The Ex Hex

by Erin Sterling

“You almost ran your ex-boyfriend over with a car, and then left him lying in the literal dirt on the side of the road. It is such a big deal, you absolute queen.”

“The Full Potter,” he repeated. “Not finding out you’re a witch until you’re older, not growing up with it. ‘Yer a witch, Vivi,’ that sort of thing.”

“I was mad about you, Vivienne,” he said softly. Sincerely. “Utterly mad.”

It was one of the things she’d loved about him so much all those years ago, how easily he put the power in her hands.

“I am mad about you, Vivienne Jones. Again. Or maybe I should say still, because I’m gonna be real honest with you here, cariad. I don’t think it ever went away.”

“Baby girl.” Gwyn sighed, and Vivi hugged her back, letting herself cry. “It’s so stupid!” “So is love, to be honest.” “We’re completely wrong for each other!” “Which is why it’s hot.” “I cursed him, Gwynnevere.” “Who among us hasn’t.”

“I realize that uprooting my life and moving to Georgia for a woman might fall into the reckless and ill-thought-out category, but the thing is, I’m very much in love with that woman.” He leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice. “That woman is you, by the way. Wanted to make sure that was clear.”

“I love you. So very, very much. And I know that I’m flippant sometimes, or make a joke rather than say the

truth, but I want you to know that you’re everything to me, Vivienne. Everything.”

“You’ve had my heart from the moment I saw you on that bloody hillside, and I hate that I wasted nine years without you, but I’m not wasting a single second more. If you need to be here, then I need to be here. Simple as that.”

It was about taking a leap and trusting something— someone— would catch you.

The Fool and The Star, just like Gwyn’s cards had shown. Leaping off cliffs and shining steadily, opposites who couldn’t live without each other. Who didn’t have to. And that, Vivi had to admit as Rhys leaned in to kiss her, might be the most magical thing of all.