Aside from the bruises and, ya know, the whole near-death trauma spiral, I’m just peachy.
Probably shouldn’t say that out loud.
“Oh! Yeah, that’s probably where we were when you stopped by yesterday.”
I’m counting on Eve’s bullshit detector being offline this morning—because odds are, we were dealing with that asshole wrakh when they came by.
“I was really out of it, but Ezra made me go to the hospital to get checked out. I don’t remember much from yesterday. But, um, Ezra told me I could stay here for a few days. I don’t want to go back to my house so soon after being attacked in my own driveway. But if you could pick me up for dinner, I’d appreciate it. And, E … I’m so sorry. I just wasn’t thinking straight after the attack. If Ezra hadn’t found me …”
Seriously, if Ezra hadn’t found me, I would have suffered, then died—painfully and violently.
I guess badass supernatural queens can cry, too. Right?
“We’re good, Aury. I’m so fucking sorry I pushed you to go out with Jameson. I’m just so relieved you’re safe.”
She pauses. I can practically hear the wheels in Eve’s head turning at light speed.
I brace myself for the question I already know she’s going to ask next.
“So, you’re staying at Ezra’s place. With Ezra?”
“Heh, yeah. I’m staying with Ezra,” I say lightly, but my voice catches just enough to make Eve inhale sharply.
“Bitch.”
“What?”
“You’re fucking him.”
“What? No! He just … saved me. He had to go out of town for a few days, so he said it might be safer if I stay here. See? I’m all by myself.”
Well, at least until Louie wakes up.
Somewhere behind Eve, Thane yells, “Did she just say Ezra went out of town? He knows he owns a business, right? Like … a real fucking business? With customers? And an employee who should probably know when his boss bails?”
Eve quietly calms Thane with the voice she uses on irate customers.
I hear Thane huff, then mutter, “Unbelievable. Next time he pulls this shit, I’m stealing his espresso machine as payback.”
They mumble and whisper on the other end of the line as they quietly discuss something. Then Eve says, “Ah, okay. Well, as long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters. Thane seems relieved that you’re at Ezra’s house, which is strange but comforting. He says it’s a fortress, whatever the hell that means. We’ll pick you up around five.”
“Great! I’ll be ready!”
“Girl, be as ready as you want. But you can bet your ass I’m coming inside to snoop,” Eve says, sounding calmer and more like herself.
“Oh, please do, E. Ezra has so many dark, brooding corners. Maybe you’ll find his ‘Creepy Bookshop Owner’ Starter Pack. I bet it comes with a candle that smells like ‘Suspiciously Clean Bleach’ and a cursed tome that kills you in seven days,” I say with a giggle.
Eve snorts. “Let’s be real.Notfinding a cursed tome would be the real twist. And I swear to God if I find a single tarp in his house, you’re moving in with me.”
I laugh, tension melting from my shoulders. “You’d fight Ezra for custody?”
“Girl, I’dwin.”
“Gonna pop some popcorn for that show.”
“Someone’s gotta keep you safe. Okay, rest up and take care of yourself. We’ll see you at five!”
Aurora
