Possession (The Mate Games 3)

“I cleaned it out, you jerk. I wouldn’t leave those behind.”

Coffee forgotten, she bolted across the room and tore open the drawer. She pulled out a small box wrapped in the sheer black scarf I’d bought to accompany her present. My favorite part was the shimmery gold embroidered constellations all throughout the fabric. “This is so pretty,” she whispered. “I can’t believe you got me a present.”

“Open it, silly. There’s more.”

Her eyes, wide as a kid waking up on Christmas morning, shone with moisture. She untied the scarf to reveal the tarot deck I’d chosen while shopping with Kingston. The set was completely unique, entirely hand-painted with gilded silver edges and attention to detail I couldn’t believe. They were Gothic in nature, the card imagery on the darker side with skulls and black roses decorating the back. I’d taken one look at them in the little shop and knew immediately they were meant for Moira.

“Oh,” she breathed, selecting one card at random and cradling it in her palm. “These are fucking gorgeous, Sunday. You shouldn’t have.”

“I love you. I wanted you to have something special. Christmastime is magic, no matter what you believe in.”

She blinked back tears. “This is the first actual Christmas present I’ve ever gotten, you know. We don’t really do Solstice gifts in my coven.”

“Let’s make it a tradition. We can celebrate every year together in our own way. Not Christmas, not Solstice. Just us.”

“I didn’t get you anything.”

“That’s not why I got you this. You’ve given me so much since I got here. And, actually, I’m not done asking for your help yet.”

Moira placed the cards on the small table by her bed. “Go ahead. From the tone of your voice, it’s serious.”

“I need to open a portal to Novasgard and go get Alek back.”

She blinked. “Oh, wow. Okay. Um...”

It was the first time she’d seemed truly flustered by one of my requests. Usually she had a solution ready to go.

“Can you not do that?”

“Well, Ican,it's just... Novasgard is a protected realm. It’s not the sort of place you just pop into uninvited. The kind of magic required to even try is bigger than a one-woman coven.”

Frustration seeped into my bones with every word she uttered. Defeated, I let my shoulders slump. “I don’t know what to do. Something is wrong. With him. With me. I felt him last night in my dream.”

“I’m sorry, Sunday. I can’t open a portal to Novasgard. Not today, and definitely not by myself.” I could see the wheels turning in her mind, though. She pursed her lips and stood before pacing back and forth between our beds. “Maybe I could ask my coven. There are some very old, very powerful witches. And everyone will be there to celebrate the Solstice. Someone has to know something. I’ll find a way. Leave it to me.”

“Thank you. I just... I need him.”

Her gaze softened. “I know you do.” She went back to her coffee, poured a cup, and then looked to me. “Want some?”

My stomach churned. “No. I’m not feeling so hot this morning. I don’t think I can stomach much more than dry toast.”

“Aw, is my little Abby giving you trouble already?”

I rolled my eyes. “Moira, I told you to stop naming the baby.”

“What? Abby is short for abomination. Do you want me to call her Nation? Bomb?”

“I want you to—” I sighed. “I don’t know.”

“Fine. I’ll call her Amadeus.”

“Moira,” I groaned.

“If it’s good enough for Wolfy, it’s good enough for my little god-demon.”

I shook my head with a sigh because fuck, she wasn’t wrong. “You’re a bitch, witch.”

“And you’re a heathen, demon.”

I stood to leave, and she met me at the door, surprising me with a fierce hug.

“Have fun meeting the fam. Don’t get into trouble while you’re gone.”

“You too.”

“Oh, sweet cheeks, I always find trouble.”