Page 23 of Heal Me

“No.” He closes his book with a thump, and Doogie startles, jumping down. “Sorry about that,” Gabe apologizes to my cat.

The oven timer goes off, and I hop up, grabbing potholders and taking the lasagna out of the oven. “That smells amazing,” Gabe comments.

“Thank you. Vivian gave me the recipe. I’m trying out some kitchen magic.”

“You wouldn’t be trying to bewitch me?” he teases.

I try not to flush with embarrassment, feeling like I’ve been busted. This is Vivian’s famous love lasagna. I’m nowhere near ready for love, but I did try to channel feelings of peace and contentment. “Of course not. But if you’re a demigod, you needn’t worry about my baby witch magic.”

I’m about to ask Gabe to clear the table, when all the books disappear and a bottle of red wine takes their place. “What do you mean if?” he challenges. The cork pops open and two wine glasses appear.

“How did you do that?” I gasp.

“A demigod requires worship before he reveals his secrets,” he says, pouring the wine.

“How about tribute? Caesar salad and sausage-and-fennel lasagna.”

“Now you’re speaking my language.”

“I never knew I spoke the Adamic language,” I tease, giving the salad a toss. We fix our plates and I have a seat across from him and take a sip of wine.

I watch Gabe as he blows on his fork and takes a bite of my lasagna and moans. “Fluent in it,” he announces and I beam.

“How was work?” I ask.

“Busy. I settled a case today that was scheduled for arbitration. It should have settled in the first place, so it was nice taking that one off my plate. I’m having to cover for Damion’s sorry ass, so I’ve been swamped.”

“Well, your friend does have an excuse. I assume he needs to be corporeal to practice law. He might get a few funny looks if he showed up to court as Aubry.”

“Now that would be interesting.” He chuckles, finishing his wine. “How’s school?”

“Boring,” I admit. “Now that I’ve red-pilled myself, it’s hard to switch from this world to my old one.”

“Excellent movie reference and excellent movie. Have you thought any more about Harvard?”

“Still weighing my options. I haven’t talked to my dad about it. I keep putting it off, hoping the right time will magically present itself.”

“You’re a witch. Perhaps you should make your own magic.”

“Baby witch,” I correct him. Having finished reading the book Aubry gave me, I’ve yet to muster the confidence to work my first solo spell. Soon, I promise myself.

After dinner, I put away the leftovers, and Gabe uses his power to levitate our dirty plates to the dishwasher. Demigods make nice dinner guests.

The doorbell rings and I walk to the living room, not expecting company. Gabe teleports, beating me there. He looks out the peephole and opens the door. “Can I help you?” he drawls.

Stopping short when I see a man in his early thirties with an intensity coming off him that makes me nervous, instinctively I scoot a bit closer to Gabe. “I’m Detective Chris Sullivan of the Memphis Police Department. I need to speak to Charlotte Patel,” he says, flashing his badge.

“That’s me. Please come in,” I say, leading him inside. Aubry’s given me the rundown on Chris Sullivan. She failed to mention how freaking intimidating he is. And hot. But mostly intimidating. “Please,” I say, gesturing to the couch. The detective takes a seat, unbuttoning his gray suit jacket as Gabe and I take a seat across from him on the love seat. “Are you here about the Brad Cunningham case?” I ask. “Has there been a new development?”

“In a way, yes. Ms. Patel, Aubry Brooks has been kidnapped and taken to New Life Spiritual Center.”

“Then why the hell are you here? Go get her!” I cry, jumping out of my seat. To do what, I don’t know.

“It’s not that simple,” he says, holding up his hand. Gabe gently pulls me back down to the love seat, and the detective continues. “A meditation instructor named Ethan killed Aubry’s friend Maddie and is planning on doing the same to Aubry this evening—part of a full-moon ritual to power his dark magic.”

“Oh my God, Aubry suspected someone at the Center was involved!”

Chris nods. “I need someone to distract him so that I can move in.”

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