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

by Juliette Cross

“Even knowing about the supernatural world, I never believed in monsters.” I took a small step toward him. “Then they created Twitter.”

“You think you’re a monster, Gareth?” A sharp shake of his head, his eyes dark as he watched me move into his personal space. “No. But one lives inside every single grim.” “Do you mean the aura that all grims carry?” “The aura is just a symptom. A halo effect of the demon we contain.” “What does this demon do?” “It wants to feed. And without being contained, it will.” “What does it feed on?” By now, I was standing right in front of him. Those black eyes glinted with internal fire. “Corruption. Power. But most of all…blood. Death.”

“I won’t be alone with Richard,” I whispered. “I promise.” A tangible wave of relief crashed over me like a tsunami. I inhaled a short gasp. Then his hands were in my hair, cradling my head, holding me still, and his mouth was on mine.

He was gone. I’d have thought he actually turned invisible if it weren’t for the wake of wind pulling the opened door closed behind him. I stood there, baffled by this entire interlude. Since when did grims move as fast as vampires? Vamps were the only supernaturals—the old and ultra-powerful ones, that is—who could move so fast they appeared invisible. At least, that’s what I had thought. Also, how could they be born with evil living inside of them? What the hell were grims?!

I can’t touch you the way I want when I’m in this state. There was pain mingled with frustration and determination when he’d told me that. He had been protecting me.

Jules: Family meeting. One hour. Frowning, I texted back. Me: Is something wrong? Jules: No. Me: What’s it about? Jules: Just come home after the shoot.

I wondered what the hell caused Jules to call a family meeting. The last one we’d had was after Violet had dropped the bomb on us that she was leaving the family business and opening her tattoo shop, Empress Ink. We’d needed to discuss staffing and her transition to opening her own place. But this seemed more urgent. Something was up. And while my mind pondered what it could be, it immediately drifted back to that fine grim reaper with a hot mouth and hotter kisses.

Funny thing was…I was more than happy to test that theory. More than willing to burn.

He had Evie perched on his lap, an arm around her waist. This wasn’t anything new. We’d all kind of gotten used to it. Alpha had been crazy protective ever since we’d found out Evie was pregnant.

Nico said it was normal and the best thing to do was to roll with his obsessive, psychotically possessive behavior. Nico said it would go away after she had the babies. Of course, then it would likely transfer to the babies, but we’d cross that bridge when we got there.

For now, Evie seemed fine with his overbearing attentions, and we just pretended it was normal. For the most part. Violet liked to poke the wolf every now and then, which was quite entertaining to us. All of us but Alpha, that is.

I loved Clara. She could be as bad as me or Violet. She just did it with a sweet smile on her face that made you think she truly was innocent of malicious intent. Don’t let her fool you.

“Oh, Evie,” I cooed, letting it sink in that my dear sister was going to be a mother. And I was going to be an aunt! When I looked up at her, she blinked away some brimming happy tears.

“Holy shit.” I leaned forward, catching Evie’s face again. “Where the hell are y’all going to live with all those babies?”

Clara passed the photo to Jules who got this achingly tender smile on her face as she looked down at it. Clara plopped next to me again and took the popcorn bowl.

“It’s been decided.” Violet clapped her hands together excitedly. “Isadora is moving in with Devraj.” “I thought she already had,” said Clara. All eyes swiveled to her and her owlish sweet face. “I wasn’t being sassy. I really thought she had.”

“I’m moving in with Nico. Not that my leaving the carriage house frees up room in the main house, but it does keep me out of the kitchen. So there will be more room for bottles and nipples and new baby machinery.” “Machinery?” asked Nico. “They’re babies, not buildings under construction.”

“We want you and Mateo to move in here. There’s more space here. Isadora’s old bedroom can be the babies’ nursery. It was where we grew up.” Violet’s voice cracked. “It would be perfect for them.”

“What happened? Did something hurt you?” he snarled. “Is it the babies?” “No.” Evie hiccupped, raising her tear-stained face. “I’m just so happy. Y’all are the best sisters in the whole, wide”—sob—“world!”

“I think we need food.” Jules’ smile was a little wobbly. That’s how Jules showed her love. She fed us. “I’ll say,” said Isadora, her eyes shimmering as well. 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.

Suddenly, the kitchen was crowded and loud and wonderful. And while it honestly made my heart soar that we had such a big, loving family, it also twisted a knot in my stomach because I knew someone who did not.

Staring up at the stars, I thought of Gareth. I wondered what had happened to him in foster care. Even more, I longed to know about this dark monster grims lived with every day. And could Gareth’s ever get out of control and hurt someone?

The problem was, I wanted to know everything about him, while a part of me wondered if I should. Was it smart to get involved with someone who purposely kept secrets because of the grim code or whatever? Was it wise to let my heart fall for someone who might very well end up breaking it?

“You know, something I learned in my relationship with Nico is to never put labels on people’s potential prematurely.” She snorted. “Wow, that was a lot of alliteration.”

“I’m just saying, don’t push your grim away too soon.”

“I think he might actually be magic,” I said, tossing him a piece of my bread. He danced around again, then I threw another. “He’s a goddamn flirt, too. Gets away with everything,” muttered Violet. “Well, you can have free rein, Archibald,” she sassed to him. “I’m officially moving out. Not that Fred wanted to come back anyway.”

“Is that his name? Archibald?” “No. I just need a longer name when I fuss at him. I sound more serious.” “Yeah. He looks terrified.” Archie continued to hang his tongue out happily, his cute eyes sparkling from beneath his scraggly reddish hair hanging down.

“Do you know anything about grims? Their history?” “Just the basic lets-fuck-or-fight aura they put off.” “They can do a lot more than that.” “Nice. Like what?” “Well, Gareth can—” I stopped suddenly, realizing he might not want me to share what I knew.

“Actually,” she interrupted my thoughts, “I do know that they’re telekinetics. Powerful ones. Or at least one of the Blackwater boys is. And Nico told me that they can move super-fast. Like vampires.” I smiled with relief. “When did you figure all that out? When the Blood Moon pack kidnapped you?” “Kidnapped is kind of harsh.” “They knocked you out and took you by force. That is literally the definition of kidnapping.”

“Anyway, yeah, one of them was using some high voltage TK that night and it wasn’t me. I suspect it was Gareth, actually. So he’s powerful? So what. If that’s all that’s got you worried, then let it go. 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?”

see, Gareth says there’s a monster inside him that basically wants to crush and kill people, but he says he’s got it all under control. Mostly. That’s okay, right? I can still trust him?

No one had made my monster stir the way Lavinia had. Not since that first time when he’d roared to life and broken bones.

“Oh, hell no, Gareth Michael. You go put him right back in the car.”

“Hi, there, Apollo.” I gave the lion-looking cat a scratch on his head. He allowed it with an imperious look and a heavy blink of his orange eyes. “Where are Hera and Persephone?” “Hunting, I presume. They like to bring Apollo dead mice and squirrels, proving their value as his concubines.” Smiling against the lip of the glass, I swallowed a sip before saying, “Aren’t they all fixed?” She huffed a laugh. “That don’t make no difference. He still thinks he’s king of the castle, and they still court him with dead rodents and such.”

“He shouldn’t have gone to work that morning. I told him so, but he didn’t listen.”

My heart sank, hearing words Aunt Lucille had said dozens of times since Uncle George had been killed in a factory accident. She’d had a sudden stirring of her darkness inside her that morning, an omen warning her that something bad would happen. She had told him so. Uncle George wasn’t a supernatural. He’d been human. And though he’d indulged his wife with her eccentricities, he’d never seemed to truly believe she had magic inside her. He’d loved her dearly, but he didn’t heed her warning. And he’d died for it. She was still furious about it. And hurt, obviously.

“He doesn’t want to be put in a mausoleum,” I said gently. “He wants to be here with you.” “I know what he wants,” she snapped, taking a sip of tea. “He tells me often enough.”

“You know that she’s kind, funny, smart, and beautiful. But more than that, your heart is talking when you speak of her. Your soul too. I can feel it down to my bones.”

“I know you’re scared,” she said gently. “And maybe you should be. It may not be love yet, but you’re falling fast, Gareth Michael.”

When a grim finds that special companion, their own lifeblood in another, the darkness won’t ever let them go.”

“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 psychic abilities are limited, son. I also know what I know.” She glanced at the urn again before taking a sip of her tea. “But there’s only one thing I really need you to hear.”

“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?”

“You’re going dark, Gareth. Your beast knows, just like I told you.” She squeezed my hand again when I said nothing. “So do this old lady a favor, will you? Open the door to your girl. Let her in.” Clamping my jaw for a second, I finally said, “She wants to know more about grims. About what we are.” “Then tell her.”

“The code was set in place by people like your Uncle Silas. I still love my bastard of a brother, though he doesn’t deserve it, but he’s of the old ilk of secrets and mystery. Wanting to garner power to be the superior race of supernaturals.” She let my hand go and lifted her glass again to take a sip. “All that is bullshit. Especially when it comes to soul mates.” Again her gaze strayed to the urn. “You share everything.”

“So make me a promise you’ll do what I say. Let Lavinia in, my boy. It’s what’s best for you.” “Okay, Aunt Lucille. If—” I raised a finger, “you let Uncle George stay here with you.”