Chapter 12
12
ROMAN
“ W hy the fuck is there so much traffic?” I snarl at the slow crawl of cars in front of me. Ambrose looks up from his phone where he’s watching some video on social media. He angles his head, looking out the window. We’re supposed to be meeting my brother and Odie for dinner, and unfortunately, to go out after.
“Ah. It’s the parade.”
I groan. “Fuck. I forgot.” Last weekend was the founders parties, but this weekend is the founders parade. This event has nothing to do with the covens. It’s something the city puts on along with a marketing push to bring in early holiday shoppers to the little stores that litter either side of the Briar Hollows River.
The parade crosses over into both sides of Mystic Hollows, using the larger bridges that allow car traffic to traverse the river. It’s only now moving from the Tenebris side of the city into the Lumen territory. It’s already dark out and the floats light up the street like a carnival.
I check my mirror to see if I can back up and get out of traffic, but the cars are too close.
“Uh, isn’t that our turn?” Ambrose points to a road that’s blocked off. Probably because of the fucking parade. There’s no way I can get around the barricade unless I run the damn things over.
“Looks like we’re heading into Lumen territory,” I mumble.
Ambrose chuckles. “I hope it’s as amusing as last time.”
I glare at him, and he gives me a shit-eating grin. He rests his elbow on the center console and props his chin on his fist. “Do you want to talk about what happened last weekend? I thought you would have shared a few details by now.”
“I’m sorry. Have we met?” I grip my steering wheel and pull forward when the parade traffic clears the bridge.
“We have, although I’m not sure who that was last weekend. A random hook-up? With a pure Lumen witch. That’s so unlike you.”
“You must have imagined that. Maybe if you get your head out of the gutter, you wouldn’t be constantly thinking about sex.”
Ambrose shifts back into his seat. “Protest all you want, but I have eyes. I know what I saw. Plus, I heard what your new friend said after you left the room.”
The car swerves when I jerk my head to look at Ambrose. His hand shoots up to the handle over the window and he braces himself.
“What? What did she say?”
“Your Delvaux witch was chatting with the shy redhead. It was very interesting.” Ambrose hums.
I hesitate, needing to know what he heard, but not wanting to give Ambrose more ammunition. The man is a dog with a bone. He will dig until he uncovers secrets.
“What did you overhear? And she’s not my anything.”
A skeptical sound fills the car. “I’ll share what I know when you share what happened.”
“Asshole,” I grumble. We’re no longer behind the parade, but we’re about to run into the route it will take. People are lined up on the street, bundled up as they wait for the procession to reach them. Vendors are selling glow sticks, hot chocolate, and roasted chestnuts. The distant rumble of a marching band filters into the car.
My eyes are drawn to three people standing back from the crush of the crowd. Before I second guess myself, I pull the car over into a conveniently open parking spot.
“What are you doing? You want to go to the parade?” Ambrose quirks a brow.
“Stay here. I’ll be right back.” I don’t wait for an answer. Unsurprisingly, Ambrose doesn’t listen. He’s out of the car and jogging to catch up with me as I beeline for the isolated group.
“Who are you chasing down…” Laugher cuts through the noise of the oncoming parade when Ambrose spots my destination. “Never mind. What were you saying about last weekend?”
“Shut up,” I grumble, not realizing how close we are to Josephine Delvaux. Her head snaps up and her lips part in surprise. She’s bundled up in a thick wool coat and beanie pulled down low on her forehead. Large, knitted mittens are wrapped around a cup of hot chocolate. I’m not even sure how I knew it was her.
Her friend Piper and a much younger girl are standing around her, although there’s a good two feet of distance between them all.
“We meet again.” Ambrose sidles up to Piper, who blinks at him with wide eyes.
Josephine is staring up at me, but neither of us have said anything yet. She looks tired again. Her skin too pale and her eyes rimmed with fatigue. Is she sick?
The young girl steps in front of Josephine and smirks up at me. “Are you lost?”
She’s wearing a hat with cat ears and holding her own hot chocolate. Her dark hair and green eyes are familiar. This must be Josephine’s youngest sister.
“I’m here for the parade. Obviously.” I dip my head.
The girl lifts one eyebrow, inspecting my face before she turns her critical stare on Ambrose. “You’re handsome, but he’s hotter.” She points at my smug friend.
“Pen.”
“Penelope.”
Both Josephine and Piper scold the girl who just shrugs and turns to watch the oncoming train of decorated floats. Josephine presses her gloved hand to her cheek that has turned a bright shade of red.
“She’s not wrong.” Ambrose grins, and Penelope shrugs but doesn’t bother looking back at him.
I step closer to Josephine, and she shuffles back, farther from the crowd until her body is pressed up against the brick siding of an antique shop. Once again, I’m caging her in. I’m beginning to think she likes being trapped in small spaces by me.
Her breath catches when I dip my head, wanting only her to hear my words.
“You didn’t message me.”
“What are you doing on this side of the river?” she asks instead of answering.
I lift my hand and stroke a finger down her cheek. She’s freezing. Her head turns into my touch and my breath hitches. We’re tucked in the shadows of the building, but there are people everywhere.
“Hey. Personal bubble,” Josephine’s little sister shouts, and I take a surprised step back. The rest of the world had all but disappeared. I look over my shoulder and find Penelope glaring at me.
“It’s fine, Pen.” Josephine and her sister stare each other down, having a conversation with just their eyes. That kid can’t be more than eleven or twelve, but she’s a little scary.
Josephine lifts one brow and Penelope goes back to watching the parade. Ambrose is waving to people as they float by, and Piper is watching the whole thing with wide eyes.
“You should get out of here before someone from the coven sees you.”
“Aren’t you someone from the coven?” I dip my head close to her ear so I don’t have to shout. Her cheek brushes against mine, and I squeeze my fingers into a fist so I don’t do something barbaric like throw her over my shoulder and kidnap her back to my place.
“You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a nobody.”
I pull back to look at her, but she doesn’t meet my gaze. “I doubt that very much.” I stroke her cheek once more with my thumb before gathering the strength to push away from her. “I’ll be waiting, Josephine.”
With those parting words, I hook Ambrose’s arm and drag him back to the car. I’m not a patient man, but something tells me Josephine is worth the wait.
After the parade, all I wanted was to follow Josephine to her house and confine her to more small spaces with my body. I don’t know why I let Ambrose convince me to go out. Even if that was our original plan all along. I’m not in the mood. The music is too loud, there are too many people, and far too fucking many women who have touched me tonight. None of which I’ve felt. It’s just a reminder that Josephine Delvaux, who’s had my number for almost a week, hasn’t reached out, but is going to parades.
Anything entertainment-related in Mystic Hollows is managed by Ambrose’s family. They own the local concert venue, the Mystic Theater, a handful of bars, and the best club in town, which is where we’re at tonight.
“Could you try to contain the snarl? You’re chasing off all the women.” Ambrose kicks my shoe. We’re sitting in the VIP booth that looks out over the dance floor. It’s always reserved for Ambrose, regardless of whether he plans on stopping by or not.
We picked up my brother Bram and Odie after the parade. Odie’s dancing in her seat, more than a little tipsy. Her platinum blonde hair is up in a high ponytail, which means she wants to dance. Bram looks about as happy as I am to be here tonight.
I glare at Ambrose and then jerk my head toward the women walking over to our table. “Obviously not.”
I’m sitting on the outside of the rounded booth with Bram next to me. Odie is on his other side, and Ambrose is across from me. The women look like they’ve broken out their fake IDs to get in here tonight. There’s so much make-up contouring their faces; who knows what the hell they really look like? It’s still not enough to hide how young they are.
They both have long hair styled in big curls that tumble perfectly over their shoulders. One is ashy blonde, and the other has reddish brown hair. The brunette comes to a stop next to me, her hip pressing into the side of the booth.
She sucks in her bottom lip, her eyes roaming over my body. With a practiced grin, she leans in toward me.
“Roman Blackthorn, right?”
Mystic Hollows is a big enough city that not everyone knows me, but when it comes to the magical community, it’s a lot smaller. A mid-level power flows off the woman, telling me she’s a witch. It’s not completely uncommon for members of the Tenebris coven to come over when I’m out for dinner or find me in bars. It’s always annoying, but I find myself even more irritated than usual.
The blonde is flirting with Ambrose, who already has his hand on her hip.
“Yes,” I finally respond to the woman.
“I’m Brianna. Brianna Puckett.” She says her name like I should know who she is. I don’t want to engage in conversation. If I have to be out, I just want to be with my friends. Odie looks like she’s holding back a laugh.
“A new fan club member?” she signs.
“Fuck off,” I sign back at her, which only makes her grin wider.
“Are you guys like using some secret code?” Brianna asks, shouting a little to be heard over the music. Lips thick with liner and gloss purse unhappily.
I cock my head to stare at her. “It’s sign language.”
“Oh,” she mutters, as though that’s disappointing.
“You’re absolutely clueless, Brianna. Can’t you tell the man would rather have his fingernails plucked off than speak to you?” A woman’s dry tone reaches me before Anastasia Lexington pushes Brianna out of the way. “Go find someone with lower status to flirt with. You’re playing outside your pay grade.”
While I don’t want Brianna anywhere near me, I don’t enjoy Anastasia’s brand of getting things done. Brianna scampers off, looking pale beneath her layers of makeup. The last time I saw Anastasia was at my parents’ founders party, where she was assaulting her glass with her tongue in an attempt to come on to me. Her long blonde hair falls down her back and she’s squeezed herself into the tightest, shortest dress I’ve ever seen.
I take a sip of my beer. I’ve been nursing it for so long it’s warm.
Odie raises an eyebrow and signs, “If she blinks, I’m going to get a flash of her vagina.”
I nearly choke on my drink. Bram chuckles beside me, and Anastasia bristles. She’s used to all eyes being on her and doesn’t appreciate not being the center of attention.
“Did you need something?” I sigh.
Her hand lands on my shoulder, and Bram makes a low humming sound next to me. I feel the weight of her hand, but nothing else. My eyes drift to my phone. Will Josephine ever message? Why didn’t I get her number instead?
“I heard a rumor about you.” Anastasia laces her words with sultry sweetness.
I pick up my phone, illuminating the screen and finding no new notifications. “And what was it?” I ask with disinterest.
Anastasia bends, putting her cleavage on display for the table. Her face dips close to mine, her lips by my ear. “I heard you’re looking for your perfect match.”
I jerk my head around, and she rears hers back before I collide with her nose. “Who exactly told you that?” I growl, swiping her hand off my shoulder. She wobbles and stands back up. I played nicely for a few minutes, but I’m done with whatever this bullshit is. I know she spoke with my mother at the founders party. What did my mother tell her?
“Your mother and mine play tennis. Mrs. Blackthorn said you were very interested in settling down.” Anastasia adjusts her dress, hiking up the hem just a tiny bit more. Her voice is shaky at first, but she slowly recaptures a completely out-of-place self-confidence.
My phone vibrates in my hand. For the first time since I was a fucking teenager, my stomach swoops. My heart picks up, and I’m…nervous.
There’s a message from an unknown number.
If you had theme music that played any time you entered a room, what would the song be?
Anastasia presses her body into my side. I don’t bother looking at her. “I’m not interested. Go away.”
Bram chuckles, and Odie signs, “Vicious.” Ambrose is still occupied with the blonde and not paying attention to the rest of us.
“Actually, why don’t you stay.” I push out of my seat. “I’m sure my brother would love the company.”
Anastasia eyes Bram like she’s considering sliding in next to him.
“Fuck off,” he barks, with a flash of darkness bleeding into his eyes. He turns to glare at me. “Where are you going?”
“I’ve got some business to take care of.” I turn away from the table without another word and make my way to the exit. Josephine didn’t exactly invite me over to her house, but she’s opened the lines of communication. I was looking for an excuse to leave, and now I have it, even if all I do for the rest of the night is wait for another text from the witch.
The imperial march. What would your song be?
Should I have waited more than a minute to respond? Probably. I’m sure I look like a desperate fool who’s been staring at my phone all week, just waiting for a sign of life. I basically told her as much at the parade. Knowing this and doing something about it are two different things.
I step outside into the cool night. I didn’t notice a single person as I pushed my way through the club. My eyes are glued to my phone, watching three little dots with far too much intensity.
Instead of an answer, a link to a video pops up. I click on it and bark out a laugh when Rick Astley pops up on screen singing, “Never gonna give you up.”
Did you just Rickroll me?