I softened my tone. “I know you want to see the good in everyone, but whoever he is, he still watched your schedule and visited her without our consent. He also apologized, meaning he had something to be sorry about.” She nodded, knowing I was right.
Dina had her phone out, tapping away on it. “I will get my coven to help us locate Astrea. Then we can plan how to save her.”
“You’re a witch, too?” Claire asked, surprised.
Dina smiled. “I am. My coven is small but strong. We all live within an hour of here, so if they agree on helping us, we will have a hundred witches on our side.”
“A hundred?” I gasped. That wasn’t asmallcoven, that was a medium sized one, something I hadn’t pictured seeing as how small the town was. Larger covens tended to be closer to cities so they were closer to everyone.
“Yes,” she replied smugly. “We all love nature and because of nature’s presence in our lives, we are stronger than the city witches that have left nature behind.”
I believed that, evenIfelt better being surrounded by trees and the peace the countryside provided. I could never live in the big cities like the other witches did. We needed grass and trees, to walk around barefoot to feel grounded, to feel balanced. How they survived without it was a mystery. They were likely the wierdos going out to parks at night and dancing in circles.
Dina’s phone rang, stopping my mental image of old women dancing barefooted in parks at night. “Dina speaking,” she greeted. “Definitely. Like I wrote, she rejected a proposal. No, I’m not sure. Oh, for sure. Don’t know. Don’t know that either. Hold on.” Shelooked at me, “How did they attack Astrea? Was it a potion she drank or a crystal?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted, feeling like a bad witch for not being able to figure it out. I had tried, but all I knew was that she was asleep.
Dina continued to talk with her coven before they agreed to meet her here. She hung up and looked at everyone in the room. “Five from my coven are on their way. They will need some hair from you—Felix—for us to locate her with a spell. They have a map with them, and crystals.”
“And what happens when we find her location?” I dared ask.
“Then we will rescue her. Of course,” Severin replied, standing from his seat. “Give the hair to Dina and then we will show Claire to her room.”
“My room?” Claire asked, confused.
“You will stay here where it is safe. Peter, my brother, will stay, too, as will Joel and Dina. We need to be able to keep you safe if the coven decides to come after you.”
“Oh,” she said, standing up to follow us. I knew she was exhausted beyond belief already, so hopefully she could get in a quick nap. Though I doubted it.
I brushed my fingers through my hair to catch any loose pieces, then handed them to Dina and accepted the hand Severin held out for me, lacing our fingers together. I wasn’t alone anymore. Claire and I finally had help.
Chapter 12
Severin
With Claire safely in her new room, I guided Felix back to our bedroom. I sensed he needed some peace and I selfishly wanted some alone time with him, too.
Felix fell onto the bed, groaning as he did so. It seemed my assessment had been correct. He eyed me where I still stood in front of the closed door. “I’m sorry,” he said,looking away from me.
I walked over to the bed and sat next to him. “What for?”
“For bringing trouble into your life. You didn’t deserve this mess.”
Was that truly how he felt? Like he was only trouble to me?
“Felix, my heart. I have not felt as alive as I have been feeling since you came along. Yes, you have some witch problems we need to deal with, but you were forced to deal with them yourself for far too long. I am glad to help, truly. Selfishly so. I want to protect you, care for you. It is now my main priority in life; one I cherish very much.”
“You… You like caring for me? You don’t feel burdened by it? Byme?”
“Not at all,” I assured him, taking his hands in both of mine. “As a vampire, I never truly feel like I belong anywhere. No matter where Peter and I live, we are never a part of this world. Or at least, that is howIfeel about it. I cannot work a normal day to day job and feel satisfied doing it, because why bother? What is the point in working for coin when I have enough to never run out? What is the point in trying to live a “normal” life when I live forever?”
“Is it a lonely life?” he asked, his tone soft.
“Very,” I admitted. “I have lost many friends and lovers over the years. They always leave me. At some point, it is easier to stay awayfrom people, to find comfort in my own presence, and Peter’s when I feel like it.” He smiled at that.
“You seem fond of Dina, too,” he added.
“I am,” I admitted. “She somehow forced my affection and now I cannot seem to function without her.”
