“Come sit with me, sir,” April Bramble said, occupying the right sofa with her brother Aaron. She patted the cushion, beaming a grin at me.
The Brambles were all red heads with fair, freckled skin, and green eyes like polished emeralds. April and Alice were shimmer witches, while Aaron was fae—the siblings having a witch mum and a fae dad who used to work as a caretaker for House Aurora.
April loved cooking and cars, while Alice enjoyed exercise and being in charge of our physical training. Aaron was a gamer, and a lover of maths, gaming, and crumpets. He was also great with technology and research, and his magical fae specialty was in identifying objects.
The Brambles were great company. Fun, loyal, and kick-ass. I’d tried to stop them calling me and Riley ‘sir,’ but they wouldn’t have it.
Whatever made them happy.
A bottle of Laurent-Perrier champagne sat in a gold ice bucket on the coffee table. I popped the cork, pouring out the nectar of the gods for myself, April, and Riley. Everyone else stuck with their hot drinks.
Fizzy, bubbly bliss kissed my tongue and slid down my throat. Champagne always lifted my spirits. Aaaahhhh. I kicked back, crossing my legs, waiting for Erin to join us.
At least I’d stopped shaking, being here with my people keeping the unease of my experiences at bay.
Temporarily, sure. But you had to take these quiet moments by the balls, even if they only lasted a few minutes.
Of course, my brain tried to make a comment about a pair of balls I’d like to be tugging on. But I silenced it with another sip and talking to April about the amazing steak she’d cooked at lunch time.
I know what meat I’d like in my mouth…
Ugh. Why? Why did the mind always have to go there?
Chapter 4
OLLIE
Prada comfies? Really? That’s what he knocked about the house in? What was he trying to prove? I understood he was a pampered prince used to the finer things in life, but did he have to flaunt his expensive clothes so blatantly?
Er, since when does he flaunt anything?
Alright, so maybe he didn’t. I just saw a designer label and it triggered bad memories of my ex. He’d been vapid, cruel, and obsessed with labels.
Isaac wasn’t like him, but still. I just didn’t like his vibe.
Irrational, much?
Yeah, I was actually. Because deep down, Ididlike his vibe. From the moment I saw him, something sparked inside of me. And I hated that. I didn’t want any of the sparking crap with anyone ever again.
I turned down Willow Avenue, taking the first left to the rear entrance of the High Coven HQ, thebuilding located on the west coast of Coldharbour, and stopped at the gatehouse for inspection.
“Evening,” I greeted the agent on duty.
“Hiya,” Sally answered, shining her torch in my face and the other windows. “Go on in.”
“Cheers. Have a good night.”
“You too,” she said.
The gates opened for me, spotlights pinging to life in response to my presence.
I followed the road through immaculate gardens hidden behind high concrete walls, heading for the basement carpark. More spotlights switched on, following my trajectory.
The security was top notch. Nothing got over those walls, and there’d never been a break in at any of the High Coven headquarter buildings across the globe. There were too many contingencies in place, too much threat to life for anyone to try it.
It didn’t help me sleep easier at night, though, especially with this fae woman lurking in the shadows.
I looked up at the Brutalist gray concrete building with a frosted blue roof, every inch of the cubic structure imposing.
