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“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I said.

CHAPTER 18

Mercy

CALEB HAD LEFT to meet up with Melissa once we got back to my house. He was worried about her, especially now that we had pissed off Maurice enough that he would start going after the ones we cared about. I called Lily, Joel, and Riley to let them know the latest information and to be on guard.

Dorian and I stood outside my place when he dropped me off. The rest of the coven waited for me inside. “Can we talk for a minute?” he asked.

I nodded.

“I know this is terrible timing, but there’s an art gallery show on Friday that I think you’d enjoy. You’ve mentioned a couple of times about Joel and Derek’s art pieces in New York. I figured, if they’re living in East Greenwich now, this would be a great opportunity for them to make some contacts.” He let out a small laugh under his breath. “The art pieces might be a bit different than theirs, but they might enjoy it.”

My forehead creased. “You want to meet my uncles?” I asked.

It’s not as if that would surprise me. Dorian wasn’t as pushy as Caleb was about reversing the spell, but Dorian was at least trying to be friends. Friends meet each other’s families. I needed to not read into it. It’s not as if he was taking me on a date. Maybe having my family there would make it less awkward.

“When have you ever wanted to get to know Joel and Derek?” I asked, but he only frowned. “Dorian, what’s going on?”

He looked away, then back at me. “I needed a hobby when you left me,” he confessed.

“This isyourevent?” I asked, surprised. Dorian had never mentioned any hobbies he had in this life.

I smiled. “I’d love to go.”

_______________

IT HAD BEENa while since I had done anything for myself outside of training with the coven. With everything going on—the murders, the dagger missing, and Maurice threatening us—the timing wasn’t the best. Still, I was going to lose my goddamn mind if I didn’t do anything fun.

Dorian and I arrived at the gallery event around seven in the evening. A waitress walked by with a serving tray of wine, and I grabbed one before she could pass me.

I felt more nervous tonight than I had in a while. Maybe the wine would help me relax a bit. My mind couldn’t shake the thought that Maurice was going to strike after what I did to Kyoko. What I had learned from the clan when I stayed in the lair was that Kyoko and Maurice were best friends. He saw her like a sister, and now, I had just taken away the last of his family.

There was also that feeling we all shared that he was up to something, and whatever the plan was, it was about to hit us straight on.

“Mercy, I don’t find pleasure in telling you what to do,” Dorian said, “but I know alcohol can cripple your powers, so maybe only one drink? Just in case.” The coolness from his breath near my skin created goosebumps on my neck.

What the hell?

“I just need to relax,” I confessed. I was unsure if the nervous feeling was because Maurice could break down these doors at any moment or because I was with Dorian tonight. Someone I loved eons ago. I had to remind myself that if it was the latter, it was just physical attraction.

It has to be.

“Are you nervous about something?” Dorian teased with a slight smirk that pulled at the side of his mouth.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, not wanting to entertain his assumptions, and looked around the gallery. My mouth gaped open as I saw the paintings around me. They were breathtaking … and familiar.

I padded across the gallery toward a painting of a woman’s face, colored in dark amber, green, and yellow. It was a face that reflected my own. I turned toward the others, which were all from our old village in Salem. He had painted images of ancient buildings from my visions. There were paintings of children in Puritan clothing playing in a grassy field filled with vibrant purple daisies.

They were all so beautiful but also sad. Dorian had created a world that was no longer mine, no longer ours. But why?

I turned to him. “Why did you paint these, Dorian?”

He had a slight smile that didn’t reach his eyes before taking a sip of the white wine from his glass. “It was the last time I was truly happy—when I had you as mine.”

How do I respond to this?

“See, Joel, why are we not opening a gallery here? Look how many guests have shown up,” I heard Derek ask. I felt instant relief that they were here.

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