But he just shakes his head. AgainHaven?
Can we get a cat? Romy asks. A black kitty like this? Tugging on his sleeve while gazing at him in a way thats hard to resist. Theyre wonderful companions and very good around the house. What do you say? Can we? Please?
Itll help us get our magick back, Rayne adds, nodding at him.
I look at Damen, reading his expression and knowing its as good as done. Whatever the twins want, the twins get. Its as simple as that.
Well discuss it later, Damen says, attempting a stern look, but the gestures empty, everyone knows it but him.
I get up from the couch and head for the door, needing to get Charm back to the house before Haven returns.
Are you upset with me? Damen grasps my hand and leads me to my car.
I shake my head and smile. Its impossible to be mad at him, or at least not for very long. Im not gonna lie, I was hoping youd be on my side. I shrug, coaxing Charm into her carrier, before leaning against the door and pulling him close. But its not like I dont get your point. I just wanted to help Haven, thats all.
Just be there for her. He nods, dark gaze on mine. Thats all she really wants from you anyway.
He leans in to kiss me, gathering me into his arms, his hands moving over me and warming me to my core. Pulling away to gaze at me with those deep soulful eyes, the rock to my feather, my eternal partner, whose intentions are so solid and good I can only hope he never learns of my betrayal, reneging on my promise not to visit Roman just after saying I wouldnt.
He cups my face between the palms of his hands and peers into my eyes. Sensing my mood shifts so easily its as though they are his.
I avert my gaze, thinking about Haven, Roman, the cat, and all the mounting mistakes I cant seem to stop making. Then clearing the thoughts and shaking my head, unwilling to visit that place when I say, See you tomorrow? Barely finishing the words before he leans in to kiss me again, a slip of energy pulsating between his lips and mine.
Holding the moment for as long as we can, neither of us willing to break away, until a twin chorus of, Ew! Gross! Do we really have to watch that? trails from the window upstairs.
Tomorrow. Damen smiles, seeing me safely into my car before heading inside.
CHAPTER 19
Everything started out fine. As fine and normal as any other day. I woke up, showered, dressed, stopped by the kitchen to toss some cereal down the sink before chasing it with some OJ Id swished in a glassmy usual morning routine so Sabine will think I ate the breakfast she made.
Nodding and smiling the whole way to school as Miles yammers on and on about Holt, or Florence, or Holt and Florence, as I sit there beside him, stopping, turning, speeding, slowing, chasing yellow lights, waiting for the moment when I can see Damen again. Knowing the mere sight of him will turn all darkness to light, even if the effect is just temporary.
But the moment I pull into the lot the first thing I see is a mammoth-sized SUV parked right next to the space Damens saving for me. And I mean mammoth, as in: big and ugly. And something about the sight of Damen leaning against that whale of a car fills me with dread.
What the hell? Miles gapes. You give up riding the bus so you can drive a bus instead?
I climb out of my Miata, glancing between Big Ugly and Damen, hardly believing my ears when he starts quoting a slew of statistics about its superb safety rating and roomy back seats. I mean, I dont remember him ever once caring about the safety rating when he was chauffeuring me.
Thats because youre immortal, he thinks, sensing my thoughts as we head for the gate. But may I remind you, the twins are not, and since they are now in my care, its my job to keep them from harm.
I shake my head, gaze narrowed as I try to think of a snappy reply. My thoughts interrupted by Haven who says, Youre doing it again. She crosses her arms and glances between us. You know, your whole, weird, pseudo telepathy thing.
Who even cares about that? Miles screeches. Damens driving a bus! He hooks his thumb over his shoulder, jabbing toward the big, black monstrosity and wincing at the sight of it.
Is it a bus or a mom car? Haven squints, shielding her eyes from the sun. Glancing at each of us. Whatever it is, one things for sure, its tragically middle-aged.
Miles nods, fully warmed up to the subject now. First the glove and now this? He frowns at Damen, disappointment clouding his face. I have no idea what youre up to, but dude, you are seriously losing your edge. Youre not even close to the rock star you were when you first came to this school.
I glance at him, eyes narrowed in silent agreement. But Damen just laughs, too concerned with the proper care and feeding of the twins to bother with what anyone thinksincluding me. And while thats obviously the way a good, responsible, parental-type figure should think, something about it really bugs me.
Miles and Haven continue, teasing Damen about his new, surprisingly stodgy ways, as I tag along, a sliver of energy pulsating between us as he grabs my hand and thinks, Whats going on? Why are you acting like this? Is this because of the cat? I thought you understood all of that?
I stare straight ahead, focused on Miles and Haven, sighing loudly as I mentally reply: Its not the cat. We settled that yesterday. Shes back at Havens, marking her days. Its justwell, its like, here I am, making myself crazy, trying to find a solution so we can be together, and all you seem to care about is manifesting HDTVs and the worlds ugliest babyproof car so you can cart the twins around town! I shake my head, knowing I need to stop, before I go any further and really have something to regret.
Everythings changing, I say, not realizing I said it out loud until the words ring in my ears. And Im sorry if Im acting like a brat, but Im just so frustrated that we cant be together in the way that we want. And I miss you. I miss you so bad I cant stand it. I pause, eyes stinging, throat hot and tight, threatening to close up completely. And now that the twins are living with you, and with my new job starting and all, well, its like, were suddenly thrust into this super stressful, middle-aged life. And trust me, seeing your new car just now didnt help. I peer at him, thinking theres no way Im riding in that thing. Instantly ashamed when I see him looking at me with such love and compassion I cant help but fold. I guess I was hoping this summer would be great, you know? I was hoping we could have some funjust the two of us. But now its not looking so good. And, just to top things off, did I even mention that Sabine is dating Munoz? My history teacher? This Friday night, dinner at eight! I scowl, hardly believing this pathetic life actually belongs to a supposedly powerful, newly immortal, almost seventeen-year-old girl.
You got a job? He stops in place as his eyes search mine.
Out of everything I just said thats what youre focusing on? I shake my head and pull him along, laughing in spite of myself.
But he just looks at me, gaze fixed on mine as he says, Where?
Mystics and Moonbeams. I shrug, watching Miles and Haven wave as they turn down the hall and head for class.
Doing what? he asks, not ready to drop it just yet.
Retail stuff, mainly. I gaze at him. You know, working the register, restocking shelves, giving readings, stuff like that. I shrug, hoping he wont pay much notice to that last part.
Psychic readings? He gapes, stopping just shy of our classroom.
I nod, staring longingly as my classmates spill through the door, preferring to join them than having to finish what I started.
Do you think thats smart? Drawing that kind of attention to yourself? Back to talking again now that were alone in the hall.
Probably not. I shrug, knowing its most definitely not. But Sabine insists the discipline and stability will do me some good. Or so she says. She just wants to keep tabs on me. And short of installing a nanny cam, this is the easiest, least invasive way. She even had this horrible, soul-sucking, nine-to-five gig all set up and ready to go, so when Jude said he needed some help around the store, well, I didnt have much choice but towhat? I pause, seeing the look on his face, eyes guarded, hard to read.
Jude? His eyes narrowing to where I can just barely see them. I thought you said someone named Lina owned the store.
Lina does own the store. Judes her grandson, I say, only thats not entirely true. Well, hes not her real grandson, its more like, she looks after him. Helped raise him after he ran away from his last foster homeorwhatever. I shake my head. The last thing I wanted was to start a conversation about Jude, especially with the way Damens gone high alert. I thought it might help, you know, allow unlimited access to books and things that might help us. Besides, its not like Im working there under my real name. Im using an alias.
Let me guess. He peers into my eyes, seeing the answer displayed in my thoughts. Avalon. Cute. He smiles, but only briefly before hes gone serious again. But you know how it works, right? Its not like a confessional where youre shielded by a screen. People expect face-to-face contact. They want to see you to know whether or not they can trust you. So what exactly are you planning to do when someone you know just happens to walk in for an impromptu tarot card reading? Did you even think about that?
I frown, wondering why he has to take what I thought was a pretty good deal and turn it into a problem. And Im just about to deliver some snappy reply, say something like: Hello? Im psychic. Ill know before they even get through the door! when Roman appears.
Roman andsomeone elsesomeone vaguely familiarsomeone named Marco who was last seen in a vintage Jaguar, pulling up to his house.
Walking side by side, legs moving swiftly, eyes focused on mine. Romans gaze taunting, mocking, the proud owner of my dirty little secret.
Damen moves to shield me, gaze on Roman as he thinks: Stay calm. Dont do a thing. Ill handle this.
I peer over his shoulder, watching as Roman and Marco barrel toward us like an oncoming train. Gazing at me with eyes so deep, so blue, everything blurs but his moist grinning lips and flashing Ouroboros tattoo. And the last thing I think, before Im sucked in completely, is that this is my fault. If Id kept my promise to Damen and stayed away from him, I wouldnt be facing this now.
His energy swirls toward me, tugging, pulling, luring me in, sucking me into a spiral of darkness, bombarding me with images of Damenthe tainted antidotemy ill-advised visitHavenMilesFlorencethe twinsall of it coming so quickly I can barely distinguish between them. But the individual images themselves arent importantits the whole he wants me to see. All of it meant to illustrate one single thing: Romans in charge nowthe rest of us are just puppets, pulled by his strings.
Mornin, mates! he sings, releasing me from his grip as my body falls limp against Damens.
But despite his sweet murmurings as he ushers me away from Roman and into the room, despite the soft reassurances intended to soothe, convinced that weve just dodged a bullet and its over for now, I happen to know its only begun.
More is coming.
Theres no doubt.
Romans next shot is aimed solely at me.
CHAPTER 20
After lunch I head for Mystics and Moonbeams. Eager to start my on-the-job training, hoping itll provide a nice distraction from the mess otherwise known as my life.
It was bad enough when Damen kept disappearing between classes so he could check in on the twins, but by lunch, when I assured him I was fine, that Roman wouldnt bother me, and that he should just stay home, I headed for our table only to learn that Haven has boarded the Roman train. Picking apart a vanilla-frosted cupcake while gushing about the big part he played in securing her the job at the vintage store, despite her arriving at the interview ten minutes late.
And all I could do was mumble an occasional word of dissent, which didnt go over so well. So after her third excruciatingly dramatic eye roll, after telling me to relax and unclench for the umpteenth time, I tossed my uneaten sandwich and made for the gate. Vowing to keep an eye on her, do whatever it takes to keep them from getting together. Just one more item on my growing to-do list.
I pull into the alley, parking in one of two spaces behind the store before heading toward the front, half expecting to find the door locked, figuring Jude couldnt resist the call of killer waves on such a beautiful day, and surprised to find it wide open, with Jude behind the register, ringing a sale.
Oh hey, heres Avalon now. He nods. I was just telling Susan about our new psychic reader, and you walk in on cue.
Susan turns, looking me over, scrutinizing, accessing, adding up all the parts in her head. Sure shes aced the equation when she says, Arent you a littleyoung to be giving readings? She gives me a smug look.
I smile, an awkward slanting of lips, as my gaze darts between them, unsure how to respond, especially with the way Judes looking at me.
Being psychic is a gift, I mumble, nearly choking on the word. Remembering a time, not long ago, when I scoffed at the thought, sure it was anything but. Its got nothing to do with age, I add, watching her aura flicker and flare, knowing Ive failed to convince her. You either have it, or you dont. I shrug, digging myself a very deep hole.
So, should I book you a reading? Jude asks, smiling in a way thats hard to resist.
But not for Susan. Shaking her head and clutching her bag, she heads for the door, saying, You just give me a call when Ava comes back.
The bell clangs loudly as the door closes behind her. Well, that went well. I shrug, turning toward Jude and watching him file the receipt before adding, Is my age going to be a problem here?
You sixteen? he asks, barely glancing at me.
I press my lips together and nod.
Then youre old enough to work here. Susans a psychic junkie, she wont resist for long. Shell be on your sign-up sheet before you know it.
Psychic junkie? Is that anything like a groupie? I follow him to the office in back, noticing hes wearing the exact same trunks and peace-sign tee as before.