by Rose Pressey
I didn’t know what to say, but it explained a lot. Why hadn’t they just told me this to begin with?
“I’m sorry about your mother,” I said. “What happened?”
“Liam didn’t lie. He was the detective assigned to my mother. Her death happened on his watch and I accused him of not doing his job.” He shook his head as his eyes glazed over. “There was no proof of that though. I was just taking my anger out on him. He was the easiest one to do that to, you know? I mean, I felt like he should have protected her.” He searched my eyes.
“That’s understandable.” I touched his hand and he squeezed back.
“You can understand why I didn’t want you to be involved with the Underworld. I didn’t want to lose someone else who I care about. I now realize that Liam had no control over Mara or her demons. It was something that I refused to accept until now.” He let out a pent-up breath. “There is one more thing.”
“I’m almost afraid to hear what you’re about to tell.”
He ran his hand through his hair, then said, “Liam is my half-brother. We have the same father.”
My mouth fell open. “That’s why you look so much alike.”
After a few seconds of silence, I whispered, “We should get downstairs so I can say goodbye to my guests.”
He helped me up from the step. “You sure know how to throw one hell of a party.”
I smiled. “I think I injured my side, don’t make me laugh.” I chuckled, then said, “Ouch.”
“Are you okay?” He touched my side and it sent shivers through my body.
I nodded. “I think I’ll have a big bruise tomorrow.”
“You’ll probably have several.” He squeezed my hand.
When we got downstairs the crowd had disappeared. Only a few people had remained. Annabelle was sitting on the sofa with my mother, chatting quietly. They still looked a bit frazzled.
“Do you feel better?” my mother asked.
I nodded. “I’m sorry that I ruined the party.”
“Are you kidding?” Misty had walked up behind me. “You’re the leader now. Everyone in the Coven loves you. We’d like to welcome you into the Coven. That’s if you’ll have us.” She smiled her sweetest smile.
I looked at my mother and she nodded.
“You are singing a different tune now. Earlier several Coven members had some not so nice things to say about me. How quickly things change.” I shook my head. “Nope. I think I’m doing fine without the Coven. I think I’ll stick with being on my own.”
She frowned and stared at me for a moment, but didn’t say a word. What could she say? Finally she said, “Well, thank you for hosting the party. We’d love to have another one here sometime.”
I nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Well, thank you again. I’ll be going now. The caterers will clean up everything,” she said in a clipped tone.
“Thank you, Misty.” I tried to project a calm, in-control tone.
“I’m proud of you,” my mother said when Misty stepped away.
“You’re not upset?” I asked with wide eyes.
“Screw them. Annabelle told me what happened. You don’t need them and neither do I.” She folded her arms in front of her chest.
Wow, I couldn’t believe my ears. My mother prided herself on her good standing with the Coven.
“My daughter is the queen of the Underworld now.” She beamed.
Oh no. She was already bragging.
Annabelle stood. “Well, I’m going home and collapsing into bed.”
“Thank you, Annabelle. You’re one tough cookie.”
“You call me tomorrow. We still need our girls’ night. And I want to know everything about a queen’s duties.” Annabelle wiggled her finger.
“I don’t think they call me a queen.” I snorted. “But I’ll make sure to let you know as soon as I find out.”
After walking Annabelle to the door and watching as she drove down the driveway, I felt eyes on me. I peeked out onto the veranda. Liam was sitting on the step, peering out into the dark night sky.
“There you are,” I said as I stepped outside.
He turned around and took in my whole appearance. “You clean up good,” he said with a grin.
“Thank you,” I said as I sat down beside him. “Thank you for everything.”
He nodded. “Just doing my job.”
“Is that it? You were just doing a job?” I searched his face questioningly. I wasn’t sure what else I wanted him to say.
He glanced over at me. “No, it was much more than that. I think you know that.”
My stomach flipped. I did feel that it was more than a job for him. I just wasn’t sure how much more.
He reached over and held my hand. “I was never out to destroy you, Halloween. But I can see why you were so confused.”
I touched his cheek. “Nicolas explained everything to me. How you were protecting his mother the night she was killed.”
“He blames me for her death and I can’t say that I blame him. She was my responsibility and I let her down. I let him down.”
I shook my head. “I talked with him. He doesn’t feel that way anymore.”
“Halloween, you know he’ll always feel that way,” Liam responded softly.
I looked away. What could I say? Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn’t.
“Are you ready for the job?” he asked.
I shrugged. “As ready as I’ll ever be. I have to admit. I’m a little nervous about the whole thing. I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to do.”
“The book will tell you everything you need to know. Some people will be by tomorrow to speak with you now that you’ve decided to take the position.”
“I can’t deny that this whole thing has been overwhelming.” I picked at a loose thread on my jeans.
Liam’s clean-shaven face gleamed in the moonlight. “I’m sorry we gave you such a hard time. It was complicated and there were a lot of hard feelings between us that we shouldn’t have put you through.”
I squeezed his hand. “You don’t have to apologize.”
Liam leaned over and pressed his lips to mine. My heart thumped wildly in my chest. His kiss was just as passionate as the first time he’d kissed me and with the same sense of urgency. My thoughts spun.
When he stopped kissing me, he ran his finger across my cheek. “I’ll be leaving tonight. My work here is done. You don’t need me hanging around.”
I nodded. I would miss seeing his handsome face, but I knew there was no way he was staying. I had to see what my feelings were for Nicolas. And I thought Liam knew that without me even having to tell him.
Liam stood and reached for my hand. He pulled me to my feet and wrapped his arms around me. After one last hug, he grabbed his bag and stepped off the veranda toward his car.
“Aren’t you going to talk with your brother before you leave?” My lips were still warm from his kiss.
“There’ll be time for that another day,” he said with a wink.
I watched as Liam drove down the driveway and pulled out onto the road. The thick cover of trees concealed his car soon enough and he was out of my life. But for how long? Surely I’d see him again, right? Would I need protection like Nicolas’ mother? I hoped not. It was a scary thought.
He just wanted job security and to make up for not being able to save Nicolas’ mother by helping me. If he helped me, he’d still have a place in the Underworld. Had Nicolas and Liam finally realized that their long feud had to end? Or had it ended for just the time being? I thought they needed to talk to each other and clear the air once and for all. It would have to wait for another time though.
The ghosts peered out at me from the tree lines. It didn’t look as if they were going anywhere any time soon. I avoided looking directly at them and went back inside. My mother had Nicolas cornered and I knew I’d have to rescue him.
“Your mother was just telling me about the time you turned your date into an ass. I have to
say this is a little disturbing.” He scowled.
I chuckled nervously. “I’m sure your feet are killing you in those shoes, Mom,” I said as I grabbed my mother’s arm and ushered her toward the front door.
I said goodbye to the remaining guests and rushed my mother out the door before she could recount another embarrassing story. It was just Nicolas and me now. Well, and the ghosts outside, but there was no way I was letting them ruin what was left of the night. Life was going to be nothing like it had been before. Did I really know what I was getting myself into? Only time would tell.
So now I was the witch in charge? Take that, Coven! I wasn’t sure what would happen, but I’d vowed to embrace my new talent for this day forward. But if I was the new boss, could I rewrite the rules that had been around for centuries? Dating a vampire might be frowned upon, but I was going to rewrite that rule. Would Nicolas want to hang around LaVeau Manor?
After everyone had gone, Nicolas took my hand and guided me into the parlor. He pushed on the music again. The steady melodic rhythm floated across the air.
“I think we need to finish that dance.”
He held out his hand to me. We swayed to the music, but it wasn’t quite the same now that I wasn’t wearing my ball gown. Nicolas kissed me again and I was lost in his embrace. His hands moved across my body with ease. We were in our own world and this time no one would disturb us. Or so I thought.
Nicolas’ cell phone rang, cutting off the music. We paused.
“I’m not answering that,” he whispered, then planted soft kisses against my lips.
“What if it’s important?” I whispered back through his kisses.
“It couldn’t possibly be.”
The ringing stopped and Nicolas continued his exploration of my body with his strong hands. The phone rang again. Still, Nicolas ignored the rings. Not that I was complaining because his touch made my skin tingle and my heart dance. The phone sounded again and Nicolas pretended that he didn’t hear it. I couldn’t ignore it so easily though.
I grabbed the phone and said, “Hello?”
“Hallie? Thank goodness. I’ve been trying to call your cell, but you didn’t answer.”
“Liam, is that you?” I asked.
Nicolas shook his head. “Perfect timing again.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“The Underworld needs you,” Liam said matter-of-factly.
“What do you mean?” My hands shook as I cradled the phone to my ear.
“I’m turning the car around and coming to get you.” I’d never heard this much stress in his voice.
I looked at Nicolas. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
I covered the phone with my hand. “It’s Liam, he said he’s coming to get me, that the Underworld needs me.”
“Let me talk to him.” Nicolas outstretched his hand and I handed over the phone.
After several ‘uh-huh’s and ‘yes’es, Nicolas clicked off the phone. The sound of a car screeching to a stop sounded in front of the house.
Nicolas grabbed my hand. “Come on, we have to go.”
Nicolas rushed me out onto the veranda. Liam was sitting behind the wheel of his idling car.
“Where am I being whisked away to?” I asked as I jumped in the passenger seat.
Apprehension took over. I’d never been in charge of anything before other than my mother’s store a few times and now the bed-and-breakfast. I hardly thought those were worthy mentions on a resume. Why were the men being so quiet?
“When are you going to tell me what has happened?” I asked.
Liam hesitated as he steered the car out onto the road. He glanced in the rear-view mirror at Nicolas, who was sitting in the backseat. “Nicolas has been accused of stealing another witch’s powers.”
Uh-oh. This was going to be one hell of a ride.
About The Author
Rose Pressey is an Amazon and Barnes and Noble Top 100 bestselling author. She enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. The paranormal has always captured her interest. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained fascinates her.
When she’s not writing about werewolves, vampires and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and listening to oldies from the fifties.
Rose lives in the beautiful commonwealth of Kentucky with her husband, son, and three sassy Chihuahuas.
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