“I wrote down that it was my choice,” I say. “Because I wanted to marry a vampire.”
“Given our history, the Grand Coven may want to make sure you weren’t threatened into leaving.”
I let out a sigh. “It’s so stupid and such a waste of time.”
“I agree,” Tabatha says. “I will inform you if I hear anything.”
“Thank you,” I say again and walk both her and Evander to the door. Tabatha hugs me once more before she leaves. “Now what?” I say and sit on the couch next to Lucas.
“Go about your day,” he tells me. “Do what you’d normally do if I wasn’t cursed.”
“I don’t know what I’d normally be doing. It’s been a weird month.”
“It has,” he agrees and puts his arm around me. “Why don’t you and Kristy go out? Shop or see a movie.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“Callie,” he presses, “I’m not going anywhere. Besides, I have business to attend to. Go and see the house. You haven’t taken pictures in a while.”
“I would love to see it,” Kristy urges.
“I’m sure it’s progressed a lot since before we left,” Lucas goes on. “And you haven’t seen it in the daylight in quite a while.”
“Let’s go check it out,” Kristy tries, knowing it will do me some good to get out of the house. “We can swing by the store and I’ll show you the new display we got. Plus, I didn’t get a chance to give you your birthday present yet since you were in California.”
“I’d like that. Who’s working today?”
“Danielle and Betty.”
“How’s Danielle doing?” I ask. The last time I saw her, I saved her from getting her organs harvested by a demon.
“She just came back to work a few days ago. She’s pretty shaken up and knows something supernatural went on. Betty and I feel bad lying.”
“Oh, right. I kinda spilled the beans to Betty. I never asked if you were mad about that or not.”
“No, it’s honestly a relief. I think she’s suspected it for years now.”
“I think so, too.”
Kristy loops her arm through mine. “Come on. Let’s go.”“So much has changed.” The knot in my stomach starts to tighten again as I sit next to Lucas. He’s on the couch and is rewatching whatever episode of Star Wars I fell asleep during earlier.
“I assumed it would.” Lucas takes my phone from me and flips through the photos of the house. “Though it progressed more than I expected.”
“Right?” I smile, wrestling with excitement and fear. I cannot wait to move into the large estate with Lucas…but I’m scared he won’t be here. “There is scaffolding all around it, and look at the siding! It looks so pretty all cleaned up!”
“There are several rooms clean enough now to fuck you in,” he says matter-of-factly as he flips through more photos. “Perhaps tonight—”
“Lucas,” I say sternly.
“Buzzkill,” he mumbles under his breath. “You could at least offer to blow me in the foyer.”
I roll my eyes and inch closer to him. “We’re going to break the curse and then you can fuck me every which way I can think of and then some.”
Eliza, who’s sitting on the love seat, rolls her eyes, huffing loudly. She’s about to say something sarcastic, I’m sure, but snaps her mouth shut and quickly stands.
“Someone is here.”
Lucas turns, concern flashing across his face. Did he not hear the car?
“It’s probably that professor.” I smooth my hair back and go to the front door, needing to create a door in the warding for a stranger to step through.
I watch a black Toyota bump down the gravel driveway, stopping right behind my Jeep. My familiars shadow forward, circling the car. I lean against the doorframe and watch the professor get out of the car.
“Binx?” the professor asks. “Is that you?”
Binx shifts back into his cat form and meows, sitting in the middle of the driveway, swishing his tail.
“It is you,” the professor says, and his voice is familiar, yet I can’t place it. I tip my head, and Binx stands, sniffing the air. The professor reaches down, extending his hand for Binx to inspect before running his hand over my familiar’s sleek fur. He straightens up and light from the porch illuminates his face.
“Felix?” I lean back in shock, a smile coming over my face. “You’re the colleague Evander called?”
Felix, a handsome warlock with tan skin, thick, black hair, and deep, chocolate eyes, smiles right back. “What, you thought I wouldn’t amount to anything but the Academy’s bad boy?”
“Maybe. Then again, I did graduate with high marks.”
“Impressive for Grim Gate’s delinquent.”
I slowly shake my head, watching Felix walk up to the house. I haven’t seen him in years. I don’t remember the last time we spoke. Maybe during my university studies?
“Callie fucking Martin,” Felix breathes, coming up the porch steps. He runs his eyes up and down me. “How do you look even better than the last time I saw you?”