“Why?”
“We’re not sure, but Naomi and I are guessing it has to do with the demon attacks. They were at the Coven of the Crescent moon last week. Do you…do you think they’re going to question you?”
I suck in a breath, heart hammering in my chest. “I’m sure they will. I’m the only remaining twenty-five-year-old Virgo in the area.”
“What are you going to tell them?”
“I have no idea,” I admit. “I should talk to Evander first. Get our stories straight.”
“I was just going to suggest that.”
I bring my hand to my head, rubbing between my eyes. There goes my good mood. Instead of wistfully thinking about how I’m going to decorate the new master bedroom, I need to come up with a lie and stick with it to a T.
“Do you two want to come over for dinner before the gathering?”
“Yes, we can talk then. I’ll bring wine.”
“Thanks. Come over at nine. I’ll have dinner ready.” I end the call and stare at the phone, mind whirling. I ring up a customer, trying hard to put on my friendly face.
“What’s going on?” Kristy asks, coming over when she gets a chance to slip away from the customer she’s helping.
“Coven gathering tonight. The Grand Coven is in town.”
“Because of the demon attack?”
“I’m assuming so. Though they do visit covens from time to time just to check in.”
“They actually could be,” she agrees enthusiastically. “Let’s hope they are.”
“In case not, Nicole and Naomi are coming over for dinner tonight. We need to get our stories straight.”
Kristy nods. “What did the High Priestess end up telling them?”
“I’m not entirely sure.”
“You better find out.” Her blue eyes flash. “Do they know Lucas helped us escape?”
I swallow hard, stomach flip-flopping. “I think Tabatha was going to leave that part out, but there were other witches who saw him.”
“That doesn’t mean they know you two are dating.”
Clenching my jaw, I nod. We were seen together at Suzy’s Cafe not all that long ago, and it was obvious we were a couple by the way Lucas was holding my hand. We’ve been careful around town the few times we’ve gone out at night, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been seen together. “And he helped us get to safety. That has to mean something, right?”
“Exactly.” She pats my hand, trying to reassure me. But she doesn’t have to say it for me to think it. Vampires aren’t supposed to know the location of the door that leads to the Covenstead. While the magic that protects it is strong, it’s a risk witches aren’t willing to take. Plus, the grudge between witches and vampires is still strong.
If the Grand Coven finds out that I willingly led a vampire to our door…that one as old and strong as Lucas knows the entrance to our Covenstead…the punishment would be death.
For both of us.
I set the knife on the counter and turn away, blinking rapidly. My eyes fill with tears that I know are going to fall no matter how hard I try to keep them at bay.
“Callie?” Lucas questions, seeing my watery eyes. “What’s wrong?”
I squeeze my eyes shut, nose feeling all runny now too, and put my hands on the edge of the kitchen counter, carefully feeling for the knife. “Nothing other than that onion is really strong.”
“So, you’re crying about it?” I can feel him move closer, and the next thing I know he brushes my hair over my shoulder.
“I’m not crying,” I spit, and blink open my eyes. “Onions make humans’ eyes water. They have some sort of chemical irritant that activates your tear glands or something like that.”
Lucas tips his head, and I can tell he’s trying not to laugh. “I thought that was something made up in movies.”
“It doesn’t bother you?”
“Not at all.”
Blinking, I turn away from the cutting board. “And yet another perk to being a vampire.”
“Because we cook so often,” he chuckles and reaches for the knife. “I’ll finish for you. How do you want them?”
“Diced, and thanks.” I go to the sink and wash my hands. Then I step over to the screen door to get some fresh air. Binx winds around my feet, and I reach down and scoop up my black cat, nuzzling my face into his sleek fur.
“Don’t bring anything bigger than a deer back here,” I tell him, kissing his head before setting him back down. He trots toward the back door, shifting from cat-form into a shadow as he passes through the screen. Pandora and Freya follow after him, and the three race into the woods to go hunting.
Coming back into the kitchen, I grab my glass of sweet red wine and go back to Lucas. He’s done chopping the onion already and picks up the cutting board.
“You want it in here?” He motions to the skillet that’s warming up on the stove.
“Yes, and thanks again.” I take a sip of my wine and go to Lucas, wrapping my arms around his waist. He puts the cutting board and knife on the counter and turns, scooping me up and kissing me as he places me on the island counter.
He cups my face with his large hands, turning my chin up and looking into my eyes.
“What’s bothering you, my love?” he asks, bringing his lips to mine for a kiss before I can answer. I melt against him, pulse pounding. As if the threat from the VC against us wasn’t bad enough, now we have the Grand Coven to worry about.
Maybe.
But maybe not.
“I don’t want to worry you yet,” I say.
“That alone makes me worry more.”
I hook my arms around his neck. “The Grand Coven is going to be at the gathering tonight. Usually, if they’re stopping by for a morale boost or something, it’s preplanned and announced way ahead of time. I’m sure they’re going to question me about the demon and how I was able to fight it off.”
Lucas holds my gaze, waiting for me to go on.
“Which I don’t know how to answer, because I don’t know how I fought it off. I have no idea what I said to command the hellfire, but that’s not what I’m worried about.”
“What are you worried about?”
“You know where the door to the Covenstead is. You’re not supposed to, and I could get in some serious trouble for it…and…and so could you.” I drop my gaze.
“What kind of trouble will you be in?” he asks, not even concerned about himself. He wraps his arms around me, holding me close like it will keep me from harm.
“It would depend on the extent of my crimes, basically. Though I’m really banking on the fa
ct that you helped us fight off a demon to work in our favor. Obviously, you’re not trying to get into the door and drink our blood. You helped save us.”
Lucas tips his head down, resting his forehead against mine. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I will tear the throat out of anyone who wants to bring you any harm.”
I turn my head up and kiss him, needing to feel his lips against mine. He steps in, moving between my thighs. My heart flutters in my chest, and Lucas lets out a growl when he hears my pulse speeding up. He draws his fangs and I part my lips, tongue darting out to wet them.
Moving one hand to the back of my head, Lucas tangles his fingers in my hair and puts his mouth to my neck, fangs gently scraping the surface of my skin. My eyes fall shut, and I slide my hands along his waist, pulling him closer between my legs.
Retracting his fangs, he puts his mouth to mine again, kissing me hard. Moaning, I widen my legs and inch toward him, needing to feel his cock hardening against me. The onions sizzle in the pan, and I need to turn down the burner before hot oils splatters everywhere.
But removing myself from Lucas’s embrace isn’t something I want to do. I open my eyes, looking at the stove, and hold out my hand. Turning my wrist, I use magic to shut off the burner, and give all my attention to Lucas again. He gathers all my hair up in one hand, taking his lips off mine and putting them back on my neck. A shiver runs right through me, chilling but heating me up at the same time. He doesn’t have to bite me to get this sort of reaction, and holy hell, he’s good at what he does.
His mouth is on mine again, tongue pushing into my mouth. His grip on my hair tightens, moving my head to the side. He stops kissing me and goes back to my neck, sucking at my skin. My hands go to the button on his jeans, popping it just as someone steps into the kitchen.
“That’s just unsanitary,” Naomi quips. I break away from Lucas, whirling around so fast I almost fall off the small island counter. Lucas steadies me, catching me as if I weigh nothing at all.