“That’s him?” He closes the fridge and raises his eyebrows. “Wow. You transfigured him flawlessly.”
“He got lucky. If we can’t figure out how to change him back, at least he’s a pretty cat. I don’t think I can keep him, but I’m sure he’ll get adopted fast at the shelter.”
Evander chuckles. “I hope an old and lonely crazy cat lady who likes to dress up her cats and carry them around in purses adopts him then.”
“You are so describing me in fifty years.”
“Nah, you won’t end up a lonely crazy cat lady.” He looks through the dining room, in the direction of the office, where Lucas is. “He makes you happy, I can tell.”
“He does, and I know. I’ll get old. He won’t. But for now…for now…”
“Enjoy it. I’d kill to have someone look at me the way he looks at you.”
“He is quite intense.” I look at Scott. “And speaking of intense…”
“You’re right about that.” Evander holds his hands over Scott and closes his eyes. “I can’t detect what spell you used.”
“I didn’t use one. At all.”
Evander lowers his hands and looks at me, slowly shaking his head. “Using your own free will to transfigure someone…no wonder the Grand Coven thinks you’re besties with Lucifer.”
“Way to downplay a serious situation.”
Evander shrugs. “That’s what I’m here for. To make you feel better.”
The floor creaks again as Tabatha comes in. “Seamless,” she says to herself as she picks up Scott. He growls and hisses but doesn’t fight against her. At least he’s learning to listen. Maybe I should keep him like this for another day or two.
“Give me a moment to try to dissect the magic you used,” she tells me. “And we can work on the reversal.”
“Thank you.” I meet her gaze, hoping she gets what I’m not saying. Scott might be a cat, but he can hear and understand everything we’re saying. The last thing I need is for him to know how this whole situation puts not only me but Tabatha in trouble with other witches. “I’m going to go check on things in the office.”
Ella is sitting on the couch, looking stricken. Freya and Pandora are sprawled out on the love seat next to Kristy.
“Can one of you go keep an eye on our guest?” I ask, meaning Scott. Pandora gets up and stretches, then jumps off the couch and trots into the living room.
“I can’t believe it’s all true,” Ella mutters, flitting her eyes from Freya to me. “Cats and witches…I feel like I’m in a fairy tale.”
“Most fairy tales end happily,” Kristy supplies.
“But the witches…they’re the bad guys.” Ella blinks away tears, and it’s then I realize she’s trembling.
“We’re not the bad guys here,” I say, and Freya comes over to me, purring as she winds around my feet. “Lucas was right. I have the power to rip you apart without lifting a finger, but I won’t. I’m not a bad guy. I’m not a monster. I was born with this amazing ability, just like my friends. I didn’t ask for it, didn’t make a deal with a demon for it. It’s who I am, and my father and brother hated me the moment they realized I was different.”
I bend down and pick Freya up. Her fur is slightly longer than Binx’s fur and has a different texture and feel. She’s fluffy and soft where he’s sleek and smooth.
“I am sorry you came to find out about me and magic the way you did. You don’t seem like a total shit of a person, though I do question your judgement since you’re dating my brother.” I shake my head. “But my point is, what you’ve been told are lies. Most vampires just want to survive. They’re not much different than humans trying to get by. Most were turned against their will too. What if I had Lucas turn you right now? Should everyone you love and know cast you out? Should they sabotage your job just because of what you are now even though you had no control over it?”
Ella looks down, tears spilling from her eyes. “I…I don’t know. I never thought—”
“That’s the problem. You don’t think. You just judge and hate without thinking.” Freya purrs and rubs her head against me. Nuzzling her, I go through the living room and into the office.
Lucas is standing behind the desk, leaning against the wall. He pushes off and comes to me as soon as I enter the little room. Freya jumps out of my arms, going over to Binx and rubbing her head against his. Binx is much older and more powerful than Freya and Pandora, yet they all coexist in perfect harmony together. There’s no competition between them. No hostility or having to prove anything.
They all want the same thing: to serve and protect me, and they get along perfectly because of that.
“Callie.” Lucas speeds over, wrapping his arms around me. His large hands settle on my waist, and his fingers press into my skin. He brings his head down and kisses my forehead, and then slides his hands up and pulls me closer.
“Your brother really fucked this one up,” Lucas says with amusement. “Not surprisingly, someone already found out about the bribe.”
“I didn’t even have to do anything.”
“I never believed in karma until now.”
“The VC is going to have a field day with this,” I say, knowing my father can hear me even though he’s on the phone. “How a human politician sought you out just because you’re a vampire. What’s next? Councilman Scott Martin encouraging hate crimes?”
My father holds up his hand, eyes wide. “Yes,” he says into the phone. “There’s been a mix-up, and I need those violations lifted immediately.” He pauses and glares at my familiars. He knows who Binx is, but he’s never had the pleasure of meeting the other two vicious spirits who protect me. “Was there evidence?” Another pause. “That’s what I thought. Thank you.”
He ends the call and looks up at us. “The violations are lifted with no records of the incident.”
“The incident,” I repeat, rolling my eyes.
“Where is Scott?”
“In the kitchen. I’m about to give him a can of tuna.”
“Change him back,” my father says, expression wavering. He really does care about Scott, and seeing his concern just pisses me off even more.
“I will, but not until you carry out the second part of our deal.”
“I can’t make a phone call and change something that’s already in motion. I’ll have to…to go into my office and put things together.”
“Then do it,” Lucas demands, looking menacing again.
“These things take time,” my father presses. “I can’t just wave a—”
I let out a snort of laughter at the phrase he was going to use. “Right, you can’t. But you can go and appeal or whatever it is you do.”
“How far along in the process is this new law?” Lucas asks.
“It’s just been drafted and hasn’t been through its first reading yet.”
“Then I suggest you figure out a way to keep it from being considered. Now,” Lucas says, flashing his fangs again.
My father risks a glance at Lucas, looking at his fangs but not his eyes. As if that’ll keep him from being held spellbound. I’ve seen Lucas hold two people under his command at the same time before, and I didn’t even know that was possible.
“If going into your office is what it takes to take care of things, then go. And once I hear that law has been thrown out, I’ll change Scott back.” I hope so, at least. There’s a good chance the transformation could go horribly wrong too. “You have twenty-four hours,” I say. “Now get out of my house.”
My father starts to get up out of the chair and Lucas zooms over, shoving him back down. Fangs drawn, he looms over, looking menacing. A guttural growl comes from deep inside his chest. My father squeezes his eyes shut, not wanting to risk being held spellbound.
“It’s been a while since I felt my teeth pierce through the jugular veins. If you so much as think about breaking the deal, your throat will be the next thing I bite. We can call it an experiment, since you like medical research so much, and see how long it’l
l take you to bleed to death.” Lucas leans in. “And don’t forget. I’m not the only vampire around, and you already know there are a hell of a lot more witches, and every single one of them will fight for Callie.”
Lucas comes back over to me, cupping my face with his hand. “You really are a fool,” he says to my father. “Callie is the most incredible person I’ve met, and you don’t deserve to be in her presence.”
My father, shaking now, gets up and scrambles out of the office, yelling for Ella. Lucas and I turn, watching as the two run from the house and toward the SUV, leaving the front door open. Once the SUV bumps out of my driveway and onto the rural road, I flick my wrist and magically close the door.
“Holy fucking shitballs,” I exhale.
“I love you.” Lucas leans down and kisses me, tongue slipping into my mouth. I let go, losing myself in him for a minute before pulling apart.
“I love you too,” I pant. “Now, onto the fun part of trying to undo my spell.”
“I really do mean it when I say you are too merciful. I would have ripped his heart out and drank the blood straight from it years ago.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t drink blood.”
“Used it for a spell.”
“Murder isn’t my thing.”
“Murder can be very therapeutic.”