Still of Night, page 18
“No, we had plans to take the kids out to dinner.” She takes Penny from my arms. “Today was…it was…fun.” She closes her eyes and shakes her head. “It was fun,” she says firmly, and it was, until just now. “Thank you for inviting me to go with you.”
“You’re my sister. I’m glad you came with. I know it was pretty awful having to taste a bunch of designer cakes.”
“It was pretty awful. When you test out different cocktails, I suppose I can suffer with you and try them too.”
I smile. “Thanks. It’ll be nice to have someone else suffer with me. Eliza actually has a few ideas on what our signature cocktail should be.”
“Really?”
“She’s been working as a bartender for years. She might not drink anything she mixes, but supposedly she’s good at coming up with concoctions.”
“It if gives me an excuse to take a night off and drink, I’ll take it,” Abby laughs, and I love how fast we became friends after going years without speaking. I suppose trying to cure me from a demon virus is as good a way as any to bond, right?
Ricci sets Ben down only to pick him back up again. He’s full-on having a fit now, and is screaming and crying and just wants down. She walks me to the door, thanks me a million times again, and then I finally leave.
I think I’m going to agree with Lucas on taking an extended vacation after we get hitched.
“Honey, I’m home!” I drop my purse on the floor right inside the foyer and kick off my heels. Lucas is in the office, talking to someone on the phone. He’s not speaking English, but looks up from the glow of the computer screen to smile at me.
My familiars come running and I’m looking forward to a quiet night at home with them and Lucas. I go right into the kitchen and get something for us all to eat.
“You could hunt,” I tell my familiars as they wind around my feet. “Some witches don’t feed their familiars at all, let alone cook chicken just for them.” Binx meows and rubs against my legs.
“You’re right,” I agree with a laugh. “I do like making you food.”
Lucas comes into the kitchen as the chicken is cooking. He takes me in his arms and kisses me, picking me up and putting me on the counter.
“How was cake tasting?”
“It was fun. You’ll be very excited to know that I picked out a French- vanilla cake batter with strawberry filling.”
“I have no idea what that even looks like,” he laughs. “But as long as you like it.”
“I think I’m going to take you up on the offer to go on a long vacation.”
“Did something happen today to change your mind?”
I rest my hands on his broad chest. “Ricci’s kid climbed up and over a bench by her balcony railing. I stopped him from falling to his death with magic.” I let out a sigh. “She saw, wanted to post the security footage of me saving him with magic online, but I altered her memory to make her think she didn’t want to share it or tell anyone who I was.”
“I can erase her memory completely.”
“I know, and I thought about asking you to, but I think she needs to know her professionally decorated house might look pretty but isn’t the safest. If I hadn’t been there, not just at her house there, but standing in that very spot, the kid probably would have died if not been severely injured.”
“Look at you, saving lives all the time.” He runs his hands up and down my arms.
“I didn’t even mean to.” I rest my forehead against his. “It’s just been one thing after another and I want nothing more than a quiet few nights together, feeling the still of night without having to worry about angels or demons or being excommunicated.”
“Let’s get away then, right after the wedding. Take a traditional honeymoon for a week. Then we can come back, you can take care of things here, and we can leave again before Samhain. Spend the weekend in Disney World.”
“You need more than a weekend at Disney. We should stay for at least eight days so we get two at each park.”
“I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about, you know.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll show you the ropes. It’s been a few years since I’ve been there, but I’ll get us both caught up to speed by watching YouTube videos.”
Lucas laughs like he thinks I’m joking. Folding me in his embrace he puts his lips to my neck. “You’re so warm.”
“There are other parts of me that are warmer.”
“Fuck, Callie,” he groans, pulling me closer. My phone rings and we both let out defeated signs. “Stay here, I’ll get it,” he tells me and zooms away, returning only a second later. Whoever is calling has a Chicago area code.
I answer and put the call on speaker.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Callie. It’s Easton.”
My brows go up. “Oh, hey. Is something wrong.”
“Something is always wrong,” he says and I think he’s trying to be funny, but the joke falls flat. “I did some digging into who hired the Order.”
“Did you find anything out?”
“Possibly. I can’t confirm if it’s true or not, but according to one hunter, the Order was paid a big sum of money to take out some witch in Chicago. The guy emphasized that they were paid much more than normal, like a hundred grand more than normal.”
“Did they say who paid it?”
“Not who, but what,” Easton pauses for a second. “Callie,” he starts again, slowly saying my name. “The money was paid by a vampire.”
21
“A vampire?” I echo.
“Yeah. A rich one.”
I look up at Lucas, whose face is tense.
“You’re not suggesting that Lucas paid someone to kill me, are you? Because I sleep next to him every night. He could easily slit my throat then for free.”
“No,” Easton says. “I don’t think it was him, nor did I. I can tell he really cares for you.”
“I do care for her,” Lucas says, wrapping his arm around me possessively. I want to elbow him away and remind him that Easton can’t see us.
“Oh, I’m, uh, on speaker,” he says ruefully. “Should have figured he’d listen in on all your phone calls.”
“Yeah. What else did you find out?” I ask, ignoring his snide comment.
“That was pretty much it. There’s a hunter hangout, and this guy got shit-faced. He was spouting off about getting paid a ton of money and I got as much info out of him as I could before he puked all over his shoes.”
“Gross. Wait,” I look up at Lucas and slowly shake my head. “He already got paid? Don’t hit men have to finish the job before they collect?”
“I’ve never been a hired assassin, so I’m not sure,” Easton starts. “But I’d assume so.”
“Did he act like he killed me?”
“Not really.”
“Not really?” Lucas echoes. “What does that mean?”
“It means he wasn’t bragging about it, but he didn’t talk about missing his mark either. If a hunter had killed a witch, they tend to talk about it,” he admits ruefully. “But he did act like he’d already gotten the money.”
“Did he tell you anything about the vampire?” Lucas asks. “Anything at all.”
“All he said was some old, undead fucker—his words not mine—paid him to kill a witch.”
“What did he look like?” I ask.
“Hang on, let me text you a picture.” A few seconds pass before the text comes through. The guy is obviously drunk, and Easton took the photo inconspicuously, holding his phone down at his side. It’s not the best photo, but it’s good enough for me to know it’s him.
“That’s the guy I tackled. The one who shot at me when I was leaving Abby’s house.”
“Did you get a name?” Lucas asks, drawing his fangs.
“Robert. He didn’t have ID on him and once he got too drunk, some of his buddies took him away. They left in cars with New York plates. I got a partial number. I’ll text it to you.”
“Thank you, Easton” I let out a heavy sigh. “If you hear anything else, let me know.”
“I will. And I’m going to keep digging. The Order detests anything remotely non-human. Taking money from a vampire goes against what they stand for, though I suppose they’ve shifted from actually fighting the good fight to doing whatever pays the most.”
“It’s human nature,” Lucas muses. “I’ve seen it many times over the years. Thank you,” he says and sounds like he really means it.
“Yeah, sure. Be careful, Callie. I…I don’t know what kind of business you got yourself mixed up with, but this is deep shit. If you need anything, Miranda and I are here.”
“Thanks,” I tell him. “And same here. Actually…what are you guys doing the last Saturday of August?”
“Um, nothing?”
“Want to come to my wedding? The cake is going to be very good.”
“Um, I, uh…um…sure?”
“I’ll text Miranda the info. Thanks again.” I end the call and close my eyes. I want one night—just one fucking night—where I’m not worried about anything.
“You invited hunters to our wedding?” Lucas eyes me like I’ve officially lost my mind. Who knows? Maybe I have.
“We have the venue space.”
A beat passes and then he laughs. “Let’s go to bed. Make popcorn or cheese or whatever it is you eat and we can watch a movie.”
“It’s not that late.”
“Does it have to be late to lie in bed together and watch a movie?”
“No,” I say, a smile coming to my face. “It doesn’t.”
He brings his hands to my shoulders. “You’re tense. I’m going to draw a bath first. Then we’ll watch a movie.”
I hook my arms around his shoulders. “Why are you so good to me?”
“I’ll never be good enough.”
My heart thumps loudly in my chest and I pull Lucas closer, parting my lips as he brings his mouth to mine. We kiss deeply. Passionately. Like it’s our first and last time all at once.
Then Lucas suddenly jerks away. “Someone is in your yard.”
“Son of a bitch,” I huff. “Have they made it through the warding?”
“Yes. It’s Tabatha and Evander.” He inhales, smelling the air.
“What are they—oh. I didn’t think it would happen so soon.”
“What, my love?”
My throat tightens and I’m not sure if I can say the words out loud. “I…I told Evander to bring over what is needed to officially leave the coven.”
Lucas’s brows furrow and he cups my chin in his hands. “I am sorry, Callie.”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault the Grand Coven, or even the Vampire Council for that matter, won’t get over a thousand-year-old grudge.”
“I know that. But I am sorry you are having to deal with feelings of grief. I want nothing more than for you to be happy.”
“I am happiest with you.” My eyes flutter closed and a renegade tear rolls down my cheek. Lucas gently wipes it away and then goes to answer the door, letting Evander and Tabatha in and giving me a few seconds to pull myself together.
Leaving the coven of my own free will proves I respect the rules of the coven. It gives me more of a chance of getting back in. If I was found guilty of sneaking around with Lucas, I would be punished…and so would Tabatha.
And I can’t have that.
“Good evening, sister,” Evander says but his voice lacks its usual gusto.
“Hey,” I say and force a smile. “It’s time?”
“I’m afraid so, my darling girl,” Tabatha tells me. She’s holding a yellowed scroll in her hand. I can feel the magic emanating from it and know it’s an enchanted document.
Lucas shuts and locks the door behind them. “Callie told me this is a quiet way of handling her leaving the coven. I appreciate you finding this particular avenue.”
“There’s no need to cause a scene,” Tabatha starts. “And I fully believe her being banned from the coven will be temporary. You are no threat to us.”
“Can we just get this over with?” I ask. I’m not worried I’ll have second thoughts. I won’t. I am in love with Lucas, more in love than I ever thought possible. I want to be with him. I want to move in together. Get married. Plan a life…no matter the cost.
“Yes, and it’s rather painless.” Tabatha comes into the living room and spreads the scroll on the table. “This is a lengthy and complicated declaration of freedom from the coven. I’ve already looked it over, so don’t worry about trying to read through it. Sign it, and once approved, you will no longer be part of the coven.” She’s fighting her own emotions, making me question if she really thinks my excommunication will be easily overturned or not.
“Okay.”
“We’re not supposed to associate with you, but you know we still will. Especially with your wedding coming up soon.” She unrolls the scroll, smoothing it out on the coffee table. “I understand you have a date.”
“I do. And I picked out my cake today.”
Tabatha turns, brown eyes glistening. “You know I consider you a daughter.”
“And you’re like my mother.”
“I am so proud of you, Callie, and I know your real mother would be so too.”
“Save the sappy speech for the toast at the reception,” Evander says. He’s giving me a toothy grin, but he’s feeling just as upset about this as I am. “And you know, if you astral project into my office, no one will know.”
“It is true,” Tabatha says. “Your astral body cannot be traced.”
“Well, then I’ll have to do that.” I force a smile. “I’m sure I’ll have research requests that will pop up before I’m allowed back in.”
“What happened to taking a break?” Lucas asks. He’s leaning against the wall at the entrance to the living room.
“A break?” Evander asks. “You deserve one, Cal.”
“I know,” I sigh and take the pen from Tabatha’s hand. “We thought about going on our honeymoon right after the wedding, coming back for a few weeks, and then taking like the full month of October off to travel. That way I wouldn’t be here over the Samhain festivities.”
“I think that’s a grand idea.” Tabatha smiles. “You haven’t taken a vacation in years.”
“It is way overdue.” I look at Lucas and smile. “He owns properties all around the world. I’m sure we could entertain ourselves just by visiting them.”’
“We will.” Lucas speeds forward and sits next to me on the couch. “And everything I own will be yours after we’re married, so you might as well acquaint yourself with all that you own.”
“You’re adding her name to everything?” Tabatha leans back, surveying Lucas.
“I am,” Lucas answers. “I love Callie and want to share everything with her. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have asked her to marry me.”
“Well then,” Tabatha starts, turning back to me. “We better make sure this wedding goes off without a hitch.” She smiles, and this time, it’s reflected in her eyes. “Sign here, darling. I’ll file the papers with the Grand Coven on your behalf.”
I suck in a breath and pull the cap off the pen. The tip of the pen meets the paper, and a little dot of ink pools on the parchment. I quickly sing my name and look up.
“Is that it?”
“I need a drop of your blood.” Tabatha points to the spot next to my signature. I hold out my arm and Lucas draws his fangs. He knows how much I hate pricking the tips of my fingers, so he tips his head and sinks one fang into the tender flesh on my forearm. I watch my blood pool and then stick my finger in it.
“Here?” I ask, making sure I’m going to sign in blood in the right place.
“Yes.”
I press my finger down and then lean back, offering my bleeding arm to Lucas. He licks the tiny puncture once and then puts his finger over the wound.
“So it’s done?” I ask.
“Yes. The Grand Coven may question you, making sure it’s actually your will to leave the coven. But once they’ve received the paperwork stating your declaration to leave, it will be done.”
I let out a breath. “That was less painful than I thought.”
“I fully believe you will be back within a year’s time,” Tabatha tells me. “Until then, I fully agree with the notion of you taking an extended vacation. Explore the world, my darling. There is so much to see.”
I rest my head on Lucas’s shoulder. “It would be good timing too. We’d be busy world travelers while the biggest renovations are completed on our house. We’ll come back, pack up here, and will be in the new house by the holidays. I’ll miss Samhain, but hosting a grand Yuletide party has always been a dream of mine.”
Evander chuckles. “Has she warned you?” he asks Lucas.
“About what?” he replies.
“About how enthusiastic she gets for the winter holidays.”
“She’s mentioned that she likes decorating.” Lucas tips his head down to me. “Are we talking a normal level of excitment or Elf level?”
I beam from the simple fact that he just referenced one of my favorite holiday movies. “I aim for a healthy medium. But I’ve already mentally plotted where I’m going to put our Christmas trees.”
“Trees?” Lucas’s brows go up.
“I have three trees for this small house.”
Lucas just shakes his head and looks at me lovingly, and I’m reminded once again why I’m so willing to give up everything.
“It is late,” Tabatha says as she stands, rolling the scroll back up. “I will let you know once the Grand Coven has reviewed this, though don’t be surprised if it takes several weeks.”
“Okay.” I sigh with relief and get up so I can walk Tabatha and Evander to the door. Evander goes onto the porch, but Tabatha turns and takes both my hands in hers.
“Don’t worry, Callie. This is a bump in the road.”
“I’ll try not to.”
“Enjoy your time away from the coven.”
“I will.” I force a smile. Getting away from the coven for a few weeks really isn’t that bad. Until recently, I hadn’t gone into the Covenstead all that often anyway.
