Chapter Seven
Rome
I’ve never been a jealous guy. After getting my heart broken when I was younger, I protected myself, staying distant.
The women I’ve been with haven’t been important enough to care if they had other men interested.
My relationships have been carefree and simple.
I go into it knowing they aren’t meant to be mine long term, and they know I am not looking for something serious from the beginning.
When they want to move on, I don’t protest.
Everything is different with Mara. My Mara.
She is mine, and when Cameron smiled at her, I wanted to take away his vision so he could no longer look at her.
I know she has never felt as he does, but I can see the longing in his eyes.
I was wrapped up in Mara and didn’t pay attention to his aura as Mom did.
I’m off, and it’s because of my bond. I study everyone I meet and their intentions.
I can tell if they are a good person by the way their body moves.
“What’s happening?” I glance at the door as Archer walks through, carrying two bags of food. He looks at Gavin, and his nostrils flare. We can smell the scent of shifters. Our magic warns us of an animal close by.
“Archer,” Adeline squeals, rounding the counter. She wraps her arms around his waist, and he holds the sacks out wide.
“Hello, Aunt,” he mumbles, looking at me. He knows my emotions and can sense my unease.
“So good to see you,” Mom says, pushing her sister out of the way and taking her place. “You brought food. What a good boy.” He obediently leans down to kiss her cheek.
“Margarete, I didn’t know you would be here,” he says, and she eases away.
“They surprised us,” I say dryly.
“Sounds right,” he says. “Who are you?” Archer points a bag at Gavin.
“A friend. Lace is working on a piece today,” Gavin replies and turns to Lace. “You have a place full of witches overnight.”
“Uh—” Lace looks at Mara.
“Gavin, they are trusted,” Mara says, leaning closer, pressing her back against my chest. “Let Lace finish. We don’t need our business spread around.” Her voice gets hard as she stares at him.
“Message received,” Gavin says lightly. “Come on, darlin’, let's finish.” He nods at me and turns. Lace hurries after him and shuts the door.
“This is the best day,” Adeline says, and I lift an eyebrow at her. “Well, it is. We got to meet Mara. See Archer. Meet Lace. We have dozens of books set out in the back, and we saw a yummy chest full of tattoos, even though he’s an animal. What’s not to like?”
“The interruptions, Cameron, Gavin—”
“Rome, you don’t have to worry about those men,” Adeline interrupts. “Mara has no interest in them. Right?” She looks at Mara.
“Of course not,” she says and tilts her head. “Rome, I don’t.” Her hair is feathered across my chest, her eyes pleading with me. I dip my head and kiss her forehead.
“I know, my Mara,” I whisper. The swirling in my gut has nothing to do with her feelings and everything to do with mine.
“Let’s eat.” Mom claps her hands and takes a bag from Archer. They settle on the couch at the front.
“Are you alright?” Mara asks, turning in my arms.
“Yes. I don’t like anyone looking at you. I’ll get used to it. You're beautiful; men are going to look.”
“I think you are overestimating my appeal,” she says.
“I’m not.” I kiss her lightly and guide her toward the food.
Archer is watching me as I encourage Mara to eat.
I pull her to my lap after she takes a container.
He knows I’m fucked up inside. I didn’t care about much before Mara.
He always encouraged me to go out and meet people, knowing I needed some kind of purpose.
My work is challenging and fulfilling, but I’ve been losing interest lately.
After so many years in the world, boredom comes easily.
Finding something to interest you becomes harder and harder.
I’ve been searching for something I didn’t know the name of.
Mara is my purpose now. She makes me feel things I thought I could no longer feel.
I’ve been spelling to do regular daily tasks, bored with life.
My magic surrounds her now. She hasn’t noticed or, at least, hasn’t admitted it, but I freely give her my spells to strengthen and stabilize hers.
“Do we need to kill whoever pissed you off?” Archer asks.
“You can’t kill Cameron,” Mara says.
“I don’t like him,” Mom announces.
“I agree,” I say.
“He’s a professor. I’ve never felt threatened by him.” Mara takes a bite of a muffin.
“He wants to fuck you.” I break off a piece of her food and pop it in my mouth.
“Son,” Mom gasps.
“Well, he does,” Adeline says, and we share a smile.
“He might have a crush,” Mara admits.
“Rome, I’m sure he knows he has no chance now,” Archer says, and glares. “If not, I’m sure we can persuade him.”
“Can we stop talking about this?” Mara frowns.
“Yes.” I glance at Archer. “He shouldn’t have any doubts.” He nods.
“Mara, is your magic stabilizing?” Adeline asks.
“It is. I slipped up last night, but I hope that with more practice, it will get better. Rome has enhanced what I can do and has helped keep the emotions controlled,” she answers.
“That is one of the purposes of the soul bond.” Mom smiles. “Before I met his dad, my spells were all over the place.”
“You can teleport,” Mara says.
“Yes, it was difficult to live with before I bonded. I would pop all over the world and couldn’t ground myself to get back to where I started.
It was frustrating. It was magical meeting Arthur.
He centers me.” Mom looks at Mara knowingly.
“Finding the one meant for you makes life much sweeter. Not to mention the sex.” She shares a look with Adeline.
“Tell Dad he can come out of hiding,” I say, rescuing Mara from having to reply. Her body is tense, and I can’t take any more discussions about sex.
“Fine. I get the hint.” Mom touches the ends of Mara’s hair before standing. “Where should we meet tonight?”
“I’ll message you.” I press Mara’s hips. As she stands, I move to Mom. She is frustrating with her interference, yet I know it comes from nothing but love. I kiss her on the cheek and do the same to Adeline. “Have some fun with the afternoon.”
“We will.” Adeline pats me on the cheek. “Don’t kill anyone while we are gone.”
“Why does everyone think I will?” I ask, and Mom tilts her head.
“Son,” she sighs, and glances at Mara. “Could we get our books later? They are piled in the back.”
“Of course,” Mara says, and eases back on the couch. “I’ll bring them when we meet.”
“Thanks, sweetheart.” Mom blows a kiss at Archer, who shakes his head but smiles. Adeline winks at him and follows Mom out the door.
“They're sweet,” Mara says softly, and I sit beside her.
“They are excited.” I slide my arm behind her.
“You’re lucky to have them. It’s the most conversation we’ve had around here.” She grins.
“I haven’t seen anyone try to come in,” Archer says, looking at the door.
“Probably because your mom turned the sign off,” Mara says dryly, and I look over my shoulder. “It’s alright. She did it when Cameron left. We don’t have a steady stream of customers.”
“That little sneak,” I whisper.
“She means well,” Archer mutters.
“It was a nice break.” Mara looks at the sign, and it blinks on.
“Did you run into any problems at the restaurant?” I ask.
“No. The owner didn’t remember them. I talked myself into the office and erased the security cameras,” he says.
“Thank you for covering for her,” Mara says, leaning against my arm. “Rose didn’t deserve any backlash.”
“Has anyone missed Jerry?” Archer asks.
“We haven’t tried to find out.” I’m sure his work will report his disappearance, but there isn’t any trace of our presence. “Do you have cameras here?”
“No. They wouldn’t be reliable since my magic likes to mess with electronics.” Mara shrugs.
“Have you noticed anything different about your magic since last night?” I ask, knowing she’s been avoiding talking about it.
“I feel stronger,” she admits, and then frowns. “Last night was draining, yet today my spells are recharged. I don’t feel out of control.”
“Who is the man with Lace?” Archer asks.
“Gavin. He’s harmless,” she says.
“I wouldn’t call him that,” he says.
“He’s a leopard with plenty of power,” I say.
“But he’s been nice to us. He’s kept our spells a secret from humans. The people he sends to Lace are vetted and trusted. They don’t want their gifts exposed any more than we do.” She meets my gaze and lays her hand on top of mine. “Don’t worry about him. He acts like an older brother.”
“We don’t trust many outside our circle,” I say.
Knowing the leopard knows about them doesn’t sit right.
He may have the best intentions, but he shouldn’t know about their magic.
I don’t associate with shifters, and I can count on one hand who knows what I am.
We don’t let just anyone know what we can do. “Has he seen your spells?”
“No, just Lace,” she says.
“Her power hasn’t formed fully,” Archer states.
“Unfortunately, something is blocking it. She is great with ink. Every tattoo she does is special and unique to the person she is inking. Several of mine are her work, and none of them have faded.” She rubs her arm, pushing her sweater up.
“They are beautiful. She has a gift of knowing what the individual wants and is a wonderful artist. Many who come to her allow her to choose the image.”
“I feel her magic,” I whisper.
“Really?” Mara asks.
“I do too,” Archer says. “It’s a matter of time. She will have to prepare for the onslaught of spells that explode inside. If she doesn’t, it will overwhelm her. In her heart, she wants her magic. Otherwise, it would fade with time.”
“She doesn’t think it will come.” Mara drops her hand on my leg.
“She’s wrong,” I say, looking at the door to the back. “I’ve seen it before. The witch can try to ignore it, but it will come out, whether they like how that happens or not.”