Page 28 of The Soulless Witch

“I’ll drive you once you finish your food,” he said, nodding at the nightstand. “Every single bite or you are not walking out of here.” I gave him an exasperated sigh, but he just nudged me toward the bed. Flopping onto the soft mattress, I pulled the tray beside me and started chewing on a piece of bacon. Even cold, the food tasted divine—not quite as greasy as the ones Julia made, but just as juicy. The eggs, toast, and sausage were all excellent, but the complete silence and Roman’s watchful eyes were making it hard to swallow. I had grown so used to the Martens’ loud, lively atmosphere that this quiet awkwardness felt off.

Leaving the empty plate back on the nightstand, I dusted my hands off.

“You should drink your water,” Roman said as I got up, glancing at the tall crystal glass next to my coffee. “You never drink enough water.”

“And I’m yet to die from dehydration,” I grumbled, moving past him. He didn’t stop me this time, so I yanked the door open and stepped out. He appeared by my side even before I had taken two steps.

The corridors were empty but brightly lit, the windows that lined one side of the walls showing that the sun had set recently. When we cleared the stairs, I moved toward the left corridor which led to the front door, but Roman’s hand slid around my waist, guiding me in the opposite direction.

“We had to make some modifications since you left,” Roman explained as he let go, only his fingers lingering on the small of my back. “Adding plumbing, an underground garage, and all kinds of modern installations was a chore, but I have to admit, humans know how to make their lives easier.”

I didn’t bother answering since we reached the garage, and he left me waiting by the door while he started one of the half-dozen cars parked there. I recognized the sleek, black one that he drove me in the other night, but this time he opted for a bigger, gray one that looked almost plain in comparison.

I moved toward the passenger seat, but Roman used that uncanny speed of his to get there before I did. I gave him an exasperated look when he opened the door, which he blatantly ignored, and by the time I was done putting my seatbelt on, the car was sliding out of the garage.

He remained quiet most of the way, but I could tell he was thinking about something because he kept biting the inside of his cheek.

“What is it?” I sighed in frustration. “You have that look.”

“What look?”

“That annoying look you get when you’re trying not to say something that will annoy me!” I snarled, getting even more annoyed as the edges of his lips turned up. “Just tell me what it is.”

“I’m…concerned,” he said, and I was about to ask him why when he shot me a warning glare. He still hated being interrupted then. Good to know. “In such a short time, you have grown attached to these people, whereas you barely talked to humans before, and for a good reason. They are weak and fragile and they expire so fast, even if they lived full lives, you’d be attending their funerals before you know it. And if they get entangled with the supernatural world…” He finally turned to meet my eyes, his expression softening. “You are a dangerous person to be around, Celeste. If the witches find out about them, or worse, if the hunters do, that family will never have a normal life. They will either be taken in for questioning, killed in the crossfire, or you’ll have to protect them for their entire lives.”

I looked away from him, feeling even more annoyed because he was right.

When I charmed Kevin to take me home, I wasn’t thinking about how this would affect him or his family. I was just looking for a way to keep myself safe. But now that I had someone to protect me, someone much stronger than four good and honest humans, I felt something stopping me from leaving. I wasn’t sure how it happened, but that little family had made me feel at home much faster than anyone else in my long, long life. They had made me feel like I belonged, even if part of it was because of my spell. I wasn’t ready to lose that just yet.

“I know,” I muttered.

Roman didn’t push. When the car finally stopped, I realized we were standing just outside my magic barrier, and he hadn’t even asked me for directions. He sat perfectly relaxed in his seat, not even bothering to take the seatbelt off.

“Go on then,” he said, nodding toward the house whose windows all shone with bright, warm light. “Do what you have to do.” I nodded, but didn’t move, staring at the building with growing dread, when he asked, “Do you have a phone?”

I opened my mouth to say yes when I realized I hadn’t seen the device since the bar. I must have left it in my coat and forgotten about it. As if reading my mind, Roman pulled another one from the inside of his jacket, handing it to me.

“It already has my number saved, so call me when you want me to pick you up,” he said, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Or if you just want to talk.” I nodded, not sure what to say. “And keep Nym close. We don’t know who might have figured out your whereabouts.”

“Yes, I know,” I murmured, slipping out of the car. The engine roared as I stepped on the sidewalk, waiting for him to drive off. He waved before the vehicle slid down the street, disappearing from view at the next corner.

Taking a deep breath, I locked my eyes back on the house and walked through my barrier. The warnings slapped me in the face even before I crossed the street, the intrusion of something human, but not quite. That could only mean one thing.

A witch.

I looked down at the phone, wondering if I should call Roman back, but then decided against it. This was only going to convince him I was completely helpless and make him even more overprotective. I could handle one witch. It might have been that she was just passing by or visiting someone. The spell could detect no ill intent and I couldn’t smell blood or strong magic, so it could be nothing.

I barged through the front door with magic wrapped around my body like armor, ready to shield and attack at will. There were voices coming from the kitchen and the living room, and before I could decide where to check first, Julia walked into the hall, carrying a tray of cookies.

“Celeste?” she exclaimed with surprise before a smile blossomed on her lips. “Finally! You gave us quite the scare when you didn’t come home two nights in a row! Thankfully, your aunt was nice enough to visit and let us know you were with her while she was in town. You could have called, you know.”

She turned her back on me and headed for the living room, while I stared with my mouth open. Did she say myaunt? What in the world?

I took a step after Julia when Lily appeared at the threshold, panting excitedly.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she whispered, grabbing my shoulders.

“Tell you what?” I frowned, catching her wrists and breaking off her hold, so I wouldn’t hurt her if I had to use a spell against whoever was pretending to be my aunt. She moved out of my way, but her eyes continued to watch me with the same wonder.

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