“If our marriage was allowed, would you invite more people?”
“I’d have the wedding at the Covenstead, so the whole coven would be there to celebrate. Which is kind of cool, but at the same time wasn’t really something I wanted,” I say honestly because I know Lucas is going to wonder. I might invite a handful of other witches that I graduated with and talk to at gatherings, but really, I keep to myself and I’m happy with it. “I don’t have family roots in the coven. And I never saw myself marrying anyone from my own coven either. I’m kind of picky when it comes to romance. You should feel very lucky.”
I’m joking, but Lucas looks at me, eyes locking with mine. “I do, Callie.”
I rest my forehead against his. “Not to ruin the mood, but I think I found the demon.”
“Found?” he repeats. “In what sense?”
“Remember that article I showed you about the missing girl?”
“I do.”
I move off his lap and hold out my hand, telekinetically sliding my purse across the floor and reach inside for my phone. The news article about the homeless man found with missing organs is still open.
“I did some digging, and then held a cop under my spell to get info. Three bodies turned up in Newport about a month ago, all with missing organs. The first was only missing a heart. The second, the heart and liver. The third had missing guts on top of everything else. And then about a month later, three more people went missing.”
“Sounds ritualistic.”
“Exactly.”
“But the Gates were opened only a week or so ago.”
“Right when the second set of victims went missing. What if it’s an offering of some sort?”
Lucas considers it for a few seconds. “That makes sense, actually. Julian did say other demons or a group of witches would be able to access the door. You’re more well-versed in dark rituals than I am, but I’d assume sacrifices would be made?”
“I haven’t partaken in that many dark rituals.”
“I watched you resurrect a body before I even tasted your blood,” he counters.
“True, though that was my first resurrection. And hopefully my only, unless I’m better prepared to handle the start of the zombie apocalypse.” I shake my head. “But yes, if you are trying to summon a powerful demon, it’s usually because you want something. Power, for them to do your bidding…that sort of thing. You’d have to present offerings first, which fits with each body missing more and more organs. If just a heart didn’t suffice, then add a liver.”
“What is your plan?”
“I’m not sure yet. The heart and liver combo seem rather specific. If I can narrow down what demon prefers that as an offering, I might be able to find a way to trap and kill it.”
“Let me know how to help.” Lucas smiles, and his fangs slide down. “It’s been a few days since I’ve killed anything.”
I cup his face, carefully touching the tip of his fang with my finger. Lucas’s eyes flutter closed, and he leans in against me. His razor-sharp fang nearly pierces the skin on my finger from that little pressure. I pull my hand back, resting it on his cheek. “I’m going to act like a normal bride-to-be now and call my friends and start ordering shirts that say bride on them from Amazon.”
Lucas laughs and grips my hand before getting up with me. “I have some work to do,” he tells me. “I’ll be taking over the office for the rest of the day.”
“That’s fine. I don’t really use it much.”
He kisses me and speeds off. I go upstairs and sit on my bed, opening my laptop to start researching caterers and florists like mad. Lucas has a point that even though everything will be last minute, if we offer enough money, I don’t doubt I’ll be able to find what I need.
I pull up the calendar and go to add an event. I get to the first “d” in “wedding” when I realize it.
If the sacrifices are being made roughly a month apart, then the next set of victims will be killed right before my wedding.
18
“Are you staying in tonight?” Lucas runs his hand up my thigh. We’re in bed and just got done having sex. I’m sweaty, have rug burns on both my knees, and really want to get up and make myself something to eat, but I’m too damn exhausted.
“Yeah. I wasn’t planning on going out. Why?”
“I have errands to run.” Lucas shifts his weight and pulls me onto him. He didn’t drink my blood this time, yet I feel exhausted as if he sucked down several mouthfuls. It has to be the mental exhaustion kicking in, and I feel like I need to make a list of all the bad shit going on right now so I don’t forget anything.
It’s just so fucking much.
“Where are you going?” I trace a line of muscle on Lucas’s arm.
“I have some paperwork to file with the title company and then I am meeting with the vampire contractor to go over the renovation plans. We’re not discussing design, just logistics. You’re welcome to come if you wish, though I assumed it wouldn’t interest you.”
“It doesn’t. I’ll stay here and watch TV with my familiars. Do you think you’ll be out long?”
“I might be. Don’t worry about staying up. I can tell you’re tired.”
“I am,” I sigh. “I might fall asleep, though I don’t sleep well when you’re not by my side.”
“I selfishly like hearing that.” He lays me down on the mattress and pulls the blankets that got kicked off back up over me. I roll over, hugging my pillow, and try to mentally prepare myself to get up. I’m so comfy right now I don’t want to move. I hear the shower turn on, and I debate getting in with Lucas but decide to stay in bed instead.
Using vampire speed, Lucas is showered and dressed only minutes later. I force myself up, pull on Lucas’s t-shirt, and use the bathroom before meeting Lucas downstairs.
“Make sure you lock the door.”
“It’s locked with magic,” I remind him.
“Don’t leave the house either.”
“Yes, Mom,” I huff and roll my eyes. “I’m much too lazy tonight to get dressed to step foot off my porch, but even if I did, I can handle myself.”
“You did handle yourself quite well only a few minutes ago.” He draws his fangs and grabs me around the waist. “I’m getting turned on just thinking of your hand between your legs, rubbing your wet pussy.”
I suck in a sharp breath and try to smile coyly but I don’t think it comes off as sexy as I meant it. “Well, I’ll have to do it again for you when you come home.”
“Yeah?” Lucas’s eyebrows go up.
“Well, maybe tomorrow. I’m tired. Like really tired.”
“Get some rest, my love.” He kisses me and then disappears out the door. I shoot the deadbolt into place and then wave my hand over it, locking it with magic. Yawning, I go into the kitchen and stick a bag of popcorn into the microwave.
I pour myself a glass or red Moscato and take that and the popcorn upstairs, settling back into bed.
“What should we watch?” I ask Binx, who’s rubbing against me and waiting for me to give him some popcorn. Freya and Pandora join us, and I give them each a few pieces of popcorn as I flip through different shows.
“Ohh, what about this?” I ask and click on Gilmore Girls. “It’s been years since I’ve seen this.”
Binx meows and paws at the popcorn bowl. I give him another piece and hit play. We’re two episodes in when the doorbell rings. I freeze for half a second and then shoot up straight. None of us sensed anything evil, nothing demonic or unwanted could pass through the warding, and it’s not like demons ring doorbells. All three familiars shadow downstairs ahead of me, and Binx lets me know it’s Eliza before I get to the door.
“What are you doing here?” I exclaim, looking out at the dark yard behind her as if I expect to see angry villagers with pitchforks or something. A red Porsche is parked in the gravel driveway and nothing else is out of place.
“We have roughly one month until you marry my maker. We need to start planning this wedding
or it isn’t going to happen.”
I step aside, letting Eliza in. She’s been here before and doesn’t need to be re-invited in. “It’s like midnight.”
“Only midnight? Good. We have all night then. We have a lot of work to do.”
I blink, not quite sure if this is a dream or not. Eliza speeds in and I shut the door behind her. Nope. This isn’t a dream.
“You came over in the middle of the night just to plan my wedding?” I repeat, needing to say it out loud again.
“Yes, and when you say it out loud like that, it makes me realize how nice I am.” She has a binder tucked under her arm. “Let’s get started.”
I rub my forehead. I downed my wine pretty fast on purpose so the alcohol would grip me and I’d fall asleep fast. “We have to do it now?”