“I’m going to go get your car. I’ll be back soon. Get some rest, okay?”
“Okay,” I say, sliding deeper into the covers at even the mere thought of sleep.
He presses a kiss to my forehead, the second time he’s done that now, and flips the light off as he leaves, closing my door behind him.
As soon as I’m sure he’s gone, I pull out my phone to call Matthias.
He answers after one ring. “Lacy? Hey.”
“Matthias. Hi. So, that text I sent you a few nights ago…”
“Which text?” His tone is casual.
“The one about me being possessed.”
Less casually, he asks, “Did you send me a text about that?”
My eyes lift to the ceiling. “Matthias, it’s me. I’m Lacy. The Lacy who knows that fiction books in non-English languages get shelved with their languages.”
I hear the rush of air that leaves his chest. “Oh, thank god. Okay. I was honestly stumped on how to exorcise the demon. Like, there’s plenty of things online, but it’s so hard to tell what will work and what won’t. My friends were trying to help, but they were getting the same things that I was. I figured I wouldhave one shot, so I didn’t want to waste it unless I was sure it would work.”
I scrunch my face. “You’re being surprisingly cool about this. Most people would be a little skeptical when their coworker tells them they’ve been possessed.”
“Well, yeah. I’m a witch. As are the friends I mentioned. Did you not know that?”
My mouth opens then closes. I consider what he said. Nope. New information. “I knew you were into Wicca things?—”
He chuckles. “Nah, I mean I’ve done actual spells before. Nothing big, mostly little things. Spells to find lost items, spells for luck, spells to give annoying customers horrible bacne.”
My mouth drops. “And these spells have, like, worked?”
“Duh.”
I take this in, the knowledge of what I know about this world I’m living in both growing and shrinking. “Okay. Wow. That’s really cool.”
“It’s new, but yeah. So, you’re alone? Likealonealone? The demon, what, just left?”
“Sort of? Long story, but I got stung by a bee?—”
“Are you okay?” he interrupts. Matthias knows I’m allergic, I guess.
I smile slightly at the concern in his voice. “Fine. I’m fine. Kit got me to the hospital in time. I’m good.”
He lets out a relieved huff of air. “Kit is the demon who possessed you?”
“Yeah. He’s…actually kind of okay.”
“Interesting,” he muses, drawing out the word.
My face burns bright red. I’m so glad he can’t see me. “The problemis, he’s now possessing someone else. I can’t just stand by and let that happen.”
“How are you going to find him?”
“He’s probably going to come back to my apartment tonight.”
“Uh, okay? And you think that’s safe? You should be lining your doors with salt.” I hear him shift on the other end of the line. “I’m coming over. I’ll help you bless your apartment?—"
“Not yet. Kit…he won’t hurt me. The easiest way to get him out of this guy is to keep him close.”
