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“This is total bullshit, and you know it.”
All three of us startle and swing around to look at the closed door. The voice was loud and filled with anger, as well as completely recognizable.
Jasmine.
“Witches in our home, performing magic that could very well be used against us,” she goes on, her anger softening into censure. “You should be ashamed of yourself, putting us in danger like this, brother.”
My jaw tightens at her tone, as if calling Jesse her brother is the highest insult…to herself.
I hear the deep timbre of Jesse’s voice but can’t make out the words before Jasmine lets out a grating screech. Silence follows, and Steph, Bernadette, and I stare at each other for a tense moment before the door creaks open and Jesse slips through the crack.
“My apologies for the interruption,” he says formally, nodding at Bernadette.
“That little viper isn’t going to let our presence here go unanswered,” Bernadette replies in a low, concerned voice.
“Leave Jasmine to me,” he says, bowing his head again before meeting my eyes and backing out of the room.
When the door closes behind him, I look back at the other two, who are wearing identical expressions of skepticism and concern.
“Jesse can handle her,” I say quickly. “Do you want to get back to work? Or should we break for lunch?”
“I’m starving,” Steph says, pressing a hand to her stomach. “I feel like I haven’t eaten in a week.”
“Casting will do that to you,” Bernadette assures her with a kind smile. “Especially when you’re learning and expending all your energy to get the magic flowing.”
“Lunch, it is,” I say, spinning around to walk toward the door.
I skid to a halt as it swings open once more. Erik strides in, offering the women a low bow before stretching an arm toward the door.
“Allow me to escort you to your room. Lunch will be delivered shortly.”
Ignoring Bernadette’s huff, Steph slides in next to him with a grin and loops her arm around his. “What are we having, Thor?”
“Thor?” Erik asks, looking thoroughly confused.
“You know, God of Thunder? Big blonde guy with a hammer?” When he just stares at her, she rolls her eyes and drags him toward the door. “You’ll get it when we watch the movie. Oh, it can be our first date.”
“Stephanie.”
Bernadette’s tone is low with warning, but Steph pretends not to hear as she jabbers on about popcorn and how it’s great he doesn’t eat it so she can load it with as much butter and salt as she wants.
Just before they pass through the door, Erik grinds to a halt, making Steph stumble. His free hand shoots out faster than my eyes can track, steadying her, before he turns back to me.
“Jesse would like you to meet him in your room.”
I nod, and he turns back to Steph, silently inviting her to carry on. Bernadette huffs with impatience as she follows behind them, and I snicker under my breath. I’d hate to be Steph when the feisty old witch lays into her about consorting with a vampire.
Speaking of consorting with vampires…
I hurry from the room and head for the stairs. Erik pauses, pulling Steph to the side and motioning for me to go ahead. Mumbling my thanks, I rush up the steps and speed-walk down the corridor until I reach the bedroom I share with my mate.
I pause at the door, thinking about that word. At first, it confused me, making me wonder if I even have any control over my future, or if some twist of fate decided it for me. But now? Now I just feel extremely lucky. I found my one true love. The other half of my soul.
Twisting the knob, I swing the door open and step inside. I don’t see Jesse, but I can hear the shower running in the bathroom, so I close the door and lock it before heading in that direction. The bathroom door is cracked open, and I can see steam billowing on the other side. Pushing the door, I open my mouth to call out to Jesse, but all that escapes is a yelp as a hand clamps around my wrist and jerks me inside. I slam into a hard, muscular body, and I gasp as cool marble hands slide under my shirt to splay against the bare skin of my back.
“I’m starving, too,” a deep, husky voice whispers into my ear, making me shiver all over.
Pulling my hair aside, I bare my neck in offering to the man I love. He dips his head, pressing a feather-light kiss to my pounding pulse before pulling back to meet my gaze.
