Always Practice Safe Hex (Stay a Spell, #4)

by Juliette Cross

That’s when I noticed I’d let a few tears fall as well. “Bunch of watering pots, we are,” I mumbled, rising to go and help Jules with dinner.

“You can be kind of judgey, Liv.” It was my turn to huff out a laugh. “Thanks, you’re so sweet.”

“Well, Gareth can—” I stopped suddenly, realizing he might not want me to share what I knew. Was I breaking his code if I shared information with her?

I already know Clara told you that you need to date someone outside your comfort zone. I agree with her. Someone higher on the alpha food chain than you. If you like him, then date him. What’s the big deal?”

“Y’all are all asshats,” said Evie, laughing, while Mateo—or rather, Alpha—continued to scowl and growl at everyone.

Besides Henry and Sean, she was the only person in the world I’d ever let get close to me.

“Oh, well now.” She said, her crows’ feet around her hazel-brown eyes crinkling as she smiled brightly. “Something’s got you happy. Or is it someone?” She had a touch of psychic ability. But she also simply knew my moods and could read them better than anyone.

“Now then, why don’t you tell me about this girl?” I flinched. “What girl?” “The one you’re all smitten with. The one that makes you smile. That’s a rare occasion indeed for my Gareth.”

“Lord, even when you were little, it took a lot of coaxing to get you to smile. But someone has been doing a number on you, I can tell. So stop stalling and tell me about her.”

I was aware how I spoke her name. With reverence and awe. And hope.

“How do I stop it?” I whispered. She chuckled and sighed. “I think it’s too late for that. When a grim finds that special companion, their own lifeblood in another, the darkness won’t ever let them go.”

I stared at her in shock. She’d glanced at Uncle George’s urn then lifted her gaze back to me. How could she say something like that when I hadn’t even thought of Lavinia that deeply? Liar, the monster whispered.

“Is that what this is?” My voice was rough and raw with emotion, something that was terribly rare for me. “You think she’s my…one? Without ever having met her. When I don’t even know what I feel for her?” “I know my ps...

“You are worthy of love, dear boy. And you have so much of your own to give.”

“You clung to us as a child who needed a family. Who’d found your family. But since then,” she shook her head, sadness in her eyes, “you haven’t let in one soul. It’s time you understood that you can trust others too. Especially the one who’s meant to be your partner in life.”

“But how do I know she’s the one?” “How do you know she’s not?” she snapped back. “Are you willing to let her go and never find out?” A dangerous rumble vibrated deep inside me from the belly of darkness. My hand clenched on hers, the promise of never echoing in my mind. Aunt Lucille’s smile looked almost feral, her brown eyes darkening as she stared into mine. She looked more like a grim than ever with that look.

I barely listened, marveling at this new sensation of lightness. There was no tension in my body, no tremor of darkness trying to sway my will. That was because I’d finally given in to the right path. I was sure of it. And that path led to Lavinia.

Now, tell me what your Lavinia looks like,” she said a cheeky grin. I couldn’t help but smile. Then I proceeded to talk about my favorite subject all the way through dinner, wearing a stupid smile I couldn’t seem to, and didn’t care to, wipe off my face.

But also, you want to talk about your man.” A fluttering filled my stomach. My man. He wasn’t mine. Not yet. The very thought had me biting my bottom lip to keep from grinning too hard.

Violet laughed, pausing in her sketching. “I can’t even express how happy this makes me.” “What?” I snapped, frowning and smiling at the same time. “This sappy, googly-eyed look over a man like Gareth.” I didn’t protest the look, because I was well aware. “What kind of man is he?” “Super dark and broody. And delicious.” She had no idea.

I get really good vibes from this.” For Violet, the family Seer, to say so had my heart exploding with excitement and joy. And nervousness.

“Hi,” I squeaked out. “I didn’t know you were here.” When I glanced at Violet, she was folding up her sketch book and grinning, avoiding my gaze. Sneaky witch. I prayed he hadn’t heard our conversation.

His calm veneer was back in place. Just the tenor of his low, rumbly voice sent my pulse into orbit.

“Good.” “You look good.”

Sean moved behind the counter and leaned on both forearms. “You guys want to, uh, use the supply closet?” I snapped a wide-eyed gaze at the deviant to find him snickering at his own joke. Gareth merely frowned since he thankfully had no idea what went on in that supply closet.

“Another lovely Savoie sister.” Shane hit me with that dimpled smile, combing a hand through his dirty blond hair. “Lilly, right?” “Livvy,” I said, the same time Gareth growled, “Lavinia.” A pulse of grim magic sizzled across the room with an oppressive push.

Shane pressed a hand to his chest at the same time Rhett took a step back and growled, his eyes flaring wolf-gold. “Ouch,” laughed Shane, rubbing his chest. “Easy, grim. I get it.” “Gareth,” I hissed, tugging on his sleeve.

Ice man was back, cold and forbidding. But it was directed only at the two wolves in the room. He broke his glare away from them to peer down at me, a line creasing his brow. M...

“Plus,” I said excitedly, “it’ll help bring awareness that werewolves are friendly, fun guys. Not so beastly after all.” “Jules would like that, I bet,” said Violet. I turned to Shane. “Would you guys do it?” “What’s this for?” he asked, the first serious expression on his face since he’d walked in.

“It’s a brilliant idea actually.” He held my gaze, voice softer when he added, “Not surprising coming from you.” His praise made me feel like an Olympic sprinter crossing the finish first, a giddy joy swelling inside my chest.

He swallowed hard and leaned back against my driver’s side door, then tugged me closer, sliding his free hand onto my waist. His warm palm branded my bare skin beneath my crop top, his thumb sweeping up and down, sending delicious shivers down my body. This felt so right. How did this feel so right? A few weeks ago, I wanted to kill him.

“You can keep me for a little bit.” I eased closer. His expression didn’t change as he lifted the hand from my waist to cup my face and pressed his lips close to my ear. “Don’t tempt me.”

When I tried to kiss him deeper, he eased back, slowing the pace all while stroking and squeezing my ass gently, like he might be giving a platonic back rub. It was maddening. Never in my life had I wanted to climb someone’s body and fuck them on the street, but his tender kisses and gentle licks and soft nips and slow strokes were setting me on fire.

“Gareth,” I whined against his mouth, rubbing my breasts against his chest. “You’re driving me crazy.” He cupped my ass firmly, giving me a tight squeeze, then hauled my body harder against his. Finally, he slanted his mouth to mine and kissed me deeper. Still torturously slow but with the possessive intensity I craved from him.

By the time I was a moaning, pliant mess in his arms, he gripped my hips and pushed me away. Standing upright off the car, he opened my driver’s side door and ...

That wasn’t what I expected. Typically, the woman or man I was dating would be clawing at my clothes and ushering me to the closest place for privacy. The fact that I knew by the sizeable bulge in Gareth’s jeans that he was in as much agony...

“We could slip right around the corner into an alley, you know,” I suggested. He shook his head, one of those rare smiles spreading wide. “Get in the car, Lavinia.” When he used that authoritative voice, I could do nothing but obey. So I ducked into my seat. He reached in and buckled my belt,...

“Now you’re just being mean,” I whispered. He paused, his whole upper body leaning into my car. He braced one hand on the seat by my right hip, the other on the head rest behind me, and leaned close. Lost in glittering obsidian, I k...

His gray eyes narrowed as he grinned wider. “Only if you’re caught.” How could you not get caught? I’d report him in a millisecond if he ever tried that shit with me.

He hadn’t moved from the door, his frame practically vibrating with fury. His eyes blazing black, actually bleeding into the whites of his eyes. Oh, shit. His rage was growing, not diminishing. The room actually appeared darker, shadows lurking around his frame, smoke-like tendrils whispering around his ankles.

“Gareth,” I said softly, walking toward him with slow, steady steps. I raised my hands in a calming gesture. He didn’t answer, apparently battling that monster he’d spoken of. His eyes were full black, swirling with obsidian ink, by the time I reached him and put both hands on his face.

“I want to kill him.” His voice was guttural and menacing, his jaw clenching beneath my palms. “You can’t kill a man for touching me.” Those otherworldly eyes slanted toward mine. “Oh, but I can,” he said almost sweetly, sending a shiver of fear...

His beast was already trying to claw its way out of him. He seemed poised on a knife’s edge. “Gareth,” I whispered softly before sliding my hands around his waist and pressing my cheek to his chest. “Please don’t. You know the penalty if you take a life without trial.”

Gareth still wasn’t back to his normal self yet. Rather than his customary grim-brooding, he was in a state of murder-contemplation-brooding.

Gareth’s look of malice was now burning into me. “Stop it, Gareth. We have work to do.” “Fucking fine,” he growled. Yes, growled like a goddamn werewolf.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, squeezing me closer, apparently not caring what Cynthia thought about two contestants cozying up to each other. At this point, neither did I. The feeling of his protective arm around me was utterly divine.

I squeezed his hand back and smiled up at him. He didn’t react, his expression still hard, but there was a glimmer of light in those dark eyes that had my heart asking where he’d been all my life.

It had taken every ounce of willpower to keep my beast at bay, to keep from acting on my first instinct when I’d walked into the office and seen Richard cornering Lavinia with his filthy hands on her. My first thought was to break his hand then break his neck and kill him.

Lavinia’s surprised expression on me. For the first time, I felt a little uncomfortable with my wealth.

I’d once been penniless, alone, and unwanted. Though I could do little about the second two, I’d made it my goal to make sure I would never be without money again. I suppose, as in all things, I went a little overboard.