Chapter 10 Aurora #2
Aurora followed. She had no choice. If she didn’t trail along, it seemed she’d be pulled to Gia’s side regardless. At least with Gia in earshot, she didn’t feel like she’d be spirited away by her coven and never heard from again.
Gia glanced over her shoulder as she rounded the corner, her gaze casually landing on Trey, who stood across the street. The paper bag crunched under Gia’s fingers, but her demeanor didn’t change as she continued walking. Had she not realized it was the same man who’d been outside her building?
A few moments after leaving Trey behind, he rounded the corner, his gaze fixed on Gia, clearly following.
But he couldn’t be. Why would he follow Gia?
Aurora floated as far away from Gia as she could without triggering the aching feeling, but Trey didn’t react. His attention remained solely on the other woman.
Hollow dread weighed Aurora down. Whatever this meant, it couldn’t be good.
The now-familiar tug on her soul cut through her sinking thoughts, and she zipped to Gia’s side just as she reentered her building. The lock clicked behind them as the door shut.
As soon as she was in the stairwell, Gia’s face fell, her forehead creasing.
Aurora couldn’t help her smile. “So you did notice him following? You hid it well.”
Gia’s steps faltered, and she glared slightly to the right of where Aurora was hidden. “You’re still here? Wait, don’t say anything. Let’s get inside. I don’t want to stand here talking to myself.”
Aurora bit her lip to smother a laugh and floated up the stairs after her.
When they were in the condo, Aurora abandoned her invisibility. “Have you ever come across Trey before?”
“No.” Gia set the groceries on the kitchen counter, pulled out a bag of chips, and opened it. “I’ve only been in Shearwater Landing for a few days.”
That surprised Aurora. “Where are you from?”
Gia ate a chip and began unpacking the rest of the bag, pulling out a few small jars, a loaf of bread, something flat packed in butcher paper, and finally, what looked like a wrapped sandwich.
“I’m from Ashton Lakes,” she said at last.
Aurora had heard of it, but she’d never been that far east. “Why would Trey be following you if you’re from out of town and don’t know about magic?”
“You tell me. I thought he was here for you. And why haven’t you left? Weren’t you flying off to the Lockwood Coven?”
“I can’t get away from you. Every time I try, I’m pulled to your side.”
Gia froze, the unwrapped sandwich halfway to her mouth. “What?”
Aurora drifted closer. “We need magical help. I don’t know what’s happening and can’t figure it out without access to my active powers. You can’t help either, since you’re human.”
Gia frowned. “Don’t say it like that. I am human.”
“Sure, a human who’s blood relatives with a witch.”
“Magic can’t be hereditary.” Gia snorted like Aurora was being ridiculous and dug into her food.
Damn, the sandwich looked good, bursting with lettuce and cheese. Aurora wasn’t hungry, but knowing it had been weeks since she’d eaten had her longing for a taste.
“Magic is hereditary. Bloodlines are a big deal to witches like the Thornfields. Anyone whose lineage leads back to Lucifer—our Damned Lord—is revered.” She rolled her eyes.
Gia sputtered, coughed, and nearly choked on her sandwich. “Lucifer? The Devil is real? And you’re related to him?”
“Me? No. The Thornfields aren’t direct descendants. Some other demon spawned us.”
“Demon?” Gia’s face paled.
“Don’t worry, they’re all trapped in the Realm of the Damned. And before you freak out, demons are only damned for giving birth to witches. Like I said before, it’s not some Heaven and Hell hoopla. Nothing you learned about Lucifer is true either.”
Gia relaxed, muttering, “Heaven and Hell hoopla,” with a shake of her head. “I take it all back. I wish you were a hallucination.”
Aurora caught a hint of amusement in Gia’s tone and grinned, spreading her arms wide. “Sorry, babe. I’m real.”
Gia glared at her, but more like she was trying not to laugh rather than she was mad. Fuck, she was adorable.
Sure enough, Gia’s lips twitched into a tiny smile. “I’m not creative enough to make you up, that’s for fucking sure.”
A chuckle burst from Aurora, and Gia smiled wider. Energy crackled between them, lighting Aurora’s soul. Could Gia feel it too?
She grabbed her sandwich and took it over to the couch, so maybe not.
Aurora longed to join her, not as a ghost but as a woman. To feel more than electricity as their arms brushed, the heat of their bodies warming the couch as they slowly moved closer together.
She shook herself. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, but Trey tailing you is bad. My coven doesn’t fuck around. I wasn’t aware of any issues between the Thornfields and Lockwoods. Do you think this has something to do with Susan dying and you inheriting the theater?”
Aurora couldn’t see how. The Lockwoods weren’t power players.
They were an inclusive coven who stayed out of the kind of shit the Thornfields pulled in their never-ending quest to worship their Damned Lord.
It didn’t make sense for the Thornfields to go after the Lockwood Coven, but Trey was up to something.
“I don’t know,” Gia said between bites.
“Let’s talk to my friend Lilly and see if she knows anything. Unless there’s some other reason Trey might be after you?”
Gia gave her sandwich a dirty look, seeming to hesitate. “There isn’t. Let’s call your friend.”
Relief had Aurora floating higher off the floor. Finally. “I’ve got Lilly’s number memorized, and she lives nearby. It shouldn’t take her long to get here.”
“Perfect. Do you think she could bring a bottle of wine when she comes? Maybe a Chianti? A glass or two would pair really well with this bullshit.”
Aurora burst into laughter. Damn, comments like that were the way to her heart, or maybe in this form, she should say the way to her soul.
“You can ask Lilly to bring wine, but you might have to settle for whatever’s on sale at the nearest liquor store.”
“What a pity.” Gia gave a long-suffering sigh and pulled out her phone. “Once I dial, can you talk to her?”
“Sure. It shouldn’t be an issue. Unless you’re the only one who can hear me.”
“Why would I be?”
“I don’t know. The same reason I can’t get away from you?”
Gia opened her mouth, then abruptly closed it, a slight flush staining her cheeks. She cleared her throat. “Surely I’m not the only one who can hear you. What’s Lilly’s number?”
What was that blush about? Aurora almost didn’t let it go, and wouldn’t have if things weren’t such a mess.
Hopefully, there’d be time to work out that little mystery later. It’d be more fun than the rest of this disaster.