31. Rina
THIRTY-ONE
rina
How is it possible that it’s almost been month since we left, and it feels like nothing has changed?” I asked as I looked around town.
Ezra had traced us to Main Street, neither of us wanting to show up at any of my coven’s houses unannounced—though I was sure at some point today I’d have to take Ezra to meet my grandmother.
I’d never introduced her to someone I was dating before, though I supposed what I had with him went well beyond dating. We were soulmates—something deeper than even marriage. He was mine, eternally, and I was still grappling with what that meant.
His blood tasted better than I’d ever imagined, like everything right in the world, and I couldn’t get enough. It had taken him pulling me off him for me to stop, and I couldn’t bring myself to be embarrassed. We’d shared something deeper than just sex or even love.
It was the bond shimmering between us, even now, like a golden thread that tied our hearts together. Everything felt different now—my senses sharper, more focused. Like I’d gotten his power when his blood had entered my system. I was trying not to freak out about that.
Nothing had changed, but everything had changed. I wasn’t the same witch I had been when I’d left. Ezra laced his fingers through mine. Ambrose was curled up in my satchel—deciding that he didn’t like riding along on my shoulder after we’d saved Ezra.
I was back in my normal clothes—patterned tights, black skirt, purple top, choker—and it was strange to think that these felt like someone else’s now.
My mate cleared his throat. “So, about this Halloween party. Are we wearing costumes?”
“Obviously.” I furrowed my brow. “Damn. I should have thought about that before we left the manor.”
He winked. “Wait here.”
I frowned as he traced away—and less than thirty seconds later, he was back. “All good.”
“What did you do?”
He adjusted the cuffs on his sleeves, rolling them up. “Secured us costumes. Say thank you, Sabrina.”
I narrowed my eyes. “But I don’t even know what you picked. We’re supposed to choose them together.”
Ezra pressed a kiss to my cheek. “We can do that next Halloween. Come on, let’s go find your girls so we can tell them what happened. It’s a lot, and it would be better to do before the party, right?”
Wincing, I turned to the Witches’ Brew. It was already closed for the day, which wasn’t unusual.
Still, I had no idea what I was going to tell everyone.
Hey, remember the vampire I hated? Surprise!
He’s my mate. Oh, and I love him now. Also, there’s an evil witch coven, and I might have killed my distant cousin.
No big deal. “Can’t we wait ’til after?” I let out a groan. “I am so screwed.”
He gave me a look of pity. “Whatever you want, belladonna.”
“I want you not to be sweet to me. What’s everyone going to think? I mean, sure, Wendy knows, but I didn’t tell the rest of them. I didn’t even tell them we were mates.”
Ezra frowned. “You were that ashamed of me?”
I scoffed. “Ashamed of you? No. Mostly just freaked out, honestly. I’d never…
” My words got caught in my throat. God, I hated being vulnerable.
I’d already cried in front of him more than I ever wanted to.
“I’d never even been in a serious relationship before you,” I admitted.
The last few times I’d even tried had been colossal wastes of my time.
“And then there you were, telling me I was your mate and… I’ll admit, I reacted poorly. ”
He chuckled. “Understatement of the century.”
I pinched his arm. “I still came with you on that stupid, pointless road trip, didn’t I?”
Ambrose poked his nose out of the bag, giving a noise of disagreement.
“Not pointless. Even the raccoon thinks so.”
I sighed, massaging my forehead. “You admit we were just on a fool’s errand, though, right?”
Ezra shrugged. “Archer was right. So it wasn’t necessarily a waste of time. We figured it out in the end, right?”
“That we could only break the mate bond with you dying? That was never a solution.” I patted his chest, reaching into my bag to scratch Ambrose’s head.
“No. He told me that the only solution was to win you over.” Ezra pressed his lips against the crown of my head. “And I did that, so… it all worked out.”
“Damn you. Come on. My Nana will never make me dessert again if she finds out I’m here and didn’t come to see her first.”
I was definitely delaying the inevitable—but right now, I was putting my anxiety off till later.
Ezra’s idea of Halloween costumes amounted to a white ballgown, white gloves, and pearls for me—and a suit that was definitely not his usual style. When he pulled a mask out of the bag, I raised an eyebrow.
“Phantom of the Opera?” I asked him, surprised. “I was expecting Twilight.”
“We’re not dressing up as Edward and Bella, Sabrina,” he said, rolling his eyes at me.
I shrugged, taking the costume from him. “I don’t know. Might be fun to roll you in glitter.” I chuckled at the image.
“Sparkly vampires deserve to die,” he said, deadpan. “That’s just an abomination.”
Stepping up onto my tiptoes, I pressed a kiss onto his cheek. “I like it. Thank you.”
“My Christine,” he said, brushing the back of his hand down my cheek. “But in our story, the beautiful woman does fall in love with the monster.” Ezra smiled.
“You’re not a monster,” I reminded him. “Nor are you disfigured and hiding in the walls of an opera house.”
“Semantics.” He leaned down, taking my lips in his. “Either way, I am obsessed with you.”
I smacked his chest. “If we don’t get dressed, we’ll never make the party.”
Ezra gave a suggested wag of his eyebrows. “You say that like it’s a bad thing, sweetheart.”
“We already had sex twice today,” I whispered—not wanting Nana to hear. Even if I was an adult, I still didn’t need her knowing about our bedroom habits. “And we’re not sleeping together in my grandmother’s house. That is desecrating hallowed ground.”
“Oh, so my library is fine, but not here?” He nipped at my lips.
I nodded solemnly. “Yes. Exactly. You get me.”
He swatted my ass as I headed towards the bathroom, gown in my arms. I’d gotten used to wearing things like this around the manor, but I still couldn’t help but wonder at how much this gown reminded me of a wedding dress.
I peaked around the door at him after I had it on. He was buttoning up the sleeves of his shirt, the front still open. “Do you mind helping me with this?” I called. Ezra sucked in a breath as he entered, my back bare to him. “Just—get the zipper, will you?” I held it tight to my chest.
My vampire leaned down, pressing a kiss to the back of my neck, before he slowly slid the zipper up. It was like torture, his fingers moving up every inch of my spine, sensations I was trying hard to ignore.
Ezra’s lips pressed against my neck as he finished zipping, then did the hook and eye. “I can smell how turned on you are,” he murmured against my ear.
“You’re… surprisingly adept at zippers.”
His chuckle made my nipples pebble in my bra. “I might be old, but I’m perfectly capable, Sabrina.” His breath was hot on my neck, and I closed my eyes, leaning into his chest.
He was right. At this rate, we would never make it to the party.
Ezra pressed a kiss to the top of my head before moving the neckline over—covering my mating mark. “Perfect.” He murmured.
“That it’s covering your bite?” I asked, confused.
“That you can reveal it on your own terms,” he explained.
“Oh.” My breath caught in my throat. Goddamn, that was thoughtful. And caring.
All things I’d once never thought he could be.
“Go,” I said, pushing him out of the bathroom before I could ask him to kiss me—again.
He left with a small laugh, and I rested my hand over my heart, trying to ignore how fast it was beating.
Especially considering his beat in time with mine.
“Rina!” Wendy’s eyes lit up as she saw me, happiness blooming over her face. Her familiar pink aura made me breathe a sigh of relief. I hadn’t known how much I needed it—needed her—until she was back in my presence. I let my best friend wrap her arms around me, feeling grateful that I had her.
She inspected my costume, giving a nod of approval. “You look beautiful.” My hair was down, pearls strung through my hair, and I’d never felt so beautiful as I had when I’d seen Ezra’s face take me in fully when I stepped out in the full outfit. “I hope your vampire appreciates it.”
“Oh, I…” I bit my lip. Ezra was on the other side of the room, a beer in his hand, talking to Barrett, Damien, and Zain. “He does. He picked it out, actually?”
“Really? A man picking Phantom of the Opera? That’s so romantic.”
I rolled my eyes. “Do I need to remind you what happens to the Phantom at the end? Christine doesn’t even pick him.”
She hummed, fiddling with her red dress. “But she should have.”
My eyes connected with Ezra’s, and he raised his eyebrow in question. I shook my head. I’m good, I told him, feeling his love through our mate bond, that golden thread between us. There was no way I could doubt his feelings—not when I could feel them so clearly.
“Never leave me alone for that long again,” Wendy pouted, stealing my attention, though I still hadn’t pried my eyes away from Ezra.
“Well… not sure I can promise that.”
She followed my gaze, and I could see the moment she realized what I meant. “Oh goddess. Tell me everything.”
“Everything would take an awfully long time, Wendy.”
She shrugged. “My life is boring. Teacher, remember? The coven is my only excitement.”
“What about Cassius?” I asked.
Wendy looked away. “There’s nothing there, I told you. That’s all long buried history.”
“Sure.” Nothing but her ex boyfriend’s brother suddenly being in town, loitering around our coven. “He’s looking pretty dapper tonight,” I whispered, looking over at the man. It was still hard to imagine what had happened to turn him into a ghoul.
I’d learned about them in all of my studies in the manor’s library.
They were what happened when a person died before they were supposed to—one who death himself chose to spare, making them his personal attendants.
They ferried souls to the underworld, collecting the wayward spirits who loitered in this plane and guiding them to the afterlife.
“So, did anyone buy the bar?” I asked, changing the subject. I suspected this was a subject she still wasn’t ready to talk about yet—but I was going to get it out of her one way or another.
My best friend shook her head. “No. Not that I’ve heard. It’s so sad. I just hope it doesn’t have to close completely.”
“Hope what doesn’t close?” Came a deep voice behind us. I turned, finding the tall, white haired man we’d just been discussing.
“The Witches Brew,” I answered. “It’s our town’s only bar. The owners want to sell.”
“Hm.” His eyes drifted over Wendy, who looked at the ground—avoiding his gaze. “You look cute, Wends.”
Her cheeks turned pink. “I—uh—thanks.” She’d dressed like Wendy the Good Witch, down to the red hood and her broom.
“Welcome.” He gave me a nod. “Rina.” Then he was gone—heading out the front door.
“You gonna follow after him?” I asked my best friend.
She looped her arm through mine. “Nope. Let’s go get a drink. Goddess knows we’ve earned one.”
I laughed, patting her arm. “Sure, babe. Because drinking away our problems always works.”
“Hasn’t failed me yet.”
Sighing, I let her pull me towards the kitchen. At some point, I’d have to assemble the coven, but for now, I was just enjoying being back with them.
Even if this place no longer really felt like home.
Home was wherever Ezra was. But even more than that, it was in that gothic manor where we’d somehow, against all the odds, fallen in love.