Page 31 of Blood of Night (The Thorne Hill)

I laugh and grab a jacket, not sure if I’ll need it. It’s another odd Midwest spring day that started out cold but warmed up, though I’m sure the air in the woods will be much cooler.

“Want some company on your walk?” Easton asks once we’re back on the front porch.

“Sure. I can’t take you all the way to the door, though.”

“Understood, though you know I’ll probably be able to find it.”

I make a face and shake my head. “Doubtfully. On paper, it makes sense. There aren’t hundreds and hundreds of acres of woods, so you’d think you’d be able to do a sweep and find it. But this is probably the most protected area in terms of keeping nons away. You’ll get turned around and unable to fight the feeling that you need to leave.Now.”

“Magic is creepy.”

I shrug. “It’s just keeping us safe. Come on,” I start and bump him with my elbow. “History really isn’t on our side when it comes to the general population finding out about witchcraft.”

“Hah. You have a point.”

“I know.” We go around the back of the house and I wave and say a polite “hello” to the landscapers who are working on the area by the pool.

“That wasn’t there the last time I was here,” Easton notes and I honestly can’t remember the last time he was at the house. Thanksgiving? No, he and Melinda came over for Christmas as well. Along with my over-the-top decorations, Lucas and I couldn’t stop talking about what next year would be like when we’d have a baby. She’d be crawling by December, and I might have to rethink some of my glass bulbs on the tree.

I think that was the last time I saw Easton.

“No, it wasn’t. It’s almost done. And I can’t wait to have a pool party with witches and vampires and hunters and nons maybe that werewolf I helped exorcize a demon from,” I add with a shrug. “And no one is allowed to fight.”

“I don’t think vampires would be able to come to a pool party during the day.”

“It would be at night, duh.”

“Night parties are fun, but you gotta enjoy a setup like this in the heat of the day.”

“Oh, I will. I’ve already told my familiars they’re floating around day-drinking with me under peak sunniness.”

Easton turns, looking at me as he walks.

“What?” I finally ask when we near the woods.

“I just wish you could see what your life would have been like, Callie.”

“You mean if I hadn’t married a vampire? Or wasn’t a witch?”

“I don’t know, both? I’m really not trying to be mean, either. You don’t deserve to live in the dark.” He plows a hand through his hair. “You should be able to have a fucking pool party in the fucking sunshine.”

“I don’t live in the dark. And if I want to have a pool party at nine in the fucking morning, then I will.”

“You don’t live in the dark? Really? What about when your daughter wants to go to the park? Are you going to wait until nightfall so you can have a family outing?”

I whirl around, looking at Easton. There’s truth in his words, I know. “You do realize a lot of things that go on inside the coven don’t happen until midnight, right? The witching hour is called the witching hour for a reason.”

“So, you have all your playdates at midnight then?”

“Some,” I snap. “Especially during a full moon. It’s important to gather that energy.” I march forward, angry mostly because I’m well aware of the issue. Lucas is well aware too, and it bothers him more than it bothers me. Waiting until sunset to do anything isn’t a big deal to me, but it is to Lucas. Maybe it’s because I have the option to do both and he doesn’t.

But it’s worth it to me. It’s worth it to wait so I can be with him. He makes it worth it because no one gets me like he does. No one makes me happy like he does. Will I miss doing things during the day without him? Of fucking course I will, but I’d rather have him by my side at night than not have him at all.

“I didn’t mean to upset you,” Easton goes on, following me into the woods.

“You’re doing a great jobnotupsetting me. Again,” I huff and push forward.

“Callie,” Easton calls. “I’m sorry. Really.”

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