Page 14 of Night Wedding
At the Network the next day, I practiced on a spell in my office to encourage a restless spirit to cross over. I tried to learn new things each week as the more I knew, the better I could respond to situations when the time came.
Although I’d worked here for months now, the Network still awed me. Its reach extended far beyond what I knew. This underground branch connected to others, an international network to allow supernaturals to navigate a world dominated by humans. I mostly worked with Pandora and Cassandra, two witches, and Zoe, an elf. We responded to a wide range of calls, from magical mishaps to criminal investigations.
Beyond our group were several more. Some focused on helping with housing and employment, then there were those who handled security matters, and others dealt with judicial aspects.
Pandora headed our group. She was an experienced and gifted witch in her 40s with black hair. I knew very little about her personal life, yet I’d heard she’d once been in a relationship that went sour and left her brokenhearted. Since then, she’d thrown herself into her work.
Cassandra was a blonde-haired single mother in her thirties who had a daughter named Paige. She was a skilled interrogator, and we often called on her when we needed to get information from an uncooperative witness or suspect.
Zoe focused on investigations. I’d spent many weeks shadowing her to learn the ropes of responding to calls. Then Pandora and Cassandra taught me more about magic with potions and spells. Once Lucas joined the network, he often went with Zoe on cases. He also trained as an herbalist as the witches taught him how to best work with the herbs he’d grown.
It had been incredible to see Lucas shift from being an exotic dancer who loved the single life to a committed shifter who had found his mate and focused on protecting her. For Zoe, the change was just as remarkable. She’d always been so serious and no-nonsense during our training. Once she started dating Lucas, she learned to relax more and enjoy herself. Some people said opposites might attract, but they were too different to stay in a lasting relationship. With Lucas and Zoe’s commitment to each other, I’d argue that not only was it possible, but beneficial to them both. Together, each of them evolved into better versions of themselves.
I thought the same of Gianna and Sebastian. Being with him was good for her. She was so used to fighting for her independence but had learned to accept Sebastian’s protective nature as part of his considerate nature. It wasn’t for control but to care for her. So many men had only wanted Gianna for her looks. Sebastian truly loved her, his mate. He appeared to thrive around her.
Lastly, I thought this might be true for Diego and me. I’d felt awkward and self-conscious for much of my life. Growing up in Salem as a witch without magic had battered my self-esteem. Diego believed in me. He saw something in me that I still sometimes had trouble seeing in myself. It was foolish, I knew, but a hang-up I’d wrestled with from time to time. He’d often remind me to see myself as amazing as he saw me. I’d sometimes get flustered and joke it was just his reaction to my blood. I had to work on accepting compliments.
My phone buzzed late that morning.Are you home?
I’m at the Network,I replied. I was at my altar where I practiced magic, measuring out herbs for a spell.
When will you be home?
Just after six.
Good. We’ll have a chance to talk before I have to leave for work.
Talk? About what? Often when he texted like this, he’d note how he wanted to see me before he went to work. Something about this exchange rang more warning bells.
No, I had to be overreacting. What was up with me getting all worked up over a nothing text?
Still, I couldn’t drop it.Is something up?
We can talk about it later.
The bells rang louder with a resounding echo. If it was nothing, wouldn’t he have replied with something like,No, I just wanted to see you?
I chewed my bottom lip and typed,Okay, see you then.
I headed outside to clear my head with some fresh air during a brisk walk. The sunny day and clear blue sky didn’t ease my clouded thoughts. It was unusually humid out, and if I walked too long, I’d return drenched in sweat. The scents from the nearby sub shop did nothing to stir my appetite although I hadn’t eaten lunch yet. I pulled out my phone and called Gianna for a sanity check.
After I gave her a quick summary, I asked, “Am I worrying about nothing?”
“Yeah, I’m sure it’s nothing,” Gianna assured me. “He could be referring to some minor tidbit he wants to share, but your overactive imagination is brewing the worst.”
“You’re probably right.” I turned on the pavement to head back toward the Network. “Thanks, logically, I know it’s nothing, but just needed a reality check.”
“Anytime,” Gianna responded. “I’ll stop by the house later. I want to see Sebastian before I go into the club. If you need me for moral support or anything, I’ll be right there.”
“Nice. I should pick up a pint of ice cream in case I have something to cry about later.” I forced a laugh.
“Of course not. It’s going to be fine.” Gianna sighed. “Mmm, but I’d never say no to ice cream.”
When I returned home,I stared at the odd purple house I’d inherited from my estranged aunt. Her death, the result of a demon’s attempt to steal her magic, was the reason I’d returned to Salem. If I wanted to analyze it, Diego and I had only met because of a demon’s dark deeds. But I didn’t want to think about that too much because it was entirely unpleasant and far from romantic. Couples had met under stranger or darker circumstances, hadn’t they?
I entered my front door and headed upstairs for a quick shower to unwind after work. Soon after I dressed in a pair of black linen shorts and a light blue tank top, my bell rang.
It was Gianna. She held up two pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. “I brought friends.”
