Chapter 063

[Apple]

Thorne raises an eyebrow, his eyes pitying. "Is it that hard for you to guess why a beast like him would treat you so poorly?" turning towards me his hand reaches out to touch my face. "You are too good for him, Apple."

Thorne leans in and breath catches.

"You know," he brushes aside one of my hairs. "Our powers grow as we explore our bodies more fully. The more in touch we are with the elements, with our world, and with one another, the deeper our bond to the Goddess and her bounty."

He licks his lips. Suddenly the air between us feels thick and heady. What is this game between us? Are we friends or something else?

"When witches come of age, it is tradition for us to go out in the world and experience as much as we can through all of our senses," he explains. "Witches need to FEEL, Apple. They need to touch and be touched."

He trails a finger along the outside of my arm and it tingles, not unlike the feeling I get from my mate bond to Sly.

"Thorne," my voice is shaking. "Wh