Starfire (Grim Gate 2)

“That’s a good sign.” Ethan slides his hand up my arm. “Do you want to go to the Field Museum?”

“Like now?”

“Yeah, why not? Sam has to go to Chicago anyway.”

“Yeah,” I reply with a smile. “I’d like that a lot.”

“This was a nice way to warm up.” I pull the blanket over my shoulders, snuggling closer to Ethan. We had a nice time at the museum. Sam and Yuma were able to come with us too, which was nice. It was the long I’ve been around Sam without her making some sort of snide remark, though I don’t want to get too hopeful that we’ll become best friends any time soon.

We didn’t get home until after dark, and the horses were not happy they got their grain nearly two hours after their normal feeding time. I loaded them up with extra hay before we left so it wasn’t like they were left starving. I might have looked up automatic feeders on the way home, stressing about getting stuck in traffic and making it home until the middle of the night.

“It is.” Ethan runs his fingertips up and down the curve of my hip. I came in from the barn to find a blanket by the fire, and now we’re both questioning why we haven’t had sex on the library floor like this before.

“I kinda want to stay here all night,” I say sleepily.

“We could, though once the fire dies out we’ll both be missing our bed.”

“Probably.” I hook my leg over Ethan’s and we both end up falling asleep. Like Ethan said, I wake up cold, and we both trudge up to bed. I need to take my makeup off and brush my teeth before climbing under the covers with Ethan.

It’s my turn to get up in the morning, and my alarm goes off all too soon. I make a mad dash outside, feed and let everyone in the pasture, and then get back into bed, wiggling close to Ethan so his body heat warms me back up. It doesn’t take long for me to fall back asleep, and the next time I wake up, Hunter is in Ethan’s spot.

He lets me know Ethan went to the gym, and I lazily get up and go downstairs, thinking about doing twenty minutes of speed-walking on the treadmill. The thought is exhausting enough, but I make myself do it. I really should stay in shape so I can run away from—or toward—demons. That, and heart disease runs on Dad’s side of the family.

Then it’s a bit of a mad rush to shower and get dressed before meeting Rene in Paradise Valley for lunch. I’m still drying my thick hair by the time Ethan is showered and dressed. My hair is halfway down my back right now and I really do prefer it long, but every time I dry it I considered cutting it into a bob. It just takes so freaking long to dry.

“Should I bring something?” I ask Ethan, smoothing out an emerald green sweater.

“Like what?” he asks.

“Like my Book of Shadows or a bay leaf to put in a bowl of water that I may or may not be able to move telekinetically.”

Ethan looks at me, thinking I’m joking. When I don’t laugh, he comes over and takes me in his arms. “You don’t have to bring anything to prove yourself to Rene.”

“How did you know that’s what I was thinking.”

He kisses me. “I know you. She reached out and asked to talk. Let’s just see where it goes from here. Also, you shouldn’t do magic in the middle of a crowded restaurant. It might raise a few suspicions.”

“That’s logical.” I smile. “Ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

I have to double check the gates are closed before we leave. It’s still cold, with dreary, gray clouds covering the sky. We’re meeting at a café called Lunchbox, and it’s so ridiculously hipster I can’t help but find it amusing. Rene is already seated in the back and waves when she sees me.

“I’m suddenly nervous,” I whisper to Ethan.

“It’ll be fine.” He gives my hand a squeeze and we make our way to the table.

“Hey, girl!” Rene says, smiling as soon as I sink into my chair, almost as if she didn’t watch me kill a demon. “How have you been?”

“Um, good.” I take off my coat. “You?”

“Busy with the store. But at least nothing has attacked me, right?” She laughs and then her face goes slack. “Too soon?”

“No,” I say and let out a breath of relief. “It’s not too soon for me.”

“Good, because that was about to get awkward.” Rene opens and closes her menu three times. She’s as nervous as I feel.

“You have questions,” I start, and silence falls over the table.

Rene taps the screen of her phone, needing a distraction. “Yeah,” she finally says and nervously looks around. “What…what was that thing?” She looks up, eyes reflecting the fear she’s trying hard to repress.