I wait to see the recrimination in his eyes, but all I see is compassion and understanding. It brings tears to mine. “You’re not mad?”
“No. You’d have to do something much worse than that to make me mad, and even so, I don’t think there’s a chance.” He steps into my personal space again. “I’m on your side, no matter what.”
“Even if that means betraying your king?”
His eyes widen, his pupils contracting a little. “Are you after his crown?”
“No, not even if it was given to me freely.”
He kisses my cheek. “Then there’s no betrayal. You do need to get dressed, though. The High Witch scares me, and I don’t want to piss her off more than I already did.”
“Why is she angry with you?”
He rubs the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “Eh… I might have omitted that you were in the catacombs when I told her about the ghost.”
“You did? Why?”
“I didn’t want to get you in trouble.”
Hummingbirds flap their wings inside my chest, giving me euphoria I’ve never experienced before.
“Dang, boy. You got whipped in record time,” Tish pipes up, reminding us that she’s been here the whole time, watching our interaction.
Vaughn glances at her. “You got that right, and I’m not one bit ashamed of it.”
Be still my heart. I’m dangerously close to falling in love with him, and that scares me more than anything I’ve ever faced.
Thirty
VAUGHN
Idon’t know what possessed me to pretty much confess to Sophie that I may have fallen in love with her. Who does that after spending a couple of evenings with someone? The craziest part of it is, I don’t think there’s any magical bond at hand. We aren’t fated mates. There’s no compulsion drawing me to Sophie, no insane need to be near her, to touch her. All the feelings swirling in my chest are my own, I’m sure of it.
We don’t talk much during the drive to Isadora’s house. Tish insisted on tagging along, but even the talking cat is quiet.
“Have you ever met any of the previous High Witches?” I ask.
“No. They’ve always been aligned with King Raphael. How is the current one?”
“Intense.”
“Aren’t they all?” Tish snorts.
“I wouldn’t know. I’m a newly minted vampire, remember?”
“Right. Quick question: Where exactly is your sire? Has Lucca skipped town?”
I clench my jaw, grinding my teeth in the process. I was wondering when the question about Lucca’s whereabouts would come up again. “He didn’t run away if that’s what you’re implying. But he’s not in Salem.”
“Where is he?” the pest insists, but mercifully, the drive is over.
I park in front of Isadora’s house and announce, “We’re here.”
“Nice house,” Sophie says.
I stare at the single-story construction and, for the first time, pay attention to the details. I suppose it is a nice house, and with impeccable landscaping. Sturdy hedges line the walkway, cut super neatly, as if grown under constant threat of the homeowner’s association.
“I’ve never been inside,” I say.
