Smiling, I look up. “Yeah, that’s what it’s called. And a date would be nice. Really nice.” My eyes fall shut and I think of Jac looking human again, in dark jeans and a button-up shirt. We’re at a swanky restaurant—hell, I’m even wearing a low-cut, form-fitting dress—and we’re talking and laughing, sharing a bottle of wine, and getting excited over how delicious the food is.
We’re having fun. Not worrying about demons or magic or breaking a curse. We’re just enjoying each other’s company, carefree and fun.Together.Fuck, I want that so bad.
“What if I combined the glamour spell with a concealment charm?” I ask, finding the thin line of scar tissue on his side. “Maybe I could hide your wings. You could go out with me then.”
He considers it for a moment. “It’s worth a try.”
“I’ll start on it tomorrow.”
“I’m eager to be human again, but do not spread yourself too thin. It won’t be long before something senses the magic inside you and tries to take it for their own. You need to prepare. Focus on honing your powers for protection.”
“Right,” I say, thinking back to the warnings about the Dark Ones. “It won’t be long.”
8
“Ace.”
My eyes flutter open and I roll over. I’m snuggled up in Jacques’s embrace. I fell asleep in his arms last night, and I can tell by the soft light filtering in through the windows that dawn is fast approaching. My heart drops. I don’t want him to go.
“It’s almost sunrise.”
I sit up, seeing that Jac had covered us both up with the light blue comforter, and turn to look at him.
“You stayed with me all night?”
“I did.”
I’m smiling again, even though I’m trying not to. He’s been through so much yet is still so caring. “Thank you, Jac. That means a lot to me.”
“I didn’t want you to wake up alone in case you had a nightmare about your parents’ death.” His arm slips around me and he pulls me close. “You seemed peaceful.”
“I don’t remember my dream, so I’m going to go with yes.” I rest my head on his chest. “Having you here with me all night was nice.” I curl my leg up, hooking it over his. “It’s comforting.”
“It is,” he agrees, bending his neck down. His lips brush against my skin as he talks, and every nerve in my body awakens.
“I do feel a little bad you were stuck up here with me all night.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
I turn my head up, heart in my throat. “I want you to stay.”
“I wish I could.” He holds me tighter against him. “You’ll break the curse, Ace,” he adds softly, knowing what I’m thinking. He gently combs my hair back out of my face, looking into my eyes. It’s such a simple gesture, but the moment is intimate between us.
My heart is beating right along with his, and I want him to give in. To kiss me. To tell me he loves me.
“I was thinking about what you told me…about your parents,” he starts.
I swallow hard, reaching over Jac for the bottle of water I have on my nightstand and taking a drink. “And?”
“You said you didn’t hear anything at their time of death.”
“Right. I was asleep, so it makes sense. But you’d think I would have heard something. I’ve always been a light sleeper.” I recap the water bottle and stretch out my neck. “They were brutally attacked. That’s not…that’s not a quiet event.”
“No, it’s not.” I shiver, and if it wasn’t for Jacques holding me, I’d come undone. The memories are still vivid and the pain is still fresh.
“Your great aunt who left you this house…how was she related to your parents?”
“She was my mom’s aunt. My grandpa was her brother.”
