Page 69 of Rebel Spell
“And saving my life?” I shook my head. “I don’t think so.” I cocked my head. “Why did you follow me?”
He squared his shoulders and then nodded. “I saw you leaving, and I wanted to make sure you were okay. By the time I ran outside, you’d pulled away, so I jumped in my car.”
I kissed him on the cheek. “I didn’t have a choice. He told me he had Gianna, and he’d hurt her if I told anyone. Trust me, if there was anyone I wanted by my side, it was you.”
We stared into each other’s eyes with a silent understanding between us.
Remembering Gianna was there, I turned to her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” Her expression turned troubled. “I’m so sorry, this whole thing was my fault.”
“What? How?” I asked.
“That demon overheard me talking to you. He wanted to get the book, but couldn’t get into your house as it was protected. So he used me as bait to get to you.”
I flushed. “Andre was a demon?”
She tipped her head. “That’s what he claimed. He said he wanted the book to be able to use witch’s magic and overthrow them. He wanted to take control of Salem.”
Holy bats. How close we’d gotten to that happening. Not only had witches been killed, but he almost had a book that would give him more power.
“What did he mean about it only just beginning?” I asked her. “Are there others?”
She bit her lip. “I don’t know. He locked me in a room and only revealed so much to me.”
My gut sank as I realized my culpability in her imprisonment. “I’m the one who should be apologizing to you.” I pointed to my chest. “I called you and told you about the book. If I hadn’t opened my big mouth and blabbed, you wouldn’t have been caught in my mess. I’m so incredibly sorry, Gianna.” My bottom lip trembled.
She gave me a warm smile. “It’s not your fault at all. That’s what friends do—we confide in each other.”
I hugged her once more, longer this time. Her familiar vanilla shampoo scent wafted around me, a comforting sign that she was okay. I couldn’t imagine a life without her. The past couple of weeks reminded me of how close we were and how much I missed her. I didn’t have any relationships a fraction like this with anyone in New York.
Gianna pulled away and ran one hand through her dark hair. “Once I’ve slept for a thousand hours and my brain finally catches up to all the craziness, let’s have a big, fat cocktail. Or four.”
“That sounds like a splendid idea.” I glanced at Diego and grinned. “I guess this is a good time for introductions.”
After we took care of the pleasantries, Gianna said, “Thanks for coming, Diego.”
Diego shrugged in acknowledgment. “I barely did anything. It was all Nova.” He turned to me. “How did you learn to do that kind of magic?”
I picked up the book and held it close to my chest. “I kind of winged it from my family’s Book of Shadows.”
“I didn’t know there was one,” he replied.
“We have a lot to catch up on, Diego. I found a letter in here that um…” After shifting uncomfortably from one foot to another, I said, “It might have contributed to my outburst yesterday when you were only trying to help me. I’m sorry.”
He cocked his head. “Why don’t we go back home, and you can tell me everything there?”
Home. That had such a comforting ring to it, especially with Diego there.
I smiled at him. “Sounds perfect.”
Gianna stepped closer. “Can I get a ride home, Nova? I just want to be in my own bed and not move until I have to.”
“Of course,” I agreed. “Let me call Zoe first and let her know what happened here.”
I pulled out my phone and called. She picked up right away.
After I told her a condensed version, she said, “You winged a spell and banished a demon?”
