Page 39 of Hostile Holiday

“Sure. Outside. I don’t want to put off anyone’s digestion.”

He nodded and followed her outside.

She waved down the street. “How about at the park? I can sit on the swings, and you can do chin-ups or something.”

“Yes.” He walked beside her, and when she settled on the swing, he leaned nearby.

“So, what do you want to know, Row? Spill it.” She swung slowly. She loved swings.

“Your friend said something that boggles the mind.”

“Oh, what was it? If it was that she is a virgin, that’s true.”

“Interesting, but no. She mentioned that you are a star.”

“Oh. Yes. Started during the Yule orgy and was born too early at the summer solstice. It throws the grand picture off that she and I didn’t enter this world together, but here we are. She didn’t even know until today. The landed star in the hills told her. She saw us arrive.”

“So, why don’t you feel like a star?”

“Because I can mask it, dumbass. My adoptive parents are low-grade magic users, but stopping my power signature from leaking was important when they first fostered me.”

“Can you show me now?”

“I could. But I don’t want to. You are always staring and judging, so I don’t want to give you another topic. Also, there are seven other warlocks or magic users within three blocks, and mykind are like catnip. All and every person that I vibe with will be here in seconds.”

He looked at her and said, “Would you please show me a sign to see what kind of star you are?”

She sighed and looked toward him. Her eyes took on the appearance of a fiery eclipse, and her hair darkened. He gasped and sat heavily. “Oh, shit.”

“What’s the problem?”

“When I was younger and had just become the avatar of autumn, I was granted a view of my life partner. She was tall, strong, and had long dark hair in a dozen colours with eyes the colour of a blazing eclipse.”

“Aw. I will let you know if I ever meet her. She sounds like just your type.”

He snorted. “You know what I am asking.”

“I do. And I don’t have to give you a fucking answer.” She got up from the swing. “Some of us have to adhere to conservation of mass, moron.”

She stalked away and felt him follow as she headed for her car. He moved soundlessly behind her, and when she got to her car, he waited a respectful distance. She got in and drove off. The huge shape in the mirror eventually headed back to the gym.

Rowen couldn’t shake off his astonishment. Right under his nose, right across the street, a star had been delivering the high-calorie meals that his clients tried to hide from him.

Her charming soft curves were tempting beyond belief, but he made his money on getting people into the peak of the human condition. She had taken his offer to help train her as an insult, and he hadn’t been able to walk it back. The endless waves of enormous salads were funny at first, but lately, they just depressed him.

He wanted Emery just as she was, but the image of his partner haunted him. If it was a few centuries ago, he could have both, but now, he just wanted the irritated bundle of snark that made cookies to weaken his knees. Rowen had no idea why her glaring at him got him hard, but it did. He wanted nothing more than to pick her up and kiss her until the harsh expression on her face faded to a soft smile. It was a mammoth task, but he felt up to it. He was going to have to do it the old-fashioned way, he supposed. Courtship. Nice and slow, and away from projectiles. Emery didn’t look easy to convince.

Chapter Eight

The week flew by. The moment Orla got her phone, she started texting with Emery, and they chatted about everything from the moment they woke until she was forced to put her phone on the charger at the end of the day.

Orla and Emery had come up with a plan, and Hunter was going to hate it. The time was set, the night was set, and the plan was locked in. Orla didn’t know what Emery had against her father, but Emery had dibs.

Her brother and grandfather were all Orla’s, and she had just the thing.

She got dressed and smoothed her cocktail dress over her thighs. The heels and stockings were a little much, but Hunter wanted her to look a certain way, and she didn’t really care. Even the secretly convened warlock council had agreed to what was about to commence.

Hunter came in and asked, “Are you ready?”

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