Only Skin Deep: Paranormal MMM Romance, page 28
Luca’s eyes widened. “And you obviously asked him, since you said you hurt his feelings.”
“I did. I made a big fucking mess.”
“Oh, boo, you did indeed. Gideon?” Luca cringed. “He will not let that go easily.”
“I know, I know.” Ash sighed. “The potentially good news out of this mess is only a small number of witches can handle a spell like that. If I can get Gideon to forgive me, he might help root out the witch working with the demons. Narrow the list, at the very least.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure out a way to smooth things over.”
“I hope so.” Ash leaned in and pressed his lips to Luca’s for a gentle kiss before turning and snuggling close again. Luca stared into the sky, the sun rising higher and higher. He drained his cup, luxuriating in the feel of Ash’s strength against him. Perhaps he could steal a bit for himself for the day to come.
A shiver raced through him at the thought of walking into the cemetery.
“You cold?”
“No,” Luca murmured. “But I suppose I should get ready for the funeral.”
Ash turned. His head tilted, and he smiled gently. “Want company?”
“Yeah,” Luca said, his voice full of gravel. He would need Ash’s strength.
Ash wrapped his arms around Luca.
Luca melted into the hug, needing the emotional support. After a kiss, Ash urged him up and toward the shower. By the time he’d soaked in some of the hot water and loosened the muscles in his back, Ash joined him. He closed his eyes as one arm snaked around his shoulders. No matter how warm the water was, he was chilled. Ash chased the sensation away.
Ash ran a washcloth over his neck and back, easing more tension away. Luca turned, searching his familiar’s face, and seeing nothing but love in the man’s eyes. He stole a few kisses, aching for connection in the wee hours of the morning.
The bathroom door opened, and Colby peeked in.
“Oh, sorry,” he mumbled sleepily before leaving.
“No, wait,” Ash called. “You can come in.”
Colby barged back in, wearing only in a pair of briefs, and took a piss, his back to the shower. “Thank heavens. Daniel is in the other bathroom. My bladder was screaming.”
When he was done, Ash opened the glass shower door and dragged Colby between them.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Colby said, bobbing to the side. He grinned. “Is this how you guys always shower?”
“Luca just needed some extra loving this morning,” Ash said, soaping Colby’s back.
“Oh?” Colby narrowed his eyes as he gazed at Luca.
“The funeral is today,” Luca murmured.
“The funeral?” Colby asked. His eyes widened. “Oh, right. Sorry.” He was silent a moment. “Would… would you like…”
“What?” Luca asked, already struggling with emotion. Adding Colby and the instability there only made it worse.
“Never mind,” Colby said.
“No, what?” Luca demanded. He picked up on the sharpness in his tone and regretted it immediately.
Colby met his stare. “I was going to ask if you wanted me to go with you, but there’s no reason for me to be there.”
“Why would there be no reason for you to be there?” Luca asked.
“I never met the woman.”
“So why did you offer?” Luca asked. He needed to hear Colby say it.
“I don’t know,” Colby answered.
Luca’s gaze flicked to Ash’s for a second before he refocused on Colby. “I think you do.”
“Luc…” Ash warned.
Colby’s face flamed red. “I don’t.”
Their human stared at the tile floor of the shower.
“Because why, Colby? Why did you want to come? Do you have feelings for me?” Luca asked, moving closer. “For us?”
He realized he shouldn’t push, but he needed to know. He needed to hear that Colby had feelings for them. Even if they were fledgling. He needed it—as much as he needed air in his lungs.
“I don’t know,” Colby said. He searched Luca’s eyes. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
Colby sighed. “Yes, there’s something between us, but it won’t be forced. I won’t be forced.”
Luca lowered his head, his lips close to Colby’s. His need might push their human away. He sensed that was the best he’d get that day. It had to be enough. “I would love to have you there if you wanted to go.”
“I don’t have a suit,” Colby murmured.
Luca twisted his hand, magic flowing. “There’s one on the bed.”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Luca fell against the tile wall. Ash and Colby kept his ass from hitting the floor.
“You have got to stop using your magic,” Ash whispered hotly.
“I didn’t think. It’s instinct,” Luca murmured. He’d wanted Colby at his side more than he’d worried for his own wellbeing. “Old habits are hard to break.”
Colby scoffed. “Break them. Before they break you.”
Luca met Colby’s gaze. “You do care.”
Colby sighed. “Another witch could’ve gotten that suit for me.”
Luca rose on shaking legs. “Will you wear it?”
Colby glared. “Of course I will.”
Luca smiled, but he feared it would be the last one of the day.
After a quick breakfast and finding someone to hang out with Daniel until it was time for him to go to work, they dressed, the bedroom somber. Luca watched his mates as they drew on the dark, drab, funereal garb. Outside the bedroom, he overheard Gideon and Daniel being loud as they played one of the many video games Daniel now possessed.
Once dressed, he exited the bedroom and sat on the back of the couch, drawing some of their joy in. Colby and Ash joined him, and a silent understanding seemed to fall between them that it was time to go. He didn’t miss the glare Gideon gave Ash.
“Where are you going?” Daniel asked.
“A friend of mine died a few days ago,” Luca said. He wouldn’t hide his grief from Daniel. Perhaps it would help him cope with the loss of his neighbor.
“Are you sad?”
“I’m very sad,” Luca whispered.
Daniel hugged him. “I’m sorry you feel sad.”
Luca hugged Daniel tight, realizing the man had the same gift as Mrs. Stephenson. Unconditional love. Luca took Daniel’s face in his hands. “Thank you, Daniel. I needed that hug very much.”
“I know,” Daniel said, a soft smile on his face.
Luca smiled. He’d been wrong. There was joy in the dark places if you learned where to look. “I love you, Daniel.”
Daniel hugged him again. “I love you, Luca.”
Luca kissed the top of Daniel’s head. “We need to go. You’re going to hang out with Gideon for a little while, so I can say goodbye to my friend. Then we’ll get you down to Graham after. Okay?”
“Okay,” Daniel said. “Gideon’s getting better, but I’m still kicking butt.”
Luca chuckled, gazing over Daniel’s shoulder and mouthing ‘thank you’.
“Anytime,” Gideon murmured, with a nod. He again glared at Ash before focusing on the television.
Daniel puttered back to the couch and took up his seat beside Gideon. “Prepare for war!”
Luca smiled and turned to Ash and Colby—the latter with a shine to his eyes.
“What?”
“Thank you for being so kind to my brother.”
Luca shrugged. “As we said, he’s our brother now, too.”
Colby smiled and reached out for Luca’s hand.
Luca’s chest tightened. He stared at the hand for a couple of seconds before grabbing hold. If only Colby knew there was no longer any letting go.
The sun shone brightly, autumn leaves swaying in the treetops. A chill gust of wind brought the scent of rotting earth to Luca’s nose. He closed the door to Ash’s police car and stood frozen, watching the assembly of people in the distance. The dark-clothed mass wore somber expressions, and he could almost hear a bit of sobbing. His heart ached, the desire to leave zipping through his mind. Funerals weren’t his favorite place to be.
His mother had taken him many a time when he’d been younger. The spirits there had been attracted to his healing power. Lost in limbo, they didn’t perceive they were dead and begged for his help. One had even dragged him away from his mother as he’d been frozen with fear.
To overcome his fear, his mother had taken him back. Again and again. Forcing him to face hundreds upon hundreds of ghosts, all demanding his help. It had only gotten worse, not better. They had sliced his skin, bitten, dragged, and beaten him on occasion. For that reason, he gave cemeteries a wide berth. He occasionally saw ghosts, but for some reason, they were only dangerous for him within the confines of the cemetery.
In the Land of the Dead, the dead ruled.
Being there also reminded him that he was mortal. As a witch, he could use spells to lengthen his and his mates’ lives, as Cassius had, but ultimately, he wasn’t immortal. One day, his number would come up. Casting a glance around, he noted Colby and Ash at his side. The thought of losing them and seeing them put into the earth made his mouth dry.
“Should we head over?” Ash asked, his voice low.
Luca stood on the asphalt road that twisted amid the gravestones. Glancing down, his toe was mere inches from the too-green grass that marked entry into the Land of the Dead.
Ash moved closer, slipping a hand into Luca’s. “We’re right here, babe. Colby and I are here for you.”
Colby slid to the other side and linked his hand through Luca’s. “Ready whenever you are.”
Luca wondered if Ash had warned Colby of his fears—though his familiar didn’t know the reason behind that fear. Did their human find him ridiculous? A big, bad witch afraid of a graveyard?
Colby squeezed his hand. He glanced down and was heartened by the sweet smile on Colby’s face.
Luca inhaled deeply and released the air. Daytime is better than the night. I’ll be fine. I have my mates alongside me. “Let’s go.”
They wended their way through the neat rows of headstones. Two ravens flew overhead, their cries adding to the tension. A few yards in, Luca noted a ghost rising from a nearby grave. Keeping his focus forward, he ignored it, only quickening his pace a bit.
By the time they stepped under the tent covering the grave and found seats, there were at least half a dozen ghosts hovering nearby—yet not approaching. Perhaps it was all the humans clustered so close around him. Maybe it was his mates on either side of him. Either way, he was grateful for whatever protected him. Luca refused to look any of them in the eye and tempt fate. Instead, he focused on the casket resting five feet away.
He glanced at those in attendance and recognized Mrs. Stephenson’s granddaughter. She met his gaze, hers red-rimmed and shining. She smiled wanly and nodded at him. He returned the gesture, smiling before gazing at the people immediately surrounding her. Luca recognized some of them, through either their resemblance or the pictures she had shared with him over the years.
He’d listened to so many stories about her kin while she’d sat in his chair, wiling away the hours under his tattoo gun. It was as if he already knew them.
What he did know was their pain and their loss. He experienced it down to his very bones.
As the minutes passed, more and more people arrived. He recognized a few of his old teachers and classmates, others who were likely old students of hers. The group swelled, filling all the seats and causing others to stand around the outside of the tent.
A gasp nearby caught Luca’s attention. Others in attendance stared in one direction, so he turned to search for whatever it was they observed.
Her coven.
Luca’s mouth dropped at the sight. A large group of witches—not that the humans realized they were that—traversed the cemetery, closing in on the small, green tent. Most were oddly dressed, some in Victorian-style clothing, others with a bohemian flair. A couple of the younger ones appeared more contemporary, only adding to the strangeness of the group’s presence. All were pale-skinned and dressed fully in black, with dark sunglasses, giving them the appearance of vampires. A witch with her black lace parasol only added to the general vibe.
They marched up to one side of the seats, near the front, and hovered close until the seats were abandoned—likely via magic—and the coven seated themselves with a flourish.
Ash leaned close, his voice low. “Her family?”
“A stretch to call them that,” Luca answered, his jaw tightening. “Given the fact they exiled her. They have balls coming here, in my opinion. They didn’t show up for her in life, nor her slow death, so what right do they have to be here now?”
One witch turned to pin him with a glare, sliding her sunglasses down her nose and showing off sparkling pale blue and white eyes, as if she’d overheard him.
He smiled maliciously at her, unashamed of what he’d said. It was the truth. He hoped she had heard and repeated it to her entire coven. No matter his magic or lack thereof, he wasn’t afraid of them.
She turned back to face the front without a word.
A minister in his funereal finery stepped behind the narrow podium beside the casket, his balding head pink amid the ring of white hair. “If we can have your attention? We would like to begin the service.”
Murmurs grew silent. Another raven landed a few feet away, crying out and shattering the silence. A few folks jumped at the sound and tittered when they realized the source.
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Mrs. Stephenson’s old coven erupted into laughter, bringing the service to a halt. The pastor grew red-faced, frowning at the unexpected interruption. The human attendees looked at one another, confused and uncomfortable. Luca’s jaw tensed, an outburst poised and ready on his lips.
As if sensing his ire, Colby squeezed his hand. He glanced down to his right and found peace in his mate’s eyes. Breathing deep, he let the irritation go.
When their laughter eventually died down, the preacher continued, an odd expression on his face. “I’ve considered this Biblical passage often when I’ve lost one of my parishioners. Mansions in heaven, what a wonderful thought, is it not? But then, we were not meant to live forever here on Earth, but there, in heaven. The Bible describes the body as a tent—easily torn and destroyed by the elements and time. It is a temporary home for the soul until it can reach its true destination in heaven. Eliza Corey Stephenson has now moved on to her mansion in heaven—where she is no longer in pain. How do I know she’s there? We all know her for her good deeds and kind heart to all who met her. Now, if you’ll check your program for the…”
Luca zoned out, catching movement off to the edge of the cemetery. Unable to stop his gaze from straying, he stared past the mourners and the ghosts hovering nearby, and saw a figure exit one of the many mausoleums within the cemetery. Not another ghost, but a flesh and blood being—he was sure of it. Narrowing his eyes, he thought he recognized the individual.
Bloody Nix.
Once again, his ire returned. What in the hell was Nix doing? Grave robbing? Luca rolled his eyes, still sure that the witch needed to be watched. Closely. Cassius had suggested that Doyle might be the witch helping the demons with wards and such, but Luca wasn’t buying it. Doyle was an apprentice. Did he truly have the power to manage the magic protecting the Dark Arts building? He thought not.
Nix did.
The witch marched through a distant row of graves, growing closer with every step. The closer Nix traveled, the more apparent that he, too, was surrounded by ghosts. They floated alongside him, swirling close. Pleading. As they often did with Luca. When he reached the wider grassy path between the headstones, Nix lifted his gaze and met Luca’s. He paused a second, shaking his head with antipathy, and then continued marching outside the cemetery.
The ghosts that had been waiting for Luca turned and followed Nix out.
At least he’s good for something.
Luca turned back to the service, unsettled. His left leg rocketed up and down, nervous energy with nowhere to go. Ash placed one palm on his knee, stilling it. He gave Luca a glimpse and a squeeze of the hand and refocused on the minister. Luca’s gaze darted all over, searching for another view of Nix, but had lost him.
After the pastor finished his eulogy, one by one, members of her family were called to speak at the podium. Luca willed his rapid heartbeat to calm and to focus on the loving words of her family and past students. He listened to so many stories that were familiar to him. Either things he’d heard from her perspective or experienced in kind. He saw she’d truly been loved and revered.
As was her due.
“Is there anyone else who’d like to speak on her behalf?” the minister asked after the last speaker.
Luca rose, unsure why he did. He released his mates’ hands and made his way to the podium. Once behind it, nothing came to his mind, and he had no idea what compulsion had led him there. He cleared his throat and saw Mrs. Stephenson’s gentle smile in his mind’s eye.
It was then that those in attendance didn’t matter. He had something to say to her.
“I don’t think I ever told Mrs. Stephenson exactly how much she meant to me.” He lifted his gaze, holding first Ash and then Colby’s stare. He glanced down at the podium, a copy of the funeral program with her face on the cover. He traced her smile with his fingertip. “But if she were here right now, I would tell her how safe she made me feel in her classroom. I experienced her kindness and her care every single day of my teen years, from seventh grade all throughout high school. Time passed, and we drifted apart after I graduated, but she always remained in my heart. I’d see her from time to time, and it was as if we’d only seen each other the day before. Her love for her students never wavered. When she came to me to get a tattoo to immortalize her battle with cancer, I was humbled that she picked me. I poured myself into it, hoping I could give back some of the love she’d given me.”
