Moira waved a hand in dismissal. “Something about being needed for something important. He has no idea that I’m way too tired to save the world. Plus, the world hasn’t done right by me enough to care about it all that much.”
“Aww, Moira.” Her words saddened me.
The vampire grinned. “I’m not the only one on this planet with magic, so I don’t really believe I’m set to be its savior or anything. Since he refuses to elaborate, I’m just going to let things play out and see what happens.”
“You’re sure the magic is a spell?”
Moira shook her head. “Not quite. It’s a spell wrapped in raw magic, so it holds an odd sentience, but I can’t figure out its purpose other than to destroy whatever it touches. I didn’t find it to be evil. We’re dealing with something that just is, if that makes any sense.”
Not really, but I nodded instead. “We’ll discuss it when you get back. For now, you look like you’re about to fall asleep in the middle of a sentence. Let’s chat tomorrow. I’ll call Mom and see if she’s busy.”
She blew me a kiss. “Night, bestie.”
“Night Moira.”
We disconnected just as Rowan set a bowl of ice cream covered in hot fudge in front of me. “Oh my gosh. It’s freezing outside!”
“So?” Rowan plopped into a seat and dug in. “It’s never too cold for ice cream.”
“Umm. Spoken like a bear.”
He chuckled. “There’s whipped cream in the fridge if you want some.”
“Hell yes, I want some.” I snagged it and added an enormous dollop. “Want some?” I waved the can at him.
He pushed his bowl toward me. “Not as much as you, whipped-cream fiend.”
“The world can never have enough of this dairy delight.”
We stopped talking and enjoyed our treat. When we finished, Rowan looked at me thoughtfully. “You don’t have to go back, you know.”
“You don’t have to live alone like a Victorian widow, either. Have Hope and Declan move in and liven the place up.”
Rowan burst out laughing. “Declan would throw himself out of a window if I asked him to take one of the main rooms. He likes living in a house with all those other heathens.”
“And Hope?”
He shrugged. “She’s still dealing with things.” Rowan pushed his bowl away. “Your offer was kind. I don’t know if she’ll take you up on it, but to know the possibility exists…she will give the decision the weight it deserves.”
“It’s not your story to tell, I know, but I know she will have all the solace she needs here. I don’t know what happened to her, but I suspect, and I—” I swallowed hard. “I know how it feels to pick up those pieces and try to put a damaged puzzle back together.”
Rowan went completely still. “Evie?”
“Just tell her if she ever needs a friend, she can call me. No matter where I am.”
He nodded. “I will tell her.”
“I’m going to make a few phone calls. Mom will be here tomorrow around lunch. Are you good with getting up early to go out and check the rest of your property?”
“Six good?”
We agreed on the time, and I went to the back, ignoring the way his eyes softened when he looked at me. I was about to leave and knew I wouldn’t go if I let myself feel the things my heart wanted to.
Ash’shandsome face swam into view. “Evie! It’s so good to see you.”
“Everything good there?”
Ash’s lips twisted. “No one is actively trying to sabotage us, so that’s a positive. I suspect your father had something to do with that.”
