Queen of Night

by Emily Goodwin

  “Are you okay?” Lucas asks, pausing in the bathroom doorway.

  “Yeah,” I say without thinking. “I’m fine.”

  “Really?”

  I tear my eyes from the mirror to my husband, and my heart melts. “Yeah. I will be. My life is complicated, and I’m just tired. But I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure?” he asks slowly.

  “Hold me until I fall asleep and I will be.”

  “I can do that,” Lucas promises.

  And he does. It took me a good hour or two to actually fall asleep, but Lucas’s arms never faltered. I don’t know what I did to deserve someone like him, someone who loves me unconditionally when my life puts a lot of fucking conditions on everyone around them.

  Yet, I have Lucas and his unfaltering hold on me.

  “Morning,” he grumbles when I slowly break out of his grasp.

  “Good morning,” I whisper. “I have to pee, but I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay,” he says sleepily and rolls over. Keeping my eyes halfway shut so I don’t lose that tiredness, I pad my way into the bathroom and use the toilet. The TV is on downstairs, reminding me Julian is here, keeping watch and making sure we’re safe. I hold out my hands and close my eyes, more than ready to collapse back into bed, nuzzled up with the love of my life.

  I fall asleep right away, comforted by Lucas’s strong arms around me and all three of my familiars in bed with us. I sleep soundly for another three hours, waking to Julian’s voice coming from the hall.

  “Callie,” he repeats, and I sit up. Lucas isn’t in bed with me anymore. Scarlet has taken his spot—and twice as much room— and grunts as she opens her eyes, looking annoyed at being woken up.

  “What’s going on?” I ask, lazily rubbing my face.

  “Your friend Easton called,” Julian tells me. “He said there was another murder.”

  Chapter 32

  “I can’t figure it out.” I close my eyes and rub my forehead.

  “It’s okay,” Lucas says, but his eagerness to calm me just pisses me off.

  “No, it’s not,” I snap. The sun is setting, and it’s been nearly twelve hours since Easton called, letting us know there was another body found. This one was in Paradise Valley, and Renee Franklin was only missing for a few hours before she was reported missing. Once she didn’t show up to her shift as a nurse in the local ICU, the phone calls started.

  Then a farmer found her covered in frost—and missing a heart—in his field.

  “How is she related to the others?” I slam my laptop closed and toss my head back in frustration. “She has to be connected.”

  “There might not be an obvious connection,” Lucas says patiently, somehow putting up with me. We’re in the kitchen of the little brick house, surrounded by boxes. I spent the day obsessing over Renee, and Lucas spent it packing up more of our stuff. Another moving truck should be here any minute now, and I let out a breath.

  “You’re right. The demons are taking hearts, and it could be anything from an exact pattern, like these women’s birthdays, to them just being easy picking.”

  Lucas’s brows furrow and he nods. “Unfortunately, yes. Sitting here obsessing isn’t going to help,” he says gently.

  “What else am I supposed to do?”

  “Live your life.”

  I swallow the lump in my throat. “Renee can’t live hers.”

  “Callie,” he says sternly, getting up and going to the back door. Maybe I’m being dramatic…but then again, maybe I’m not being dramatic enough. Another body was found, bringing our heartless body count up.

  We’ve found zero similarities between the victims, other than they have all been women so far. I run my hands over my face, letting out a deep breath. Gravel crunches under the tires of the moving truck, causing Scarlet to bark. Rubbing my eyes, I look up and call her over, slipping my fingers under her collar. The basement is empty now, with only my washer and dryer remaining. They are staying, along with most of the furniture on the first floor.

  Today has been rather productive until this point, even though it started with being woken to the news of another murder. Easton told me everything I now know, and I’ve been on pins and needles waiting for an update. Once the crime scene cleared, I knew I wouldn’t get one, but it didn’t stop me from obsessing.

  There have been multiple bodies found with missing hearts. One showed signs of being tied up, making us think a specific ritual had been performed before the heart was removed. This last body was left bleeding in a field, with the heart torn out of her chest. It was messy, unlike the last victim, and the police are having a hard time making a connection based on the totally different styles of removing the heart.

  Copycat? Perhaps. But I know better. It was the same demon, and I know it’s going to strike again.

  “I’m fine,” I tell Lucas, forcing a smile. The contractors finished their inspection of the second story today, giving their stamp of approval on us moving more stuff in. The new bedroom furniture we ordered will be arriving at some point tomorrow, and the closets are done and ready to start filling, which is what we’re doing now.

  The foyer and living room of this house are full of things to be loaded into the truck, and the sun is sinking low in the sky. Lucas and I will be able to go over as soon as the truck is loaded, and I’ve tried to keep myself busy with packing all day. It worked for some of the day, but here we are and now I’m obsessing.

  Julian’s spell worked, keeping me safe from Bael’s eyes. He and Tabatha cast the spell halfway between this house and the estate, purposely shielding both from the demon’s watch. I know he can’t see me, but I’ve been on edge all day. He can’t see me now, but I know he’s still here, still looking. Waiting. Planning.

  He wants to take over Hell, and he needs me to do it.

  I’ve stopped and called for my dad multiple times today, and multiple times today, I’ve gotten a big fat nothing. Letting out a breath, I run my hands through my hair and get up, clipping a leash to Scarlet’s collar. She scared the movers not that long ago, when they came into the house to get the furniture from the guest room.

  “Let’s go for a run,” I tell her, letting out another sigh. I changed into workout clothes over an hour ago and came into the kitchen with the intention of leaving but ended up obsessing over the latest murder instead. I wave to the movers inside the truck on our way out, and I swear I can hear them let out a huge sigh of relief to see Scarlet going away from the house.

  We jog about half a mile down the road. The night is chilly, and I didn’t put on a hat. My ears are cold, and I pull my hair from my ponytail to try and keep my ears warm. Scarlet and I turn around and jog back to the house, finding Lucas on the porch, overseeing everything being put into the moving truck. I let go of Scarlet’s leash and she sprints to him, tail wagging hard in her excitement to see Lucas.

  “Feeling any better?” he asks.

  “A little.” I let out a breath and go up the porch steps. “I miss running.”

  “And I miss seeing you in tight pants.”

  I purse my lips and shake my head. “I’m in leggings pretty much daily now.”

  Lucas squeeze my butt and kisses my neck, pulling me close to him. I let my eyes fall shut and drape my arms around him. “Julian didn’t come back yet?” I ask. He left to check on something, promising he wasn’t going to try and fix the rift just yet.

  “No. You weren’t gone very long,” Lucas reminds me.

  “My ears got cold.”

  “It’s chilly out,” Lucas notes.

  “Yeah, it is.”

  “Get a treadmill. We have room in the basement, and then you won’t have to work out in the cold.”

  I nod. “We do, and that’s a good idea. I should get myself on a good schedule now so I can stick with it come summer.” I rest my head on Lucas’s shoulder, watching the movers carry the dresser from the guest room into the truck.

  “Do you want to go out to dinner?” Lucas asks, draping his arm
s around me.

  “Sure,” I tell him, forcing a smile. I’m hungry, and I don’t feel like cooking at all. “I’ll go upstairs and change.”

  “Close the door,” Lucas says, putting his lips to mine before I step away. “You don’t want to give the movers a free show.”

  “Hah,” I reply, lips curing up into a smile. “It’s been a while since I’ve given anyone a freebie.” I wiggle my eyebrows, thinking back to a time not all that long ago when Eliza got a full-frontal view and openly liked what she saw.

  Scarlet follows me upstairs, and I shut my bedroom door, keeping her contained into one room while I shower. The movers are gone when I get out, though I still carefully pad my way into my room. I put on black jeans and an off-the-shoulder dark gray sweater. Not even bothering with my hair, I twist it into a messy bun on the top of my head. Lucas is downstairs, waiting for me.

  The living room has been packed up, with all of my photos and personal decor taken off the walls. I’m leaving the furniture but trying to make this house look as impersonal as I can for when Betty moves in. It’s weird seeing the room like this.

  Exciting, yes, because it means Lucas and I are one step closer to moving into our dream house together, yet it’s kind of sad at the same time.

  “You look beautiful,” Lucas tells me, and I reply with a dubious expression.

  “I put zero effort into my appearance.” I shove my feet into my favorite pair of worn combat boots.

  “You don’t need to put any effort into your appearance for me to find you beautiful.”

  I zip up my boot and look into Lucas’s eyes, feeling emotional. “Thank you for lying.”

  “I’m not lying, Callie,” he says, and I believe him. “You are beautiful, no matter what you are wearing.” He wraps his arms around me. “There is a certain physical attraction between us, but you know my love goes deeper than that.”

  I hold onto him as tight as I can. “Me too,” I say, unable to voice my feelings as well as he can. “I’d love you even if you weren’t hot.”

  His full lips curve into a smile. “Good, though I’ll always be hot.”

  I laugh, blinking away tears. “Hopefully I will be too.”

  “I think we could use a little more garland.” I rest my hand on my chin and look at Novel Grounds’ window display. The week is coming to a close, and we’ve gotten nowhere closer to solving the murders—and neither have the police. I’ve kept busy packing up the rest of my little brick house, and now I’m at the store, helping Betty and Kristy put up our holiday decor.

  “You don’t think it’s too much?” Betty asks, stepping back, stapler in hand.

  Kristy laughs. “You know Callie well enough by now. Too much isn’t a thing for her when it comes to Christmas decor.”

  “Exactly,” I say, smiling at my best friend. “And I ordered a ton of garland for the new house that should be arriving soon.”

  “Perfect,” Betty says, looking at our window display. We went with a Jane Austen theme this year, doing our take on a period holiday display featuring some of our favorite books. “Are you guys almost all moved in?”

  “We’re really close,” I tell her, feeling a little rush of excitement go through me. “Are you ready to move in?”

  “A world of yes,” Betty says eagerly and laughs. “I love my mom, but living with her…nope. There’s a reason I moved out as soon as I could afford it.”

  “You’ll be on your own again soon enough,” I tell her. Betty moved back home with her parents after a guy in the apartment complex she lived in tried to date-rape her. She passed out before he could get her to come home with him, and someone found her unconscious in the alley behind the bar before anything worse happened to her.

  “What are we doing for Christmas this year?” Betty asks, going over to the register to put the stapler away. The store is closed, and we’re all ready to head home for the night. “I loved our Harry Potter themed Christmas part last year. And we still have most of the decorations.”

  “It was a big hit,” Kristy agrees. “I’m fine with repeating the same theme.”

  “Me too,” I say. “And I’m all about doing what’s easy. Do you think people will come to the same party again?”

  “We can make it our theme,” Betty suggests. “And then always have it be a very Hogwarts Christmas.”

  “That’s actually a great idea,” Kristy tells her, and I nod. “Assuming it stays popular with our readers, I say do it.”

  Betty claps her hands together. “Can I start teasing about it on my Instagram page?”

  “Please do,” I say. “And holy followers! You’ve gained like five thousand new followers in the last month.”

  “The pictures with your familiars and Scarlet help.” She flicks her eyes to the Irish Wolfhound sleeping by the door. Betty knows the truth about Scarlet, but is still struggling to wrap her head around how my cute little puppy suddenly transformed into what could possibly be the world’s largest dog.

  “Binx is more than willing to wear a Santa hat,” I laugh. “He might not admit to it, but if it helps get us likes and follows, he’ll do it.”

  “He’s so stinking cute,” Betty laughs and closes the cabinet under the register.

  “Are we ready?” Kristy asks, looking around the store. We closed two hours ago and have been putting up our Christmas decorations since…and maybe spent a decent chunk of that time just talking.

  “What’s left to move?” Kristy asks as we put our coats on.

  “Just the essentials,” I say, zipping up my coat. “The mattress in our room, a handful of outfits, and our bathroom necessities. I’ve been using paper plates for the last two days so I don’t have to do dishes,” I admit.

  “We do that at home sometimes,” Betty confesses with a laugh. Kristy arms the alarm and we all go out the front together. It’s a cold and frosty night, and the temp is supposed to drop even more overnight. “And if you’re almost out, I suppose I should start packing up my stuff.”

  “No rush,” I tell her. “The house is yours whenever you’re ready for it.”

  We’ve already come to the agreement that she can move in pretty much anytime from next week until the start of the new year, and rent won’t start until January anyway. Lucas and I went back and forth on the price of the rent, and finally settled on something more than reasonable for Betty. It’s less than she was paying at her previous apartment, but enough to cover all expenses.

  Kristy and I make sure Betty gets to her car safely. Thorne Hill is a safe town—minus the demons that flock here—but you can never be too cautious.

  “Thanksgiving is coming up,” Kristy notes as we both head to our cars. “What am I bringing this year?”

  “I haven’t even made a menu,” I say, wrinkling my nose. “Can we work on it later?”

  “Only if we discuss it over chips and salsa.”

  I hook my arm through hers. “You’re speaking my language.”

  “Abby is still coming?”

  “She is! I talked to her yesterday. And Scott is still pissed as fuck about it.” I roll my eyes. “She wasn’t even going to have Thanksgiving dinner with them anyway. If Phil’s parents hadn’t won that trip, she’d be with them.”

  “He’s such a loser,” Kristy says. “And not worth your time.”

  “I know.” My head bobs up and down. With everything else going on, I hadn’t given much thought to Scott anyway, if I’m being honest. He’s an asshole, a waste of space, and a constant thorn in my side.

  Yet…not very important when I stop and think about demonic murders, archangels who want me dead, and a powerful earl of Hell who’ll stop at nothing to make me his demon bride.

  “Tomorrow?” I ask and put my hood up. “Nicole and Naomi said they can meet up for dinner too.”

  “Yeah, that’ll work.” Kristy stops and gives me a quick hug. “Take care, Cal.”

  “You too,” I tell her, and wait a beat, watching her cross the street. Kristy lives only minutes away an
d usually walks when the weather is nice. But it’s cold as fuck now, and she’s driving the short distance home.

  Scarlet walks at my side, lifting her head and sniffing the air.

  “Fine,” I say, enjoying the smell of takeout too. “We can get something on the way home.” She wags her tail and trots ahead, excited to go for a car ride and get a burger. My Jeep is still at the shop, getting the headlight repaired. I’ve been driving Lucas’s Range Rover all week, and I’m secretly loving it. Lucas suggested again I trade my Jeep in for something luxury. I considered my Grand Cherokee to be luxury, though, much to Lucas’s chagrin.

  It was the first ever vehicle I bought brand-new and is fancy enough for me. I like nice things, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve never been a car person. The Jeep has everything I need and then some.

  Scarlet and I go through the drive-through at Steak ’n Shake on the way home. All the lights are on when we get to the little brick house, and the moving truck is driving down the street. The house is emptier now than when I left to go to the bookstore. My office is cleared out, leaving only the empty bookshelves and desk. The dining room has been packed up as well, leaving only the table and chairs behind.

  I sit in the living room with Lucas, eating as we watch TV. He shows me the sheets and pillowcases he ordered for our bedroom, and his excitement to get into the new house together makes my heart feel so full. We shower together after we eat, and I’m so depleted of energy, I collapse into bed as soon as I put on my PJs.

  I’m asleep for maybe an hour before I’m awoken by a loud buzzing in my ears. I sit up and know right away something is off. The world is gray and still. The air hangs heavy around me, pressing down on me like an invisible weight. Blinking, I swing my feet over the side of the bed. As soon as my feet hit the floor, I’m transported into a dark and ashy forest.