My phone cut off for a second, then started right back up. Izzie stirred next to me and I gently slid out from all the body parts she had draped over me in search of the device. I found it in my jeans on the floor.
I answered. “Hello?”
“Bring Isabella over.” It was Mom. I spotted Izzie lifting her head and peeking at me beneath her dark hair. “Looks like you might have been right about Harvest. And your lady friend is the only one that can give us some insight on him.”
“She doesn’t know anything.”
Mom sighed. “Yeah, well, still bring her. I know a lovesick fool when I see one.” My chest tightened at her words. “Let’s see who’s awakened my sleeping prince.” She hung up.
Izzie lifted the sheet to her chest and I swear, I’d never seen anything so earth-shattering beautiful in all my years living between two worlds. Still, she had no idea what I got her into when I invited her into my home and bed. My family could be overbearing—okay, we were overbearing and protective.
“What is it?” Her voice was sexy and thick with sleep. “Is it Julius?”
“Fuck Harvest,” I hissed without thinking at all. Her eyes widened. I sighed, materializing clothes on me instead of going through my closet. “Maybe some of Barron’s sin is still left in me,” I pondered.
She tilted her head at me and there was a slight twitch to her mouth. My witch was trying not to smile. “There’s nothing left of your brothers’ curses,” she told me.
“Then I guess I just want to murder the bastard that’s hurt you,” I muttered absentmindedly.
“Only you can’t kill an entity,” she brought up. That reminder seemed to darken my mood. “Thank you, Sebastian.”
I paused and looked over at her smiling at me from the bed. “For what?”
“For showing me what it feels like to feel protected. Even if we are practically strangers.”
“I’d hardly call us strangers. Strangers don’t make date and blowjob plans.”
She snorted. “Actually, they do. It’s called paid escorts. Or prostitutes.”
“You’re supposed to be eating up my charm, not throwing it in my face with irrelevant shit.” The smile on her face told me I was doing something right at least. “All right, Izzie, time to get out of bed. My family wants to ask you about Harvest, and they’ll most likely ask you about me.”
Her mouth dropped. “Why?”
“Like they won’t be able to tell when they see us…” I ogled her still draped in sheets.
“What?” Her skin looked flushed.
“They’ll take one look at you and know just how fucking smitten you are with me,” I teased her.
She tossed a pillow at my face and huffed. “I swear, do you realize how obnoxious you are sometimes?”
“It’s okay, witch, I’ll gladly accept all those affections you have for me. I have quite a bit for you as well.”
She threw another pillow at my head.
???
“Aye, Touch of Death,” August shouted at Isabella the moment we entered the castle side by side. “Touched anyone within the last few hours that we need to send to the afterlife?”
He went too far, but August often always took things too far. Before I went to pummel him though, she responded.
“Hey, Pig,” she said to him, then a smirk took over her tiny face. “Or is it toad?”
That had everyone—all my siblings except Kitty—in the ballroom laughing. Mom hung back in the corner inspecting Izzie. I glanced around and was surprised to see Payne in the mix considering Joy was also here. Even Prudence—with her arms crossed leaning against the wall—looked like she was pleased with Izzie’s response to August. And like Barron, Prudence was never happy about anything.
“He’s a toad that will never find his princess if he keeps a harem of women,” Joy said, walking up toward Izzie, extending her hand. “Hi, I’m Joy.” Then her eyes widened, and she retreated her hand quickly. “Oh, right, I forgot. No touching.”
Izzie smiled at her. “I’m Isabella, but Izzie’s fine. Sebastian’s been calling me that since we met without my permission, anyway.”
