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“I need to use the restroom,” I inform my mother. The men are off chatting about something mechanical since Percy has decided to buy himself a new car. The ladies are spread out, mingling, but I wanted to hang close to my mom for a while.
Something—my guides, maybe?—told me to, so I have been.
But all seems well, and I can’t wait to use the restroom any longer.
“We’ll be right here, darling,” Mom says with a grin. “Grab yourself a drink on your way back.”
“I might just do that.”
Friends who wish to compliment me on my gown or ask how my book is coming along stop me several times, and I don’t mind delaying to chat for a moment here and there.
Finally, I make my way into a bathroom stall and sigh with relief.
I wash my hands, fix my hair, and apply a fresh coat of lipstick before returning to the party.
But when I walk out of the restroom, I stumble to a stop.
Do not react.
I suck in a deep breath and repeat the mantra, saying it over and over again as I look around the room. All the people, every person I love, is dead.
They’re still standing, facing me, with empty white eyes and no expressions on their faces. Their skin has begun to decay, showing the muscle, ligaments, and bone underneath.
It’s disgusting. Vile.
And terrifying.
But I will not give it even an ounce of delight at seeing me scared.
“You hold no power here.” My voice is low but strong. “You are not welcome. I banish you from this place, from these walls. Only love and light may stay. I call on my element, my guides, and my ancestors to help me in clearing this unwanted pest.”
I blink, and the room is magically right again. People dressed in beautiful outfits dance and laugh. It’s obvious that only I saw what just happened.
And although it was damn horrible, I’m glad that it was only for me and that it didn’t ruin everyone else’s evening.
“You’re done ruining things for us,” I mutter as I make my way back to my mother.
“There you are. I was about to send out a search party.”
“I wasn’t gone long.”
“At least an hour,” she says with a concerned frown. “Are you okay, darling?”
“I think so.” Did it have me in some kind of a trance for almost an hour? I know I stopped to chat with friends, but that was only for a minute or two here and there. It certainly didn’t take me that long to use the restroom.
My eyes scan the room until I find Xander, who’s listening to Percy talk to the group of guys.
Suddenly, he turns his head and pins me with his gaze. As if I need you is written across my forehead, he excuses himself from the others and makes his way to me.
I take his proffered hand, and he pulls me out onto the dance floor. Tugging me into his arms, we sway back and forth to a slow song.
“What happened?” he asks me quietly.
“It’s nothing to get upset over. I’ll tell you about it later. For now, I just want to stand here in your arms, swaying to this music. We never danced enough. You’re surprisingly good at it.”
“We’ll dance more,” he promises and kisses the top of my head. Sometimes, I wonder if it looks weird, how he’s so much taller than me, and I’m so petite next to him. Especially during moments like these, when we’re dancing, and the size difference is so obvious.
But really, at the heart of it, I just don’t care.
I think we fit together perfectly.
“That was so much fun.” I grin over at Xander as he drives us through the residential part of Salem toward my cottage. “I think we all needed it.”
“We did,” he confirms, checking the rearview mirror. “It was nice to forget about things and just enjoy one another for the night.”
“That’s exactly what I thought.” I reach over and grab his hand, giving it a squeeze. “My dress was even comfortable, which is a huge bonus.”
“Your dress should be illegal in all fifty states. All I could think about was getting you out of it and seeing it in a ball by the side of my bed.”
“Reeeeally.” I know my smile is one of pure satisfied female. “Well then, my job here is done for the day.”
That makes him snicker, and then he pulls my hand up to his lips, kisses my knuckles, and glances my way with a satisfied grin of his own.
Just that simple gesture makes my core muscles tighten in anticipation.
“Sex with you is fun.” I don’t know why I suddenly blurted that out, but I decide to go with it. “I mean, sure, I don’t have much to compare it to, but it’s a damn good time. Add on to that all the foreplay, flirting, and touches, and well…yeah. It’s good stuff.”
