She clamps a hand on my wrist and drags me out of the closet. “I found you! Just in time to record your interview.”
“Crystal, did you not just see me kissing Diego? In a closet?”
She blinks rapidly. Her wide smile falters, then turns into something closer to a smirk. “The maid of honor and the best man hooking up before the wedding? Bit of a cliche, Cat. But hey, if the broom fits, ride it.”
Now that sounds much more like Crystal. I shrug, and try to appear sheepish. “Hey, there’s no fighting chemistry, if you know what I’m saying.”
She gives me a lewd wink. “Oh, I know…”
Her eyes widen and her jaw goes slack. She finishes the sentence in a bubbly voice. “I know…that you have to film your interview!”
Oh, hex no. There’s no way on Tierra that I’m letting those cameras catch me.
I grab Diego’s hand and give Crystal a bright smile. “Well, Diego and I are gonna go make out some more. Just can’t get enough of this hot nerd action. Maybe we’ll do the interview later?”
Diego draws me away from her just as two camera operators come into view. We duck around the corner and watch as the cameras zero in on Crystal. From this vantage point, I can just make out her face.
“Oh, is it time for another interview?” Crystal smiles wide and tosses her hair over her shoulder. Before she can say another word, the camera lenses glow and Crystal’s expression turns dazed. Her eyes are unfocused, staring into space, and her jaw hangs open.
I cover my mouth to stifle a gasp. I knew it. The cameras are reinforcing the demon’s spell. Probably keeping an eye on all of us too.
Diego pulls me down the hallway before the cameras can come after us again. “That was close,” he says.
“Too close.”
“Can you teleport us out?”
“Um, not exactly.”
“Coño.” That angular jaw of his tightens. “Until our families are united, I can’t teleport within your family’s wards.”
“We should’ve grabbed a couple brooms. They were right there.”
“Too late now.”
“Cat?” a voice calls. It’s my mother.
“Diego? Where are you?” And that’s my dad.
“They’re looking for us. Come on.” Diego grabs my hand and we start to run.
We don’t have time to get lost, so I voice a plea to the house. “Casita? A little help here? We need an exit.”
A door swings open in front of us and we charge through. It takes us down a long passageway I recognize. We burst through a side door and make a run for the property line. The second we pass through the wards, Diego pulls me into his arms. There’s a lurching sensation, like when you’re walking downstairs and you miss a step. I shut my eyes as the ground drops away, and don’t open them until I feel solid earth beneath my feet once more.
We’re both breathing hard, staring at each other from too close. Diego’s still holding me, and I don’t move away.
Running for our lives distracted me from what we did, but now that we’re safe?
All I can think about is that I just kissed him. I kissed Diego Paz.
And I liked it.
CHAPTER THREE
Before I can decide whether to kiss Diego again or push him away, a loud voice interrupts. “¡Oye, muchachos! ¡Ven acá!”
Diego releases me and waves at his uncle, Nestor De León.
