Page 41 of Night Wedding
“Gianna, it’s okay,” I attempted to appease her. Although grateful that she had my back, I couldn’t let her attack Diego. She’d complain lightheartedly about Sebastian and his protective streak, but the way this spirited siren defended me made the wolf seem like a tame puppy in comparison.
“Something’s wrong with him,” Sebastian explained while struggling to hold Gianna back. “We’re trying to figure out what’s going on.”
“What?” She stopped fighting and turned to face Sebastian.
“He’s confused,” Sebastian replied.
“He thinks he’s still with Diana,” Lucas added as he walked over.
“We think someone messed with his head,” Sebastian added.
What the purple sage?My gut dropped. I turned and caught Gianna’s gaze, her grim expression likely mirroring my own.
“The only person messing with me is her.” Diego pointed right at my chest. “Are you all in on this prank?” He turned to his roommates. “You bring in some strange woman to screw with me, saying all these weird things about her being my fiancée when you know damn well it’s not true.”
All hell, Diego reacted in the same way I had earlier in thinking this was all some kind of joke, only he thought we were playing it on him. Why didn’t he recognize me?
Sebastian strode over to Diego and stood up to him. “Hear me out, Diego. We’re not screwing with you but it’s clear that someone has. By the sounds of it, it must be Diana.”
My hand fluttered to my lips. “And that could mean dark magic.”
Diego shot me a look so dirty, I might as well have been bathed in mud. “That’s it, I’m out of here.” He strode to the front door.
“Diego, wait.” Sebastian followed him and touched his arm.
Diego shook off the hold. “I’m not going to sit here and listen to you all bash my fiancée.” He faced Sebastian. “If you got a problem with her, you’ve got a problem with me.” Diego pointed to his chest and then opened the door.
After he slammed it shut behind him, a shaky gasp fell from my lips. This was bad. Doom smothered me. I twisted my hair around my fingers. What could I do?
Gianna took a couple of steps closer to me. “Are you okay, hun?”
Everyone stared at me with various shades of emotions in their eyes, ranging from pity to expectation.
Right, I should be the one to make a call. After all, it was my fiancé who’d just stormed out, and I was the one who’d suggested it was dark magic.
I lifted my hand and turned away. “Give me a second. This is a lot to take in.”
“Absolutely,” Sebastian agreed. “We’re here for you.”
“Just tell us what you need us to do,” Lucas added.
Although a part of me wanted to sink to the floor and curl up in the fetal position, a sense of urgency stabbed me into action. Diego was confused, his mind likely tampered with, and he was now out wandering alone. I didn’t have the luxury of time to piece things together. He could be in danger.
“Something has clouded his mind. His memory is messed up, and he thinks he’s still with Diana.” Saying those words left an acrid taste in my mouth. “The only thing I can think of is magic so powerful that it’s forbidden.”
“It sounds like it,” Sebastian agreed. “The weird thing is that he knows all of us. Whatever this magic is didn’t take the years away since he’s known us. But it has removed you.”
Lucas stroked his chin. “I’ll call Zoe over. She’s seen more shit in her time in the Network than a dog walker picking up after a train of dogs. She might be able to figure it out sooner than any of us.
“Yes, that’s a good idea,” I agreed. She’d be better able to see things more clearly. I was too emotional right now, this situation pummeling me right in the feels. Zoe was level-headed and could focus on things I might miss. When we had trouble with the demons and sirens in Salem, she was key in figuring out what was going on and stopping them. She and Lucas had teamed up as temporary partners at the time, which eventually led to a more romantic, permanent partnership.
“What about Diego?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. “What if he’s going—” I swallowed and added, “—To her?”
“I’ll follow him,” Sebastian said.
Gianna walked with him. “I’ll come with you.”
One side of Sebastian’s mouth curled up. “Sweetheart, are you planning to claw some vamp’s heart out of her chest?”
