“What a boon! I hadn’t even heard you lost your job.”
Damn, is every single word I say to Jeremy parroted back to my parents? “I didn’t exactly lose the job. Regal Health closed the location where I was working, so I decided to pursue this opportunity.”
“Jeremy didn’t tell us that.”
“I only had a short conversation with Jeremy. Honestly, I wish he would have kept some of this confidential so that I could explain everything myself.” My voice holds more than a little annoyance.
“Oh, please don’t be cross with Jeremy, Zoe. You know he only has your best interests at heart. And given our history, he felt compelled to explain why you had missed your session so that we wouldn’t worry.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
“So, tell me about the dragon,” she says salaciously.
I glance at the house again. “Nothing to tell, really. Hey, Mom, it’s getting late. I should go. Can I call you next week?”
“Wait! You are coming home for Beltane this weekend, right? Dinner is at seven, immediately followed by the bonfire. Everyone is gathering at our place this year.”
“I’m not sure,” I say.
“Not sure? You haven’t missed a Beltane celebration since you were twelve and had that appendicitis. What’s going on? Please don’t tell me that dragon is keeping you chained to your desk like an animal.”
“Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous,” I say. Fuck. I truly have no excuse. “Yeah, of course I’ll be there.”
“Six thirty for cocktails, dear. Do you want me to send a car?”
“No. I’ll find a ride. I may meet up with some of the girls at the maypole earlier in the day anyway.” Shit. I haven’t even broached the subject of not living in my apartment anymore and really don’t want to. There is no way to say “I live in my boss’s pool house and can’t disclose the location” that will not blow up in my face. Having Mom’s driver show up at my old apartment to pick me up would be an absolute disaster.
“All right. Let us know if you end up needing that driver after all. Good night, darling.”
I end the call, not missing the undercurrent of skepticism in her last statement. She knows I won’t go to the maypole. There’s not a single witch who will give me the time of day anymore, let alone drive me anywhere. I burned all my bridges, and she knows it.
My eyes fall on the bag and the urn again.
I can make it all go away, the spider coos. I can make you the most popular witch in the coven.
“I don’t care about any of that,” I spit out. And then I grab my keys and head back to the big house. I’m never going to sleep until I know he’s home, and I shouldn’t be anywhere near that urn right now.
I’ve just drifted off when the sound of the front door opening wakes me. With a start, I remember I’m in Seb’s bed. I decided my only hope of getting any rest tonight was waiting here for him. It seemed completely rational at the time, but now, as the thump of his boots draws near, part of me worries how he’ll react. I mean, it is presumptuous of me to assume I’m welcome to sleep in his bed anytime I like without his permission. Shit. What was I thinking?
I sit up, my arms circling my knees as he enters the room, stopping short when he sees me.
“Zoe?”
“I—I couldn’t sleep. I needed to make sure you got home okay.” I lean over and turn on the light so I can see his face clearly. That’s the only way to know whether I should be apologizing or getting comfortable. But the second I can see him clearly, I almost scream. Seb is covered in blood. His hair is crusty with it. “What the fuck!” I bound from the bed and rush over to him, but I’m not sure where I can touch him without hurting him. I hold my hands out and scan him from head to toe. “Is this your blood? Are you hurt?”
He just stares at me, like he’s in shock. He doesn’t speak, but I wonder if he can speak.
I’ve never thought of myself as maternal. Whenever one of my mother’s friends would ask me if I wanted to have children, I’d say no. But something deep inside me snaps into place at the sight of him. Without saying a word, I take his hand and guide him into the bathroom.
I’ve used this room a few times, although I don’t remember the first. I was unconscious when Seb bathed me that first time. But it’s a big room and well-appointed. I lead him over to the enormous shower and start the hot water. The tub would be easier with him like this. I suspect I’ll have to get in and help him. But there’s too much blood.
When I turn back to Seb, he’s still watching me, his expression unreadable. I grab the bottom of his black T-shirt and try to pull it over his head, but it won’t budge. Black straps around his shoulders hold it in place. It’s not that they’re hidden, I was just distracted before by all the blood, I didn’t register they were there. I go to work removing a holster and dagger from under each arm, another from his back. The weapons are heavy, but he helps me with a few of them, that absent look in his eyes still lingering. Together, we strip them from his thighs, his calves. Fuck, he has knives everywhere.
And then I notice the bag tied to his belt. I reach for it, and his eyes go wild. He grabs my wrist.
“It’s okay,” I say softly, suspecting by the way it hangs that these are the rings he was after. Hell, I don’t have to suspect. I know based on the feeling of dread I get when I glance in the bag’s direction. “I won’t look inside, but I’m going to take this off you.”
He releases my wrist, and I untie the bag from his belt. Once it’s off, I tie it closed again and then walk it to the other side of the bathroom and drop it in a corner. It’s a relief to leave it behind when I return to him. Seb’s eyes are dark and haunted, his hair flopping around his face as he looks down at me, but the sight of him shirtless sends my heart fluttering, nonetheless. He’s incredibly attractive, even covered in blood. I try to ignore the heat blooming deep inside me as I kneel in front of him, sitting back on my heels to unlace his boots. It takes me a few tries, but I pry them off one at a time and cast them aside. I strip off his socks.
