Still of Night (Thorne Hill 4)

“Wait.” Kristy looks at me with more shock than when I told her Uncle Lucifer was talking to me in my dreams. “You invited your demon-hunting ex-boyfriend—who tried to kill you and has threatened to kill Lucas how many times—to your wedding?”

“We have the venue space?” I say with a shrug. “And I kind of feel bad for them. I don’t know the inner workings of a hunter ring, but he said he and Miranda are on the outs right now because they worked with a vampire and a witch. I’m just so over this supernatural hate for each other.”

“Me too.” A beat of silence passes between us. “So, with everything being all rushed, I never got to plan your bachelorette party. We are doing something, so don’t even try and tell me otherwise. I have some ideas.” She smiles, getting all excited.

“It’s nothing crazy, though I was kind of hoping you’d want to take a private jet to Vegas because I know Lucas would totally pay for it.”

I laugh. “He would. Maybe we can do Vegas for New Year’s Eve?”

“Ohhh, that could be fun. And it’ll be nice to get away from the cold for a while. But back to your bachelorette party, we could stay in town if you want super low-key, or we could go up to that casino that’s not even an hour from here. They have a really nice spa, highly rated restaurants, and Thunder from Down Under just happens to be performing the week before your weekend. We could do dinner, drinks, the show, and then take our hand at gambling a bit while drinking more, of course.”

“That sounds like a lot of fun.”

“Really?”

I nod. “Yeah. Let’s get the gang together and do it.”

“Yay! I’ll make all the phone calls tonight. And will you hate me if I make you a shirt that says Bride on it or something?”

“Can it be black?’

“I wouldn’t even dream of any other color.”

“Then yes, please do. And I kind of want to wear a crown.”

Kristy laughs. “I’ll see what I can do.” She gives me a quick hug. “I’m so excited, Cal. You’re getting married!”

I am too, and I hate that my excitement is getting diminished at the thought of what it’s costing me.

Lucas is worth it, though. No question about it, he’s worth it.

“I signed the papers,” I tell her, though I’m sure she already knows. “I don’t know if Tabatha has handed them over yet or not, but I’ll be out of the coven officially.”

“You mean temporarily.”

“Yeah. That sounds better.” I’m hit with emotion again, and I have to remind myself this doesn’t mean I won’t see my friends. Though technically, they shouldn’t associate with me anymore.

Tabatha and Evander especially. By marrying a vampire, I’m basically becoming a traitor to all witch kind. If Tabatha is seen with me after my excommunication is final, she’ll be seen as one too.

24

I sit on the rooftop patio at Lucas’s house in Lincoln Park and close my eyes. “Michael,” I call and bring my hands together. “Can you hear me? I really want to talk to you. And getting to know my dad would be cool too.”

Cars drive down the street, and the neighbors next door are outside entertaining friends. Music is playing and the sound of their laughter is distracting.

I open my eyes and look around, not convinced someone isn’t going to try and shoot me again. All three of my familiars are up here, walking around the perimeter of the roof, keeping guard.

The sun is just now setting. We were able to drive to Chicago before dark thanks to my handy-dandy spellwork, making it safe for Lucas to be in the car during the day. He’s inside now, doing some sort of work. He has to pack more of his stuff too, but there’s nowhere to put it in my little house. I’m pretty sure his closet is bigger than my bedroom.

In a perfect world, we wouldn’t get married until the house was closer to being done. That way we could spend the first night there together as a married couple. Which we still will, I know, but we’re going to be going back and forth between houses for a while.

“I have so many questions,” I go on, closing my eyes again. “And concerns. Probably more concerns. Please, Michael. Talk to me.”

I let out a sigh and stand, stretching my hands over my head. He’s not going to talk to me tonight. Julian hasn’t answered either, but I have a feeling if I just send out the slightest bit of interest in talking to Lucifer again, he’ll show up in my dreams.

“Come on, guys,” I say to my familiars and go into the house. Lucas is taking me out to dinner tonight, and we’re determined to have as normal of a date as possible. Which for us means me eating amazing food, drinking really good wine, and then coming home and having mind-blowing sex.

I magically curl my hair, change from a tank top and leggings to a dark purple dress, and walk through the large house to find Lucas. He’s still in his office and is on the phone again. This time he is speaking French, and thinking it might have something to do with the week in Paris he keeps talking about, I go back into the living room to wait.

Pulling out a heavy book from my bag, I sit on the couch with my feet propped up on the coffee table and flip through the pages of the Demonology book. I borrowed it from Naomi and Nicole, whose gran is a famed demonologist, a few days ago and have been slowly going through it with Lucas’s help, since the entire thing is written in Latin.

My wedding is getting closer…and so is the time for this demon to grab another round of victims to sacrifice or eat or do whatever he’s going to do to them.

It takes me twenty minutes to translate a small section, going back and forth between an online translator and the words written in small black ink.

Feeling like I’m about to go cross-eyed, I close the book and grab my phone. I spent a decent chunk of time a few days ago taking photos of my familiars in the bookstore, and need to schedule social media posts to go up. I should at least be able to manage this.

I get one photo up and spend a few minutes replying to questions and comments. I don’t even know the last time I went through our message box and I feel all sorts of guilty about it.

My phone rings, and since it’s in my hand, I answer right away.

“Hello, sister,” Evander says. “Tell me all is well.”

“I would if I wasn’t afraid of jinxes.”

Evander laughs. “That’s a good answer. Are you home?”

“Not in Thorne Hill. We’re in Chicago so Lucas can go to a VC meeting tonight and try to sniff out who hired the Order to try and kill me.”

“Sounds like a typical night for you.”

“Unfortunately, it is. But we have reservations for dinner before that I’m looking forward to.” We’re driving about half an hour away from the city to go there, and I’ve already looked over the online menu twice. “Now, you need to tell me all is well. Because you don’t call just to chat.”

“I am fine, but I do have news. It’s not necessarily good or bad, but you need to know it.”

“What is it?”

“Ruth’s hearing is next week. There’s a chance you’ll be called in and questioned. Your testimony could be important in getting her stripped of her powers for good. The papers you signed the other night haven’t been turned in. For now, you need to remain part of the coven.”

A few seconds tick by and I don’t say anything.

“Callie? Are you still there?”

“I’m here. Um…okay. I’ve told a few people I was marrying a vampire today.”

“Who?”

“Nons at Novel Grounds.”

“That shouldn’t be an issue,” he says, though neither of us believe it. “Keep up the act that you’re not engaged to a devilishly handsome vampire, okay?”

I wince at his choice of words. I’m not evil. “I will. Thanks for letting me know. Let’s hope Ruth is found guilty.”

“There is a good case against her. She incriminated herself multiple times after she was detained. It should be an easy win, though be prepared to be called in if necessary.”

/>   “If only her trial was the next week. Then I’d be out of town and unable to come. Holy shit, I’m going to be married really soon.”

“You are. You’re going to be a beautiful bride, sister.”

“I think so too,” I agree, laughing. “You should really consider coming out with us on Friday night.”

“I think I’ll pass on girls’ night. Though given how your last one went, you may need me.”

“Right?” I laugh. “Though I haven’t a reason to go all bridezilla on anyone, but demons coming after me that night of all nights will give me good reason to.”

Evander laughs and I have to fight not to get a little choked up. It’s a temporary break from that coven. That’s all. And right now, nothing has changed. Right now, I’m still a member of the coven.

Who’s marrying a vampire.

Evander and I say our goodbyes and then I go back to the book, slowly translating a few more lines until Lucas comes into the living room.