Page 50 of Mayhem and Ember

I refused to dwell on it. Once I obtained the amulet, I would show them power. Let them cast me out if they chose. I could build my own army, be king of my own realm.

And I could take Ember as my queen.

We stepped inside the restaurant, and a plethora of savory aromas tickled my senses, making my stomach growl. A young woman with blonde hair and jewelry in her nose greeted us at the door. Her nametag read Stacey.

“Welcome to the Twisted Thistle. Table for four?” she asked. “How about this one by the window?”

Ember shook her head. “That one in the back corner, please.”

Stacey giggled. “You must be locals then. I’ve only lived here a couple of months. Come on.” She picked up four menus and led the way to the table Ember had requested.

Long and rectangular, it had cushioned benches on either side rather than chairs. Ash slid across one, and Chaos sat next to her. I waited for Ember to do the same, but she cocked her head at me instead.

“I’d rather not be pinned in.” I gestured for her to sit.

“Neither would I.” She crossed her arms, so I did the same.

“Would you prefer a table?” Stacey asked. “There’s an open one in the middle over there.”

“Sit, brother,” Chaos said. “I tire of your stubbornness.”

“And I tire of your arrogance.” I glared at him before lowering onto the bench and making room for Ember.

She sat next to me, and as she adjusted her position, her thigh rested against mine. The moths, having gone dormant on the way here, flitted back to life in my chest. What a strange effect this witch had on me.

“Can you move over? Half my ass is hanging off the seat.” Ember wiggled, her left hip rubbing against mine.

My stomach tightened, and though I enjoyed the sensation, I moved away, breaking the physical contact between us lest I lift her over my shoulder and carry her to the Underworld.

How I had gone from despising all witches to desiring this one in a matter of days, I had no clue. She was nothing like any woman I had ever met, and perhaps that reason alone had enamored me. She certainly didn’t use her wiles to try and seduce me, yet a seductress she was, nevertheless.

Maybe it was her element that called to me. She commanded fire as if she were born in Hell, her power more potent than any mortal’s I could recall…aside from her sister. Ash could be the strongest of them all, yet Ember expressed no envy.

She must have kept it buried deep in her soul.

Once the amulet belonged to me, I could make her more powerful than every witch in her coven combined. Together, we could rule this world and the Underworld.

“Hello?” Ember’s voice and her two snaps directly in front of my face drew me from my thoughts. “Earth to Dave. What do you want to drink?”

“The blood of my enemies.” I cast my gaze to Stacey, who stood at the table holding a pen and a notepad.

She giggled. “You’re a funny one. I always wanted a man who could make me laugh.”

“You can have him,” Ember said. “And he’ll have iced tea like the rest of us.”

“You got it.” She wrote on her pad before smiling at us. “Y’all make a cute couple.”

Ember laughed dryly. “We most definitely are not a couple.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Her smile faded, but I couldn’t suppress mine.

A cute couple… Cute wasn’t the word I would have used, but Stacey’s words stirred the moths in my soul.

She turned but hesitated, swiveling back toward us. “Is there anything I need to do to prepare for Halloween? I hear this town gets crazy packed.”

Ash’s eyes grew wary. “Take a vacation if you can. Seriously.”

“I would if I could. Tuition is ridiculous since I’m not from Massachusetts, but I really wanted to attend Salem State.” She shrugged. “So here I am.”

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