"Do you like me?" I asked. "Do you really like me?"
Imogen nodded. Water gathered at the edges of her eyes. "Yeah," she whispered, in a voice pained enough to crack my heart.
"Then let's...go out, after this," I said. "We'll go on a date. We can figure this out together, and we can take one step at a time. Okay?"
Imogen nodded again. I took her hands in mine. 
Heartwood: Forbidden is the tale of the young, headstrong Ophelia stepping into a world of magic and witches. At first it seems like her greatest challenge will be finding her Familiar or drawing her Implement from a great tree, but then she runs into Imogen, daughter and heir to the Magnolia family, and learns very quickly that romance and magic probably shouldn't be allowed to mix. If Ophelia plays the game well, she might be able to get the girl and still end up on top. But Ophelia has never been good at following the rules... 
Heartwood: Forbidden is created by EOK Gifford-Smith, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Heartwood: Forbidden

I asked around among the few Elm witches I sort of knew, and they pointed me to the hotel lobby, where the main administrative offices had been converted into a central command for their Matriarch.


Klaeris rose from her desk when she saw me, smiling wide. "Ophelia!" she said. "I haven't seen you in a while. But some of the witches who live near you say you have been working some spectacular magic."


"Yeah," I rubbed the back of my head. "It's good to have something to practice. I actually had a question for you about magic, if that's alright."


"My knowledge is yours," Klaeris said. "Ask away."


I hesitated. I could start with the question about magical theory, then move into more complicated territory. Or I could dive right in.


"I think I'm in love with Imogen," I blurted out. "And I think she likes me too, but can't say anything because of her mother."


Matriarch Klaeris opened her mouth, then closed it. She cleared her throat.


Chapter 34: Revealing the Truth