dress.

“Don’t doubt this.”

He presses his mouth to mine, stealing my breath. He is gentle in that first moment, but then sweeps us down onto the bench.

We have the sun and blue sky and each other. We have enough

If there’s good to be done, I will do it myself. Pride and ignorance cannot learn a spell and save the world; they can only combine for damage.

“Borrowing is stealing in the eyes of an owner left in the dark.”

No soul. No tears. No way to truly feel. How is that a way to live?

But if we don’t succeed, she won’t live at all. And time is running out.

One day left.

“Acts as if she were the one who drowned.”

“The sea takes as much as it gives; it’s just the way of things, young lady.”

The only thing magic cannot do is know its bounds.

And no matter the correct name for their relationship, he was family. And family did what had to be done.