Her smile could have lit the darkest cave in Hell. “You feel it too?”
“I couldn’t deny it if I wanted to. My owl has claimed you, but…”
“But I am immortal, and you are not.”
“And I don’t want to be a vampire.” As unbreakable as this bond with Lilith was, he couldn’t lose his owl. He couldn’t lose half his soul. “What are we going to do?”
“We will figure it out. There must be a way.” She tugged on her bottom lip as she thought. “I’m sure Adam still has an in with the being who cursed me. Perhaps I can petition him, beg to be mortal again.”
A lump formed in his throat, and his heart wrenched. “You can’t give up your immortality for me.”
She frowned, sadness filling her eyes. “I suppose not. I haven’t spoken to Adam in centuries. I doubt he would help me after the apple debacle anyway.”
He pulled her to his chest. “Let’s worry about it later. Right now, I just want to be with you.”
She snuggled closer. “And be with me you shall.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
An incessant ringing that sounded like a 1980s telephone dragged Lilith away from a most pleasant dream. She groaned and pulled the blanket over her head like she did every evening when she awoke, but her lids popped open as the most comforting, warm, woodsy scent registered in her senses.
Mmm… Spencer.
Her mouth watered at the memory of his taste. Perhaps it had been her imagination. Deirdre had planted the idea of a cinnamon roll in Lilith’s head, but Spencer’s blood had sung with notes of spices and copper.
Her stomach tightened, and her lips curved into a smile as the memory danced through her mind. She didn’t use an ounce of glamour on him, and his reaction to her raw bite had been orgasmic…for both of them.
The ringing silenced, and she reached for him. He stirred, moving toward her and tugging her to his bare chest. Sweet Persephone, how she loved his warmth. She snuggled against his naked body and closed her eyes.
It was no wonder people raved about this soulmate business. A week ago, Lilith had called the idea bogus. In her mind, the idea of fate creating another person to complete her had sounded preposterous. Yet now, lying here wrapped in Spencer’s embrace, complete was the perfect word to describe how she felt. Like a huge part of her soul had been missing all her life because it resided in this beautiful man.
She was finally whole.
She couldn’t wait to check in with Deirdre to see how Esther was fairing. If her familiar’s fate truly did depend on Lilith finding happiness, the snake was probably slithering all over Deirdre’s house, her color and her appetite back to normal.
The ringing ensued again, and this time, it was Spencer who groaned.
“Ignore it.” Lilith held him tighter. “I’m not ready for this moment to end.”
He pressed his lips to her head and inhaled deeply. “Neither am I, but it’s probably Alan.”
He leaned over the side of the bed and rummaged through his discarded clothes. “Damnit, Alan. Not a video call.” Pushing to a sitting position, he leaned his back against the headboard.
Lilith sat up, holding the blanket to her chest, and Spencer scooted toward her until their bodies touched from their shoulders to their hips and down the length of their legs. “Should I give you some privacy?” she asked as he held the phone out in front of him.
He clutched her thigh with his free hand. “Don’t you dare.” He hit the button to answer the call. “Hey, man.”
“Dude, I’ve been calling for the past ten minutes. The driver dumped us and our gear outside the gates. He refused to pull all the way in.”
“Sorry. I just woke up.”
“Damn nocturnals. The sun’s setting now. Get your ass out here and help us carry all this stuff in.” He squinted, bringing the camera closer to his face. “Lilith?”
Spencer angled his phone toward her, so they were both fully in view.
“Good evening, Alan. Hi, Rebecca.” She wiggled her fingers at the camera.
Alan stared, his mouth agape, and Rebecca grinned and said, “This is the part where I say, ‘I told you so.’”
