Page 38 of Hallows End

“Come on,” I say gently and lay my hand on the other man’s shoulder. “I’m new here, and evenIcan see it.”

His mouth opens and then closes, and once more, he takes off his glasses to press his fingers into his eyes.

“I didn’t mean to do that.” Lorelei’s voice is full of misery. “Honest, I didn’t.”

“It’s time he knows,” Xander says to her softly, but I notice he doesn’t reach out to touch or reassure her.

“Why?” Lucy asks, and the anger in her tone actually surprises me. “Why is it time that anyonetoldhim and not let them figure it out organically? Just because the two of you have known that you’re fated since you were in fucking diapers, doesn’t mean that everyone else is on the same path. It was rude and hurtful, Lorelei. And youknowhow soft Breena’s heart is.”

“I know,” Lorelei replies miserably. “I’ll go apologize right now.”

“No, I’ll go,” Giles says, holding up a hand.

“Noneof you will go,” I interrupt, and all heads turn to me. “She’s embarrassed, and it will only make things worse. Leave her be for now—to recover a bit. Giles, if you go in now, she’ll think it’s only because you feel obligated.”

“Ido,” he says.

“That’s not what she needs from you,” I reply. “I think we’re all tired here. We should get some rest.”

“I’ll take you home,” Xander offers to Lorelei, but the woman shakes her head.

“I’m fine.”

“If you think I’ll let you go anywhere alone until after the end of the month, you’ve lost your gorgeous mind,” Xander replies, his voice perfectly cordial.

Lorelei’s green eyes sharpen in temper.

“If you’llletme?” she demands. “In case you missed it, I’m a grown-ass woman who does what I want, when I want, and I don’t consult you for any of it. You made damn sure of that, Xander Appleton. And I’m in the kind of mood this morning that I almostdareanything to try to fuck with me. I’d take delight in tearing something apart.”

With that, she sets off, her cloak billowing behind her like the pissed-off witch she is.

Lucy simply smiles at Xander. “For someone so smart, you’rereallyquite dumb.”

His eyes narrow, and then he shifts into a raven and flies off, I suspect to keep an eye on the woman he loves.

“Don’t overthink it,” Lucy advises as she turns to Giles, who’s staring at Breena’s cottage, his hands planted on his hips and his face lined with misery.

“You obviously don’t know me very well if you think I won’t.” He shakes his head. “I’m going to stay here in my car for a while. Just to make sure she’s safe.”

“That’s a little creepy,” Lucy says, making Giles smile. “Sweet, with a tinge of stalker.”

“I won’t stay too long,” he promises and walks to his car, settling in the driver’s seat and seeming to brood.

“Do you know how to drive?” Lucy asks as she, Nera, and I make our way to her vehicle.

“No. I don’t go much farther than a couple of miles from Hallows End, so there’s never been a need.”

“Do you want to learn?”

“Someday,” I reply as we all climb in, and Lucy starts the vehicle, driving us to her house. “Your aunts invited me to their home for dinner tomorrow evening. I’m to come alone.”

“It’s not as ominous as it sounds,” Lucy rushes to assure me. “It’s just that they want you all to themselves so the cousins can’t take over the conversation.”

She glances my way as she turns into the driveway and smiles.

“You don’t have to promise to marry me or anything.”

I can’t do that until we lift the curse and I’m able to promise to spend the rest of my life with her.

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