He hands the books down and then reaches back up for three more. “So, where is he now? As a familiar, isn’t he supposed to be here to back you up?”
“He deemed me unworthy, and we had words.”
Asher snorts. “I would expect nothing less.”
“Yeah, well, he may well have blown me off.”
“Rude. That’s his loss because you’re fabulous and you’re going to crush this whole witch thing.”
“Damn right I am.”
I examine the books and decide they are newer than some of the others. I set them on the game table to sort through after lunch. There are so many textbooks and tomes, I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to read them all.
“Do you thinkIcould be a witch?”
I turn to look at Asher, and that right there is why I love him so hard. He never questions my reality, and he supports me, no matter how crazy the things I say might sound.
“Or would I be a wizard? That would be cool, right? The two of us could be the Harry and Hermione of our generation.”
Man, I would love that. I would love to have him in this with me so the two of us could truly take on the magical world together.
“So, tell me this,” Asher continues, oblivious to my mental tailspin. “If witches and demons are real—and without havingseen this blue glowy cat myself, I’m not convinced demons are real—could shifters be real?”
I blink. “I have no idea. Why?”
He gives me a ‘well, duh’ stare. “Because the romance series I’m reading right now is about a chosen one,” he gestures to me, “finding out she’s a magical phenom and has been bound to four insatiable male shifter protectors. Shifters are hot and sexy, and let me tell you, these guardians fuck at an Olympic level.”
“Is that an official Olympic sport or one of those trial sports people vote whether or not should be included?”
Asher grins. “Could you imagine?”
“No. And you’re getting off point.”
He gives himself a shake. “Agreed. But if you find out that shifters are a real thing, I expect an introduction. You know my type, so keep an eye out.”
“Your type is hot and horny.”
He flutters his eyelashes at me and smiles. “You get me. But seriously, if there’s a paranormal penis parade, I expect to be invited.”
I laugh and reach up to accept the next bunch of books. Witches are real. Demons are real. What about shifters or vampires or yeti?
How much of what we think is fiction is actually truth leaking out into the world of the non-magical folks?
Asher brings the last of the books down himself and sets them on the table next to the other stacks. His face is tilted toward the autumn sun beaming through the window, and his shaggy blond hair catches the light. He looks like a buff, tanned surfer god who somehow ended up in small-town New England.
I let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry all this drama has derailed your life. If you need to go back?—”
He holds up a finger. “I’ll stop you right there. I’m exactly where I want and need to be. Nothing in Kansas or anywhereelse is of any importance to me. Your destiny brought you here, and my destiny brought me to you. We’re connected. Your drama is my drama. I’m not going anywhere, nor do I want to.”
He opens his arms, and I step against his chest. The warmth of his hug and the strength of his embrace allow me to breathe again. I didn’t even realize how badly I needed a little Asher love.
“Are you unraveling?” His voice is casual, but his gaze is serious when he eases back to meet mine.
“It’s a sliding scale. I think on some level, I knew about magic, so I’m not completely freaked out, but I’ve got these panic loops running through my head saying, ‘there’s so much you don’t know,’ and‘the coven will come for you, and you’re not prepared,’and ‘Violet and Lily are out there. Are they blank? Scared? Alone?’. I just don’t know how to quiet the rush of that panic enough to breathe.”
He pulls me back in and squeezes me tight again. “But you’re not blank or alone anymore. I’ve got you, and there isn’t anything we can’t do, right?”
“Right.”
