Page 11 of The Slayer Seduction

Sure, not all the coven has progressed, like Ember’s family, but for most of us this has been a move in the right direction.

“I’ve missed you,” Violet says, holding me tight.

“I missed you too. Oh, here, I made us hangover potions,” I say, handing out the purple vials between us. “Hopefully the extra peppermint helps.”

We all grimace as we shoot them down; the flavoring did not help.

“Well, it’s better than a hangover,” Ember says and I nod my agreement.

When we walk into the place, there’s a variety of supernatural and humans alike. No one pays us any attention as we get into our booth.

As soon as we sit down I make sure the conversation isn’t about me. “So, how’s the clinic going?” I ask Violet.

“Well, really well. There are a few shifters who still don’t trust me, but I’ve won most of them over. Or Silas told them it was me or bleed out, since they don’t have another healer. Either way, I have lots of patients.”

“Oh, and how is your giant wolf shifter?” Ember asks, wiggling her eyebrows.

I can’t help but glance at Violet’s bond mark. It shimmers silver on her skin. Wolf shifters immediately know what it is, and most humans assume that it’s a scar of some kind. What would it be like to have a fated mate?

What’s it like to be with someone because cosmic forces we can’t even begin to understand brought you together? Not that I’m interested in finding a relationship—far from it.

I’ve never had romantic feelings toward a man. While I’ve had sex, it never felt quite right. I had to use magic for lubrication and I never met climax. Part of me wonders if it was like this for everyone, or maybe I was alone in feeling this way. I don’t have any issues when I’m by myself, but I haven’t even been doing that lately. I’m too exhausted.

Love isn’t really in the cards for me, at least not romantically. My coven and my familiar have always been enough for me.

I’m content with my life at the shop, just me and Scarlett, and my amazing coven.

The love I have for them was deep, a sisterhood that I wouldn’t trade for the world. They’re my soul mates in a deep platonic way, and I always felt like I was the one who made sure we always stuck together. If I wasn’t here anymore, what would happen?

“He’s amazing,” Violet says dreamily. “I think we’re going to take a trip up north, let our wolves run free.”

“That sounds so romantic,” Ember says dreamily.

“You know, there are a lot of new nomads coming to town. I could find out who’s single,” Violet says happily, and I smile in agreement.

Ember purses her lips and tilts her head. She’s been on dates, but they never really go how she wants them to. My best friend longs for an epic romance and I love that about her. With the old coven rules, there wasn’t much she could do about it. Now that things have changed, I hope one day she’ll find someone worthy of her love.

The thought of not seeing Ember get married or finding love has me shooting back the rest of my drink in worry.

“It’s worth a shot,” I say as the bartender brings us a new round of drinks.

“Silas would never let an undeserving wolf into the pack. I think there might be some good candidates,” Violet assures her.

“He would need to be tall and be able to hold a conversation,” Ember replies, her cheeks turning a bright pink.

“What about you Iris?” Violet asks and I shake my head.

“I’m too busy at the shop. I’m not looking for anything right now,” I tell her, and she gives me a small smile, not pushing me any more than that.

“Is everything going okay at the shop?”

“Sales are better than ever,” I reply honestly.

“And you’re getting enough sleep?” Violet poses the question like she isn’t completely worried about me, and I just can’t take them fussing over me.

“Yes. Oh, that reminds me. Guess who came in for hair growth serum,” I say, wiggling my brows, and changing the conversation so that it doesn’t lead back to me or how I’m doing lately.

Conversation from there is easy. The bartender keeps plying us with drinks and for the first time in a long time, I feel light.