“As I’ve done hundreds of times before.”
“But you weren’t pregnant before.”
“Oh, right, thanks for reminding me because I almost forgot.”
“Callie,” he says sternly, and I see the fear in his eyes. “Nothing can happen to you.”
“It won’t,” I press, though we both know that’s not true. “I’ll take my familiars with me, and Scarlet can tag along too. I don’t think she can pass through the door now that the protection spells have been replaced, though. I’ll have her wait for me right outside the door if that’s the case.”
Lucas slowly shakes his head. “I still don’t like this. Why the ominous letter? Why not say exactly why you’ve been summoned?”
I shrug. “That’s how it always is. Summons aren’t always bad.”
“The last time you were summoned was so you could go on trial. And before that, it was to warn you about a witch hunter. Your track record with summons—at least since I’ve known you—indicates they are bad news.”
“There’s only one way to find out,” I sigh and flatten my hands against Lucas’s chest. “But I could also try calling my friends too. If Kristy is home or at the store, she’ll answer.”
“Call them,” Lucas tells me. “Now.”
“That requires me getting up,” I grumble. “And I don’t know where my phone is.”
“On the nightstand.” He flips us over, moving with vampire speed, and kisses me passionately before zooming up the stairs, returning a few seconds later with my phone. I call Kristy first. There’s no cell service at the Covenstead, and the call goes right to voicemail.
I try Nicole next, and she answers, thank goodness.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Nicole. Did you get a summons from the coven?”
She hesitates for a second. “No, why?”
“I did, and I have no idea what it could be about.”
“They probably just want to talk to you about everything that happened a few days ago. I’m kinda sad I missed the action, but also very glad I didn’t see anything.”
“Yeah, it’s probably better you didn’t. Have you heard anything about how the students that were taken to the hospital are doing?”
“I did, actually. Naomi and I spent the day baking with Gran yesterday and brought it to the school. One of the students has been released, home, and is doing so much better after taking a healing potion. The others are doing well too. All stable and just waiting to go home.”
“That’s a relief,” I sigh. “I was really worried we’d be too late.”
“You weren’t.”
“Well, kind of. Not everyone made it out alive.”
“I know,” Nicole says. “But if you hadn’t shown up at all…man, I don’t even want to think about it.”
“I don’t either. I’ll let you go,” I tell her, wanting to get off the phone. I should have just texted, but this way I got an immediate answer.
“Okay. Let’s get together sometime soon. You’re still going to Florida, right?”
“Yeah, we are. Our Disney reservations are from the twenty-first to November first.”
“Damn,” she laughs. “I’m a little jealous. Have fun.”
“I’m sure I will. I’ll text the whole gang about meeting up before Lucas and I leave.”
“You better! I’ll see ya later, Cal.”
“Bye,” I say and hang up and look at Lucas. “I got nothing.”
“I heard.”
“You’re such an eavesdropper,” I tease, knowing he can’t really help it. I set my phone down and snuggle up with Lucas. “So much for a relaxing day—again. Honestly, at this point I should just stop hoping for one.”
“Are you going to tell them about Lucifer?” Lucas asks, slipping his arms around my waist and pulling me back into his lap. My heart speeds up at the thought of Lucifer, and the sick feeling in my stomach intensifies. I close my eyes and wait for the world to stop spinning.
But it doesn’t, because Lucifer is out of Hell. Somehow, someway, he broke free, and while I have no idea what he plans on doing, I know it can’t be good.
“No. I…I don’t want to worry anyone. And,” I go on, taking in a slow breath and hoping I don’t throw up on the couch. The material isn’t the easiest to clean. “What’s the point? We can’t fight the devil.”
“Can’t we?”
“Lucas, no,” I say sternly. “He’s the fucking devil.”
“And you’re my fucking wife,” he counters. “I’m not going to roll over and submit like a dog to him, Callie. He was put in Hell before, he can be put in Hell again.”
“Yeah, but other archangels!”
“Are you sure about that? Are they the ones who put him there?”
“I…I actually don’t know,” I say as a shiver makes its way down my spine. “But I don’t think I’m going out on a limb to say it took at least one of his brothers to put him there.” I bring my hand to my stomach and groan, nausea made worse from the stress. I’m close to coming unhinged, and while I impressed myself exploring my feeling about killing Ruth and Roger, I can’t go there with this.