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“You guys, too. See you soon.”
Once I get off the phone with Tessa, I stick my coffee in the cup holder and curl up in the seat.
“We’re not going to talk about that?” Lex says.
“What’s there to talk about?” I grumble, my eyes already starting to close.
“Calla’s making friends in the supernatural world,” Kade says, his voice laced with amusement. “We should be proud.”
“And we trust this witch?” Lex asks doubtfully. “She was working with Selene at one point, remember?”
Gabriel chimes in before I can turn around. “She did that to fulfill a debt. She chose to come back of her own volition to remove the spell, which she didn’t have to do,” he points out. “And I looked into her. There’s a mentor at the academy she’s at that I’ve known for years. He vouched for her, and I trust his judgment.”
My brows lift at that, though I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at least one of them did some digging on Tessa. The whole professor and academy thing has my interest piqued, and I make a mental note to ask her about it. I didn’t peg Tessa as the private school type, and something tells me there’s a story there.
“Good enough for me,” Kade says.
“Hmm, fine,” Lex mutters. “I guess Calla can have her girls’ weekend with the witch. But if you’re doing something fun, I’m going with you.”
I roll my eyes, choosing not to respond to that. “We’re not driving the whole way to Chicago, are we?” I direct the question to Atlas, and he shakes his head.
“We could’ve flown out of the city, but after yesterday, I’m far less inclined to use family resources. I have connections of my own at a private airstrip about an hour from here.”
I nod, resting my head against the back of the seat. “Wake me up when we get there,” I say around a yawn, closing my eyes.
I drift in and out, listening vaguely to the casual conversation happening between the guys. Lex is still determined to return to the Washington house sooner rather than later, and it’s clear the others want the same. I fall back to sleep listening to Kade complain about how they’ll need someone to go in and deep clean the place before we can go back.
The next time I open my eyes, I’m in someone’s arms. I squint against the light and determine it’s Gabriel carrying me from the car toward the charter plane.
“I could have walked,” I mumble.
He grins down at me. “You looked so peaceful asleep. I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“Yeah, so peaceful when you’re not running your mouth and getting into trouble with Atlas,” Lex chimes in, walking on Gabriel’s right with a duffle bag over each shoulder.
I shoot him a look, then turn my face back to Gabriel. “You can put me down now.”
“If you insist,” he says lightly and sets me down, keeping his arm around my waist until I’m steady and step away from him.
The five of us climb the stairs onto the plane, and I plop down in one of the chairs near the middle of the cabin. I never flew private before I met the guys—it certainly is a perk. No long security lines or lost luggage and unlimited drinks. I’m not sure I can go back to stale airplane pretzels after this.
Atlas talks to the pilot while the rest of us settle into our seats, Gabriel taking the seat next to me.
I glance over at him to find him already looking at me. “How are you doing?” I ask in a soft voice. “I know the reason for this trip must make you feel, well, I’m not exactly sure. Are you nervous or sad or happy you’ll finally be rid of her?”
He places his hand on my armrest, palm up, and I slide my fingers through his. “I’m going through a range of emotions. Losing my sire will hurt physically because of our blood connection, but mentally and emotionally, it will be a great relief. She’s had her claws in me for so long. I can’t properly express how much I am looking forward to being free of that.”
I squeeze his hand. “Have you ever thought about what your life as a vampire would be like if you were sired to someone else?”
Gabriel considers that. “Not really. The influence Selene had on me was relatively short-lived for someone immortal. Of course, I wish she’d never held any power over me, but dwelling on it now does nothing to erase the past. All I can do now is move forward and build a future for myself with the people I care about.” His thumb traces back and forth across my skin as he speaks in a gentle tone. “Are you thinking about whatyourlife would be like as a vampire?”
My eyes widen, his question taking me off guard. “I… I guess I am. I don’t know.” I stare at my lap, a new pressure building in my chest as the weight of my words settles there. “I feel like my head hasn’t stopped spinning for two days.”
Lex drops into the chair across the aisle and spins it to face us. “Would it help to make a pros and cons list of both your options?”
“Or sayfuck itto both and let’s come up with a plan that allows Calla to remain as she is,” Kade offers mildly, walking over with a crystal champagne flute filled with blood.
I laugh, but the sound is far from humorous. “Right. You want to go up against the Yorks?”
