Page 45 of The Spell Caster

“It’s not like that,” I said, wrapping my arms around myself. “My mother and his dad got together and cooked up this scheme. Then he seemed like he was all into it. But I don’t want that… with him.”

He tilted his head slightly. He looked… relieved. “No?”

“Of course not! He’s way too smiley. I’ve been waiting to talk to him, to make sure he knows I’m not interested.”

Costi looked at me and gave a half grin. “You gonna break his little heart, Layla?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ve known him for all of two weeks. I doubt his heart will be broken.”

“Not so sure about that,” he muttered, then brought a hand to the back of his neck. “You like that kinda thing? Getting flowers? Going out to eateries and stuff?”

The memory of a preteen Costi setting a woven flower crown on my head flashed through my mind. “Not that eatery,” I said. “They gave me roasted beets.”

He huffed out a laugh. “Thought he liked you.”

“Right?” I let out a breath. “I think he likes the idea of me. Everything my mother talks up. He doesn’t know me.” Not like you do. “Anyway, I have to see him again soon. I only agreed to meet him because he said he had a solution for my familiar problem.”

His eyes narrowed. “What kind of solution?”

I dropped my face into my hands and groaned. “You won’t believe this. He thinks he’s going to contact Hell.”

“He’s gonna what?” I looked up to see Costi’s face scrunched in disbelief.

“Exactly!” I threw my hands up. Finally, someone with some sense. “He found some ancient circle spell diagram, and he’s convinced he can use it to communicate with Hell—like he’s just going to call them up and ask where my familiar is.”

Costi made a disgusted noise and folded his powerful arms. “I’m coming with you. He’s gonna blow shit up with his random spells.”

“I don’t think you can. The Arcaenum and my mother are involved.”

He swore. “Grey is my spell caster,” he pointed out.

“They still won’t let you,” I said. “It’s not like it’s going to do anything, anyway. He’s going to spend hours tracing nonsense, and then everyone will remember that demons can’t talk.”

He frowned. “Yeah, probably.”

“If I survive the cataclysmic levels of secondhand embarrassment, I’ll give you a play-by-play of Calamus making a fool out of himself.”

Costi gave a dark chuckle that sounded downright evil. He really didn’t like the spell caster.

I kicked a piece of clay and slid my foot around, gathering courage. “Did you… want to talk about the party?” I asked carefully.

He froze, then leveled me with a look that sent my heartrate racing. “You mean the party where you sauntered around all night in the hottest dress I ever saw, with no idea everyone was drooling over you, and then you wound me up so bad, I couldn’t think straight for days? That party?”

I blinked. “Yes, that party,” I squeaked.

He smiled faintly, then slid his hand up my arm to cup my face gently. “Yeah, I think we should talk about that party, heartbreaker.”

I leaned into him, placing my hands against his chest. I was trembling. It was already too late, and I knew it. Going back to friendship wasn’t an option. Once we put it into words, everything would change.

“Blackthorn? Are you back here?”

We sprang apart like naughty children.

Calamus appeared, overdressed as usual. He lit up when he saw me. “Layla! I’ve been hoping to see you.”

“Listen,” I said, my heart still pounding. I had to stop this. “Calamus—”

“Unfortunately, we’re on rotation, so we’ll have to talk later,” he interrupted, then turned to Costi. “An angel nest has been pinpointed outside Charleston. We need to leave immediately.”

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