“It’s not that late.”
“Does it have to be late to lie in bed together and watch a movie?”
“No,” I say, a smile coming to my face. “It doesn’t.”
He brings his hands to my shoulders. “You’re tense. I’m going to draw a bath first. Then we’ll watch a movie.”
I hook my arms around his shoulders. “Why are you so good to me?”
“I’ll never be good enough.”
My heart thumps loudly in my chest and I pull Lucas closer, parting my lips as he brings his mouth to mine. We kiss deeply. Passionately. Like it’s our first and last time all at once.
Then Lucas suddenly jerks away. “Someone is in your yard.”
“Son of a bitch,” I huff. “Have they made it through the warding?”
“Yes. It’s Tabatha and Evander.” He inhales, smelling the air.
“What are they—oh. I didn’t think it would happen so soon.”
“What, my love?”
My throat tightens and I’m not sure if I can say the words out loud. “I…I told Evander to bring over what is needed to officially leave the coven.”
Lucas’s brows furrow and he cups my chin in his hands. “I am sorry, Callie.”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault the Grand Coven, or even the Vampire Council for that matter, won’t get over a thousand-year-old grudge.”
“I know that. But I am sorry you are having to deal with feelings of grief. I want nothing more than for you to be happy.”
“I am happiest with you.” My eyes flutter closed and a renegade tear rolls down my cheek. Lucas gently wipes it away and then goes to answer the door, letting Evander and Tabatha in and giving me a few seconds to pull myself together.
Leaving the coven of my own free will proves I respect the rules of the coven. It gives me more of a chance of getting back in. If I was found guilty of sneaking around with Lucas, I would be punished…and so would Tabatha.
And I can’t have that.
“Good evening, sister,” Evander says but his voice lacks its usual gusto.
“Hey,” I say and force a smile. “It’s time?”
“I’m afraid so, my darling girl,” Tabatha tells me. She’s holding a yellowed scroll in her hand. I can feel the magic emanating from it and know it’s an enchanted document.
Lucas shuts and locks the door behind them. “Callie told me this is a quiet way of handling her leaving the coven. I appreciate you finding this particular avenue.”
“There’s no need to cause a scene,” Tabatha starts. “And I fully believe her being banned from the coven will be temporary. You are no threat to us.”
“Can we just get this over with?” I ask. I’m not worried I’ll have second thoughts. I won’t. I am in love with Lucas, more in love than I ever thought possible. I want to be with him. I want to move in together. Get married. Plan a life…no matter the cost.
“Yes, and it’s rather painless.” Tabatha comes into the living room and spreads the scroll on the table. “This is a lengthy and complicated declaration of freedom from the coven. I’ve already looked it over, so don’t worry about trying to read through it. Sign it, and once approved, you will no longer be part of the coven.” She’s fighting her own emotions, making me question if she really thinks my excommunication will be easily overturned or not.
“Okay.”
“We’re not supposed to associate with you, but you know we still will. Especially with your wedding coming up soon.” She unrolls the scroll, smoothing it out on the coffee table. “I understand you have a date.”
“I do. And I picked out my cake today.”
Tabatha turns, brown eyes glistening. “You know I consider you a daughter.”
“And you’re like my mother.”
“I am so proud of you, Callie, and I know your real mother would be so too.”
“Save the sappy speech for the toast at the reception,” Evander says. He’s giving me a toothy grin, but he’s feeling just as upset about this as I am. “And you know, if you astral project into my office, no one will know.”
“It is true,” Tabatha says. “Your astral body cannot be traced.”
“Well, then I’ll have to do that.” I force a smile. “I’m sure I’ll have research requests that will pop up before I’m allowed back in.”
“What happened to taking a break?” Lucas asks. He’s leaning against the wall at the entrance to the living room.
“A break?” Evander asks. “You deserve one, Cal.”
“I know,” I sigh and take the pen from Tabatha’s hand. “We thought about going on our honeymoon right after the wedding, coming back for a few weeks, and then taking like the full month of October off to travel. That way I wouldn’t be here over the Samhain festivities.”
“I think that’s a grand idea.” Tabatha smiles. “You haven’t taken a vacation in years.”
“It is way overdue.” I look at Lucas and smile. “He owns properties all around the world. I’m sure we could entertain ourselves just by visiting them.”’
“We will.” Lucas speeds forward and sits next to me on the couch. “And everything I own will be yours after we’re married, so you might as well acquaint yourself with all that you own.”
“You’re adding her name to everything?” Tabatha leans back, surveying Lucas.
“I am,” Lucas answers. “I love Callie and want to share everything with her. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have asked her to marry me.”
“Well then,” Tabatha starts, turning back to me. “We better make sure this wedding goes off without a hitch.” She smiles, and this time, it’s reflected in her eyes. “Sign here, darling. I’ll file the papers with the Grand Coven on your behalf.”
I suck in a breath and pull the cap off the pen. The tip of the pen meets the paper, and a little dot of ink pools on the parchment. I quickly sing my name and look up.
“Is that it?”
“I need a drop of your blood.” Tabatha points to the spot next to my signature. I hold out my arm and Lucas draws his fangs. He knows how much I hate pricking the tips of my fingers, so he tips his head and sinks one fang into the tender flesh on my forearm. I watch my blood pool and then stick my finger in it.
“Here?” I ask, making sure I’m going to sign in blood in the right place.
“Yes.”
I press my finger down and then lean back, offering my bleeding arm to Lucas. He licks the tiny puncture once and then puts his finger over the wound.
“So it’s done?” I ask.
“Yes. The Grand Coven may question you, making sure it’s actually your will to leave t
he coven. But once they’ve received the paperwork stating your declaration to leave, it will be done.”
I let out a breath. “That was less painful than I thought.”
“I fully believe you will be back within a year’s time,” Tabatha tells me. “Until then, I fully agree with the notion of you taking an extended vacation. Explore the world, my darling. There is so much to see.”
I rest my head on Lucas’s shoulder. “It would be good timing too. We’d be busy world travelers while the biggest renovations are completed on our house. We’ll come back, pack up here, and will be in the new house by the holidays. I’ll miss Samhain, but hosting a grand Yuletide party has always been a dream of mine.”
Evander chuckles. “Has she warned you?” he asks Lucas.
“About what?” he replies.
“About how enthusiastic she gets for the winter holidays.”
“She’s mentioned that she likes decorating.” Lucas tips his head down to me. “Are we talking a normal level of excitment or Elf level?”
I beam from the simple fact that he just referenced one of my favorite holiday movies. “I aim for a healthy medium. But I’ve already mentally plotted where I’m going to put our Christmas trees.”
“Trees?” Lucas’s brows go up.
“I have three trees for this small house.”
Lucas just shakes his head and looks at me lovingly, and I’m reminded once again why I’m so willing to give up everything.
“It is late,” Tabatha says as she stands, rolling the scroll back up. “I will let you know once the Grand Coven has reviewed this, though don’t be surprised if it takes several weeks.”
“Okay.” I sigh with relief and get up so I can walk Tabatha and Evander to the door. Evander goes onto the porch, but Tabatha turns and takes both my hands in hers.
“Don’t worry, Callie. This is a bump in the road.”
“I’ll try not to.”
“Enjoy your time away from the coven.”
“I will.” I force a smile. Getting away from the coven for a few weeks really isn’t that bad. Until recently, I hadn’t gone into the Covenstead all that often anyway.