“Sounds, uh, messy,” Harrison says, moving an armchair back into place.
“Oh, it’s going to be a shit show, that’s for sure,” Sam tells him. “I might hang out here for another few days just to avoid it.”
“I don’t blame you,” Nik says and helps Ethan sweep up the rest of the salt. Ethan dumps the salt into a garbage can and goes over to Devin.
“Thank you for helping and for making sure Anora was safe.”
“I can tell she means a lot to you,” Devin replies.
“She means everything to me. Again, thanks.”
“She’s a member of the coven. We help each other, that’s what we do. And speaking of, I should get back.”
“I’ll drive you,” I say and take one more drink of tea before getting up. Physically, I’m wiped out but a deep sense of satisfaction has settled over me, fueling me better than any cup of coffee. Aunt Estelle knew I’d be good at this—hunting demons. Is that why she’d been training me? I’ve known it all along, even when I couldn’t bring back the memories.
That’s why it was easy for me to accept the magic and demons were real from the start. I always knew.
“I have to say you live an interesting life,” Devin chuckles as we pull out of the driveway. “I didn’t know your great aunt well, but from what I’ve heard about her, she did as well.”
“It definitely seems like she did.”
We drive the rest of the way in relative silence, listening to music instead of talking. I pull into the bait shop’s parking lot, seeing a handful more cars here than there were before.
“Anora,” Devin starts, unbuckling his seatbelt. “You wouldn’t have gotten mixed up in all this if it wasn’t for your boyfriend being in the Order.”
“True, but I wouldn’t have stopped the demon either.”
Devin only nods and opens the car door. “What I saw today, Anora, is an incredibly talented witch with more bravery in your little finger than most people have in their whole bodies. You belong in our world and we both know you would thrive inside the Covenstead. We could use someone like you, with guts and smarts and raw talent.” I open my door and smile at Devin.
“My home is here.”
“Of course. You don’t have to actually reside inside the Covenstead. Your aunt didn’t. Just…think about it.”
“I will,” I tell him. And on the drive home, I do.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
“Now this, I can get used to this.” Laney refills her wine glass and brings the bottle over, setting it on the table.
“Same, girl,” Rene says, reaching for the bottle. “I can’t decide if I’m disappointed I missed the last demon action or not.”
“I’m sure there ’ll be another. But not for a while.” I knock three times on the kitchen table. Rene and Keith came over for dinner, and we’re sitting in the kitchen with Nik and Sam while Harrison and Ethan stand outside on the back porch, grilling hamburgers. The weather is unseasonably warm again today. I joked that it was the universe’s way of thanking me for stopping a dangerous demon from escaping the supernatural prison it’s been sentenced to, but it’s just Midwest weather. We’re supposed to get freezing rain again next week.
“I wish I could stay longer,” Laney says with a frown. “I really do have a week off in April, so unless I can convince you to go somewhere tropical with me, maybe I’ll come back.” She smiles. “I need like a full day of just looking through your books so I’m not as clueless about magic.”
“You and me both,” Keith agrees. “What do you do for work?”
“I’m a nurse,” Laney tells him.
“Oh, bless you. I do PT and contemplate walking out some days.”
Laney laughs and she and Keith start sharing stories about crazy patients and difficult doctors. It’s nice, having everyone together like this. Watching Ethan through the window, I take a sip of wine and smile.
We’re fine. Better than fine. I love him and he loves me and while love might not fix everything, it gives me the strength I need to keep going. I can keep fighting and I won’t give up.
“They get along well,” Laney notes as Harrison says something and both he and Ethan laugh.
“Yeah, they do.” I’m smiling again, still watching Ethan.
“I know I gave you guys shit,” Sam starts a little apologetically. “But you do make a good team here.”
“Thanks,” I turn to her. “We really do.”
“I’m almost ready,” I tell Ethan, unpinning the last curl and gently letting it hang down around my shoulder. I blast it with hairspray, and carefully fluff the rest of my hair, separating the curls just enough to let them set on the ride into Chicago.
Two weeks later and we’re finally going on our fancy date.
We got lucky with the weather again, and I’ll just need a spring jacket tonight once the sun sets. Ethan comes up behind me, running his hands along my skin as he meets my eyes in the mirror.