Chapter 17: The surprise

"Nope. Next!" Agatha shouted.

Elize groaned in frustration and stomped her way to the bathroom.

"I know the next one will fit. I'm sure of it." Irina said, plopping down on the bed.

"I sure hope so. I don't want to sit and weave a dragon's knot into another dress. I've used up my magic for the day all for her. And is she grateful? Nope." Agatha said, wiping fake tears off of her face.

Irina laughed at the younger witch.

The three had been cooped up at Elize's house for the past three days, preparing her in every way for the initiation ceremony. At the moment they were making Elize try on dresses- dresses that were handwoven by magic into perfection, finished with a dragon's knot.

"I can hear you, you know!" Elize yelled from the bathroom.

"I hoped so!" Agatha yelled back and giggled.

Elize peeped out of the bathroom, her hair hanging down to the side.

"So are you guys ready?" Elize asked, a wide grin on her face.

Agatha sat up on the bed and crossed her fingers. She released a deep breath and nodded yes. Irina shook her head and smiled at the drama.

"Ta-da!" Elize yelled, jumping out of the bathroom.

Both her friends had their mouths open. Elize did a small swirl, laughing.

"I told you so." Irina nudged Agatha, who was still staring at Elize with awe.

"So beautiful!" Agatha squeaked.

"Awww thank you, Aggie!" Elize said beaming, making little hearts with her fingers.

"Not you- the dress! I'm so talented." Agatha said, placing an imaginary crown on her own head.

Elize acted offended, placing her hand on her chest and shaking her head.

Agatha laughed and pushed her friend towards the bathroom to do her makeup. Irina pitched in and the three ended up laughing over stories of initiation ceremonies gone wrong while getting ready.

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Three hours later, all three were ready. The sun was setting, reminding Elize that she'd be initiated as a witch in a few hours' time. She felt nervous as she looked at herself in the mirror. The image of a perfectly beautiful woman stared back at her.

The smokey eye shadow that Agatha did for her brought out the gray in her eyes more. Her straight black hair was parted in the middle and tucked behind her ears, a few strands held back by clips with black gems on it. Her lips were painted a nude shade, complimenting the ivory dress that flowed till her ankles. The top part of the dress clung to her torso and exposed her shoulders, doing wonders to her figure.

Elize shivered as her gaze traveled down to the faint red mark just below her collarbone. She missed him. She wondered why he hadn't come back to her. At least he should, to apologize.

"Wipe that frown off of your face will you?" Agatha said, coming behind her and placing her hand on Elize's shoulder.

Elize forced a smile onto her face. She couldn't stop thinking of Zack.

"I know what you're thinking," Agatha said, sighing.

Elize raised her eyebrows at her friend.

"Look, I don't know how this mate thing works but it must be pretty intense if you're still thinking about him even after he cheated on you," Agatha said, dragging her friend back to the bedroom and forcing her to sit on the bed.

"I don't want to talk about him, Aggie," Elize replied, looking away.

"No way. You look at me, missy. I love you okay? That's why I thought I'll remind you of something that you most probably forgot." Agatha said, sitting next to her.

"I still don't want to-"

Agatha interrupted "He was in pain when the bitch kissed him. That's why he couldn't move."

Elize narrowed her eyes at her friend like she didn't believe what she was saying.

Agatha continued, "I'm not bluffing. From the day that he bit you, he has your blood in him. The witch blood that you possess will-"

"Burn him if he touches another woman! How could I forget?!" Elize completed the sentence, suddenly feeling guilty about how she reacted to Zack that day.

"Exactly. He must have been paralyzed by the intensity of it that he couldn't move. But how do you know this?"

"Oh a conversation with Aileen a few days back," Elize replied, pacing the floor.

"Figures. But I still would say dump him if you can, because I bet that he was mushy with that bitch before by the intensity of what went down that day." Agatha said shrugging her shoulders.

Elize laughed.

"But knowing you, you'd probably want to talk to him. So I might have gotten you a little present." Agatha said, a slow smile creeping on her face.

"What?" Elize asked narrowing her eyes at her friend. She hoped that it was not what she thought it was.

"I might have sent him a fire message, telling that you wanted to meet him," Agatha said, getting up from the bed and inching towards the door.

"What?!!!" Elize shouted. She didn't want Zack anywhere near her house. The whole area was swarming with witches right now.

*THUD*

"Woah. So beautiful!" A familiar voice exclaimed from behind her.

Elize looked back towards the window, startled at the sound. The smell of forest and honey filled the room. Her eyes teared up seeing her mate standing there, staring at her like he was seeing her for the first time. Desire filled his beautiful blue eyes, turning them a shade darker. Her heart started beating faster, as she looked at his perfectly toned body. Her eyes widened when she realized that he was standing there naked.

Blood rushed to her cheeks. She looked around to where Agatha was standing moments ago. She sighed in relief as she realized that her friend was not in the room anymore.

"Elize I-" Zack started talking while walking towards her.

"Please cover yourself with something first," Elize said covering her eyes with her hands.

"Oh shit. I forgot." Zack apologized.

She heard the rustling of clothes in front of her and peeped through her hands to see what was happening. Zack was getting into her pajamas and oh dear heavens that sight!

"If you want to watch you're welcome to. No need to hide it." Zack said as he straightened up.

Elize chuckled nervously, shifting on the bed and turning awkwardly away from him. She was embarrassed as much as she was nervous and the weird pull that drew her to him was not helping the cause. She started straightening the folds of her dress, feeling quite self-conscious.

"I'm sorry," Zack said, his voice cracking.

Elize looked up, surprised.

Zack continued, "I'm talking about the day Nina ki-"

"Okay okay stop!" Elize said rolling her eyes. She didn't want to remember that scene anymore. She felt equally guilty for some reason. She knew that the bond had hurt him then, but it did nothing to her. She turned towards the wall, not wanting to let him see her embarrassment.

Elize heard Zack walking towards her, her heartbeat quickening with every step he took. She felt the mattress sink down as he sat down next to her, his shoulder rubbing against her bare ones.

Zack sighed.

"Elize, I was shocked myself. I wouldn't have kissed her after we-" He paused, holding Elize by her shoulders as he turned her towards him.

She shivered at his touch.

"Elize please, look at me." Zack pleaded.

Elize looked up, staring into his beautiful face that was now construed in pain. A heaviness set upon her heart seeing him like that. She wanted to ease it. Elize raised her hand to hold his face. Zack immediately leaned into it and rubbed the side of his face against her palm.

"It's okay. I shouldn't have reacted like that." Elize whispered, in a husky voice. The tears that welled up in her eyes were threatening to fall.

Zack looked at her with an expression of gratitude and happiness. He smiled, a small tear flowing down his left cheek.

"Oh wow."

The voice startled both of them and they jumped in opposite directions, maintaining as much distance from each other as they could.

Irina laughed at seeing their reaction. Elize glared at her friend.

"I'm sorry but I came to get you for the ceremony," Irina said, walking towards Elize with a huge smile plastered on her face.

"Oh. Umm, let's go then." Elize said awkwardly while getting up and straightening her gown. She turned to her mate with a forced smile. This situation couldn't get any more awkward.

"Woah is he wearing Ellie's pajamas?!" Agatha said walking into the room.

Great.

"Oh c'mon guys, let's just go," Elize said pushing her friends out of the room.

"Wait wait!" Agatha said, getting out of her friend's grip.

"What?" Elize asked her hands on her hips.

Agatha smirked at Elize and walked back inside the room towards Zack. Elize groaned, hoping that her friend was not going to say something embarrassing to her mate.

Agatha stopped near Zack and extended a hand towards him.

That's when Elize noticed it. Her friend was offering him clothes.

"Why do you have a tux with you and why are you giving it to Zack?" Elize asked stepping towards them.

Agatha turned to her and gave her a wink. Turning back to Zack she said, "Put these on. Aileen requests your presence at the ceremony. Your family was invited."

"What?!" Both Zack and Elize shouted at the same time.