Practical Magick
Chapter Three - Hunter
Disclaimer: All the characters and places in this story belong to Cate Tiernan. No copyright infringement is intended.
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I force myself to pull away from Morgan's tight grasp. I unwind my legs from hers and back up so there is a bit of space between us on the huge, oversized couch, which I am suddenly very happy I bought. It is the perfect size: big enough that we can both lie flat on it and not be in any danger of falling off.
"Goddess, you look beautiful."
Morgan's beautiful is flushed, her slightly swollen lips looking entirely appealing.
"That was . . ." I search for the right description, "very much needed."
She laughs. It is beautiful and sweet and sexy all at once.
"I always say a good makeout session is good from the complexion," she laughs.
I smile at her, then follow it with a small kiss. I sit up straight on the couch and run my fingers through my hair, attempting to make it look somewhat decent.
"I really should go check on dinner."
Morgan sits up next to me. "That would probably be a good idea."
I stand up and she gazes at the bookshelf next to her. "You cook, I'll read," she suggests, moving her fingers across one of the oldest books in the collection.
"How romantic."
She rolls her eyes and me and I exit the room to enter the kitchen. Now, I don't want to brag, but I am a damn good cook. I open the oven and check inside, faintly hearing Morgan's cell ring in the other room. I am too far away to hear anything besides soft mumbling, but when I return back to the living room, Morgan has a noticable sour look on her face.
"Who was that?" I ask curiously.
"Bree. She was just reminding me of something we were talking about at school today."
I nod after she doesn't say anything more. "I think you'll really love tomorrow's circle, Morgan," I say confidently. "Not only are we celebrating Yule, but also Sky and I will be introducing a few new members to the coven."
I see her head snap up from the runes book she is flipping through.
"New members? Why do we need new members?"
"We don't need then, love, but they are good people who seem genuinely interested in joining the coven."
"But how do you know they're good people?"
"I've met them plenty of times, and they don't seem like they want to do any harm. I've also done a few background checks, talked to people who know them, and questioned them myself. I promise, Morgan, that these individuals will become as much a part of them family as the rest of the group."
Morgan looks down at the book again. I cast my senses out towards her but only feel her pull back.
"Don't do that," she says to me.
I pull away and glance at her, unsure. "I'm sorry. You just seem tense tonight."
"I am, a little. Just tell me more about these new members."
"Right. Well, there's Emerald, who I'm sure you'll love. She's really funny, and working with herbs is her speciality. Then there's Owen; he's a bit crazy, but really powerful, and Ambrose is the only witch I've ever known who is legitimately licensed in palmistry. It's brilliant. I was so surprised at the lot of them. Did I tell you that they've only just graduated last year? Owen is only 18, and the others are only 19, but they have already achieved things that other witches dream about.
"Huh."
She returns back to the book, but her energy remains focused at me. Something is going on, I can tell. Why, for the first time, are things so awkward between us? I search around in my head, and only one though pops up.
She knows. She knows what I am going to tell her.
"Morgan?"
"What?" she snaps.
"Are you upset with me?"
Morgan slowly closes the book and faces me. "Do I have a reason to be?"
This time it is my turn to look away. I don't answer her. Finally she says, "Hunter, please, what's wrong? I swear I'm not mad, but I can't be myself when all I'm thinking about is that you're hiding something from me and I don't know what it is."
I continue watching the carpet. Come on, GÌomanach, I tell myself. Just tell her and get it over with.
"Morgan," I begin, "you're amazing. You're amazing and special and the most wonderful person I've ever met, but . . ."
"But what?"
I look up to see Morgan watching me closely. Her normally beautiful and sparkling eyes are now a dim, murky color, and I can sense pain in them. She is expecting something terrible. Can I really tell her this?
"Do you remember that woman you saw me arguing with when you scryed for me a few weeks ago?"
"Yeah, Justine."
"Yeah, Justine. Well, we sort of kissed."
Watching Morgan , I can literally see her face turn a few shades paler.
"It was purely accidental, though, Morgan, and I promise that it didn't mean anything."
"What do you mean, it didn't mean anything? How do you just kiss a person and it not mean anything? You obviously had to have felt something if you kissed her, or did you lips just catch her when she fell?"
"Morgan-"
"Goddess, I'm so stupid! First it was Cal-" I cringe when she uses that name "-and now you!"
It's suddenly as if someone has slapped me in the face.
"DON'T YOU EVER COMPARE ME WITH HIM AGAIN! HOW DARE YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT! I AM NOTHING LIKE CAL BLAIRE! CAL TRIED TO KILL YOU BY LOCKING YOU IN A ROOM AND SETTING IT ON FIRE, ARE YOU'RE COMPARING ME TO HIM? THAT IS RIDICULOUS, MORGAN!"
Filled with rage and completely unashamed with myself, I watch in slow motion as Morgan, the girl I love, my múrin beatha dán, my soulmate, stands up to me. She glares at me angrily snf before I know it her hand whips out and leaves a stinging impression on my face. Strangely, that is what makes me soften. A swift wave of sorrow hits me.
""I'm so sorry, Morgan. I'm sorry."
I watch her hastily wipe away the tears that are so steadily falling as she grabs her jacket from the couch. She silently walks past me to the front door. I hate myself for doing this. I can feel the hurt and pain she is experiencing from ten feet away.
"You can't walk home," I point out.
"Then I'll call Bree. Or Robbie. Anyone."
"Please, Morgan, I'm sorry. I just snapped. I can't handle the way you put me side by side with Cal like that. Please come in."
"No, I'm leaving."
"Let me take you home."
"No."
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A/N: Ooh snap. Teehee. I love this series. Not as much as Twilight (if you like Sweep you'll LOVE Twilight), but pretty close. Interested to find out what happens? Stay tuned! (Oh, jeez, I sound like a corny TV announcer.)
