“What will we do then? I don’t remember a time he didn’t torment us.”
Brielle blinks at my question. “You’re right. Well, I guess we’ll figure it out. But the most important thing is, he’ll be gone, and we can do whatever the hell we want.”
Just a couple of hours later, I slip quietly into the bedroom in case Jackson is already asleep. Millie coached Brielle and me through some meditations, and we spent time together, getting stronger.
We’ve always been strong together.
We’re even more so with our men.
After I close the door as silently as possible, I turn around to find Jack sitting in a chair by the window, a book in his lap, and a candle burning at his elbow.
“Hey.” I grin and hurry over to him, sitting in his lap. “I thought you might be asleep.”
“I was waiting for you,” he says and nuzzles my neck. “What were you girls doing for so long?”
“Just sister stuff.”
He waggles his eyebrows, and I scoff, smacking him in the shoulder. “You’re such a pervert.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
I laugh and glance down at his book. “What are you studying?”
“I’m resubmerging myself in the magic—the craft. I remember a lot of this, but there’s plenty that I don’t. Lucien has been giving me pointers when we’re not being interrupted by a psychotic being.”
“Which is all the time,” I add, kissing his forehead. “The more armed you are, the better, Jack.”
“I figured that, as well.” He grins. “Want to see something cool?”
“Always.”
“Okay, I have to move you.” He takes me by the hips and pushes me to my feet, then leans over and blows out the candle, making the bedroom go dark.
In the moonlight, I see Jack swirl his finger. Then, suddenly, the candle lights once more.
“Okay, that’s the coolest thing.” I lean into him, wrapping my arms around his middle. “And, I have to admit, quite sexy.”
“I’m done watching your eyes light up every time Lucien does it.” I glance up, and his eyes narrow on me.
“You were never a jealous man before.”
His lips twitch into a grin. “Yes, I was. I just never needed to be because you never looked at anyone like that except me.”
“I don’t look at Lucien in any way. I like the parlor tricks he can do. It doesn’t mean I want to jump his bones or anything. Millie would not approve.”
“Neither would Jackson.” He picks me up, sits in the chair once more, and settles me back in his lap.
“What other things have you learned?” I brush my fingers through his dark hair. I always did love how it felt against my skin.
“A little of this.” He kisses my neck. “A little of that. Mostly, I’m learning to drop the shields I’ve had in place for so many years and control myself when they’re down. A lot of this is about control. Having a strong mind.”
“Speaking of a strong mind.” I tell him about the telepathic link I want to establish with the others, and he listens intently.
“So, we’ll be able to read each other’s thoughts?”
“Yes. And speak to each other without having to say anything at all verbally. Only for a few hours, of course.”
“I’m in.”
“That simple?”
“That simple.” He kisses my jawline. It’s as though he can’t keep his lips off me, and I’m not complaining.
Sex is powerful magic all on its own.
But before I have the chance to start getting him naked, he pulls back again and looks at me with serious eyes.
“What is it?” I ask.
“You said before that you’re scared. Of all of this. Are you still?”
I rub my lips together, still tasting him there as I think it over. “It’s not that I’m scared of what’s going to happen tomorrow night. I’m a little nervous, but mostly I’m ready to get this show on the road and kick Horace’s ass. So, no, that’s not what I’m afraid of. Mostly, I’m scared that you’ll be gone—”
“I’ve told you a million times that I’m not going to walk away. How many times do you need me to reassure you—?”
“Let me finish.” I lay my finger over his lips, shushing him. “I know you won’t walk away. What I’m saying is, it would kill me if, during everything that happens tomorrow night, he hurt you. Killed you somehow. I don’t think I’d survive it, Jack.”
“Hey.” He cups my face and kisses me so tenderly that it brings tears to my eyes. “He won’t kill me. Any of us.”
I nod, needing to believe him. I can’t go into it with the fear of one of us dying.
I need to have the utmost confidence that nothing will go wrong.
“I just got you back.” His words are a whisper. “And I don’t plan to ever let you go again, Daph. We’re soulmates. We’re linked. You’re meant for me. You are, in every way that counts, my wife.”
I raise my eyebrows in surprise.
“Oh, come on. We don’t need a ritual to know what we are to each other. Now, I know that we’ll do that. When all of this is said and done, I’ll be asking you a very important question.”
I feel the smile spread across my face.
“But we’re as linked, and our love is as strong as Cash and Brielle’s or Millie and Lucien’s. You know that.”
“Yeah.” I shift so I can straddle him and loop my arms around his neck. “Yeah, I know it. You’re mine, and I’m yours. For all time. Do you know another tool for making us extra strong for tomorrow night?”
“What’s that?”
“Sex.” I bite his lower lip as he smiles. “Sex magic is quite powerful, you know.”
“The way we do it, it most certainly is.” He lifts me and crosses to the bed, lowering me onto it. “We’ll make sure to get some extra magic tonight, sweets.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jackson
It’s been a morning of salt baths, herb burning, and more meditations than I’ve ever done in my life. There can be no mistakes today, and the six of us—along with those we love who came to help—need all the witchy assistance we can get.
The field behind Miss Sophia’s house is alive with activity. Two big, white tents have been set up with tables and chairs, and each is full of supplies for the dozens—maybe a hundred?—witches who’ve come from all over to help us.
Lucy stands next to a table with Mallory Boudreaux. They managed to accumulate hundreds of pieces of black tourmaline, and Lucy is busy casting her immortality spell on all of them.
When she’s finished, she turns and yells so everyone can hear her.
“I want you all to come and choose a piece of this schorl. You can have any piece that speaks to you. It will protect you tonight. Don’t lose it.”
I brush my fingers over the auralite stone that Daphne gave me just a couple of weeks ago. Has it only been that long? It feels like months.