That had been the bleakest of moments, even more than any of the evil we’d fought since I’d arrived in Salem. Losing Diego would have been the tragedy of my life.
“Nah, you’re stuck with me,” he brushed it off with a light wave. “You did the right thing, Nova. I’d rather be dead than be forced to be with someone against my will. Thank you for saving me.”
Gianna entered from the other apartment. “Are you okay, hun?” She inclined her head and assessed me with concern.
“I am.” All the insecurities that she’d supported me through lately flashed in my mind, from worrying about Diego wanting to end our relationship to fearing I wasn’t skilled enough to save him. “Thanks for the pep talk earlier.” I raised my chin. “I don’t know if I’d have summoned up the courage to try without you.”
“Of course you would have, Nova.” She smiled. “I just nudged you in that direction sooner.” She turned to Diego. “Please tell me you’re under control now so I can trust leaving you alone with Nova.”
Diego winced with mock horror. “Damn, Gianna, you were fierce back there.”
I faced him and then her. “What happened?”
Gianna shrugged one shoulder as if it wasn’t a big deal. “Oh, you know when you offered Diego your blood?”
“Yes.”
“Well, he got a little too vampy over your tasty blood and drank too much. After you lost consciousness, he freaked out and was about to give you his blood. I may have threatened him just a teensy bit.” She squeezed her thumb and forefingers together.
He laughed. “Teensy?”
“Okay, I may have warned I’d take him to the shore at high noon.” She raised both hands up. “What can I say? I couldn’t let him do that. What if he made you a vampire against your will?”
I chuckled. Gianna and her threats were terrifying enough to keep grown men walking around with cups to protect their genitals. “Don’t worry, I’m still me. Maybe I won’t be up for dancing at the Danger Zone tonight, but I should be back to my ol’ self in no time.”
She brought her hands together. “That’s why I’m here. Sebastian asked if you’re well enough to come to the dining room table or if you want to eat in here.”
I pulled myself up. “Eat here on my own rather than with my newfound family?”
“Well, I’m here,” Diego said with a laugh.
I put my hand on his cheek. “Yes, indeed. Are you up for having dinner with everyone?”
“Wherever you want,” Diego replied. “As long as I get you to myself later.”
Gianna placed her finger in her mouth and mock gagged and then grinned. “Just kidding.” As she walked over to the other apartment, she added, “Definitely tell me if you end up doing anything kinky.” She pointed her thumb and index finger like a gun. “Or awesomely awkward.”
“No!” Diego and I answered at the same time. We turned to each other and laughed.
“We’ll be there in a minute,” I told Gianna.
Once we headed over there, Lucas and Zoe entered. They fretted over Diego and me at first until we assured them we were fine.
“No luck capturing Diana tonight,” Zoe declared with a grim look. “But we’ll find her.”
“Others are on the hunt while we take a quick break.”
“Her tracks vanished,” Sebastian explained. “Does she have an ability to transport that you’re aware of?”
“Not that I know.” Diego scowled. “She appears to have gotten her grabbing fingers onto forbidden magic so who’s to say what else she was able to procure?”
“And who supplied it for her,” Nova said.
“We’ll find out.” Zoe’s expression was determined.
“You should eat first,” Sebastian said. “I heated up plenty of food—steak tips, baked potatoes, green beans in tomato sauce, and stuffed mushrooms.”
Lucas rubbed his stomach. “I’ll never say no to filling my belly.”
