"You know Blake?" Fenella asked.
Patricia cleared her throat. "Fennie, Harrison and Jacob just walked in. We should go talk to them before they get a few glasses of Scotch in them."
My aunt yanked her bemused gaze from my face and met Patricia's eyes. Something passed between them without words and I felt my skin burn with a brilliant red blush as I fidgeted next to Fenella.
She glanced at me one more time before nodding vigorously. "That's a good idea, Patty." She squeezed my arm gently. "Candela, why don't you entertain Blake for a few minutes? We'll be right back."
After they walked away, I stepped close to Blake. "That was smooth," I grumbled. "Why didn't you just announce we had a quickie in the bathroom?"
Blake threw his head back and laughed, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "Sugar, Aunt Patty knew the second she saw you what was going on. I'm sure she could smell me on your skin."
"Shit," I whispered. "Your aunt probably thinks I'm a slut."
"Nah," Blake answered.
I elbowed him in the gut, eliciting a little grunt. "You don't know that."
I gawked as a dull flush worked its way up his neck and cheeks. "I, uh, might have mentioned you this evening when I saw her. I might have also used the term mate at the time."
"What?" I gasped.
"Anyway, she's been on me for a while to settle down, so she was pretty happy, even if you are a witch."
My head felt light. "You told your aunt I was your mate?" I asked, my voice rising.
Blake's expression grew tight. "Well, you are. You're everything I want."
The wind went right out of the sails of my anger. There was no way I could be mad when he was saying exactly the right thing.
"Candela."
I turned at the sound of Ava's voice, pausing when I saw how pale her face had become.
"You okay, Ava?" I asked her.
She nodded. "I wanted to say good-bye. I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave tonight."
"Did something happen?" I asked, stepping closer to her and putting a hand on her arm. I nearly yelped at the snap of power that stung my fingertips. Holy shit. I'd sensed that my cousin was powerful, but this was beyond anything I'd ever felt before. Not just from her, but from any witch or warlock.
"What's wrong?" I pressed. I wanted to snatch my hand away from the nipping of her magic, but I could see that she was upset and I wanted to offer comfort. I could take a little pain if it would help her calm.
As though she knew exactly how much she was hurting me, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she exhaled, the magic seeped into her skin, disappearing behind a shield that I couldn't sense.
Well, that explained why I never knew how much power she had. She cloaked her power so completely that nothing remained.
"I have to leave," she repeated.
"Why?"
Ava blinked and her eyes focused completely on me for the first time. Their depths were fathomless, as though she was seeing things no one else could. It was eerie and a little frightening.
"Something's coming," she whispered. Her hand crept to cover mine where it rested on her forearm. "Promise me you won't come to Austin until I tell you it's okay."
I blinked at her in silence for a moment and her fingers tightened.
"Promise me, Candela," she insisted. Her voice sizzled with the edge of her power.
"I promise, Ava," I croaked. I wanted to beg her to let me to help her with whatever problem she was facing, but I could tell just by looking at her that she wouldn't accept my aid.
