Chapter 36
36
JOSEPHINE
S elene’s eyes drift from me to Roman and then the car idling beside us. The snow and wind are blowing so hard that my eyes are watering and my exposed skin is taking a beating. Roman is at my back, his arms wrapped around me like he can protect me from the weather and maybe Selene.
“Josephine. This is quite the surprise.” Selene’s thin mouth pinches tight. She knows that we’ve stolen the grimoire. She must. That alarm we set off had to have alerted her. Although, how did she get here so fast?
“I have to say, I’m surprised to see you fraternizing with someone from the Tenebris coven.”
My mouth parts in surprise. “What?” I’m too shocked at that to hold back the question.
“And one of their founding families, at that.” Selene’s narrow chin tips up and she peers down her nose at us. “I’ve always valued your healing abilities, Josephine, and what you bring to this coven, but I have to question this rebelliousness.”
Selene looks at the car again, but the windows are so tinted there’s no way she can see who’s inside. Thank the Maiden. I don’t want to put my friends into a situation worse than the one we’re already in.
“Some things are more important than what side of the river you’re born on.” I reply, my voice wavering as a blast of cold air hits my face.
“This coven is my life, Josephine. And you are a member of a founding family. I should think that means more to you than a reckless tryst. But I think the more important question is, why are you here?”
I stare at Selene, my mind blanking. We both know that I took the grimoire, but I’m not about to admit it out loud. She’s outnumbered, even if she doesn’t know who is in the car, she understands she’s just one person. Granted, Selene has strong magic, but can she stand against eight people? No.
“We were just out enjoying the weather.” It’s the first thing that comes to mind. Roman’s choked laughter rumbles behind me. “But we need to get going now.
Roman opens the door to the SUV and gets in first, so that I don’t have to sit next to anyone but him. Selene reaches out and grabs my wrist just as I turn away. Pain bolts up my arm. With a hiss, I snatch my hand away, but Selene is already in my face.
“Josephine, be smart. Do you really think that gorgeous man is with you because he likes you? He’s a dark witch, and I’m certain you’ve just done something against the coven that has loved and supported you your entire life. Ask yourself, why would he single you out? And maybe your blinders will be lifted and you’ll see that he’s using you.”
Roman sticks his head back out the door just as Selene backs off. “Are you coming?”
All the blood has rushed to my head and my heart is pounding. I look up into the steely gray eyes that soften when I return his gaze. With a nod, I hop into the car.
“Let’s get out of here.”
After the incident at the Lumen coven house, I’m expecting all hell to break loose when we steal the Tenebris grimoire. It’s a pleasant surprise when we get in and out of the house without a soul appearing. I don’t know if it’s because Tenebris doesn’t care, or if they’re so confident that they never imagined anyone breaking in. It doesn’t matter. We have both grimoires and possibly the answers to a lot of questions.
By the time we get back to the chateau, I’m bone weary, but the night is just beginning. We need to read through the grimoires. We need answers now. There’s no time to waste.
“Who needs a drink?" Ambrose calls out as we file back into his living room, everyone removing layers of winter clothing. Penelope is curled up on the couch, messing around on her phone. She jumps up as soon as she sees us. What I wouldn’t do to give her a hug.
“How did it go? Did you get them?”
Ava pulls the two books out of her bag and holds them up for Penelope to see.
“Well, damn. I didn’t think you guys would actually pull it off.”
“Thanks for the confidence, Pen.” Ava ruffles her hair as she walks by. Pen scowls and flattens out her messy strands.
Ava kneels in front of the table. She sets the books on the wooden surface and flips them both open to the first page.
“How did they split these two books?” Piper stands behind Ava, staring down over her shoulder.
Bram groans as he gets on his knees beside Ava and glares at Ambrose as he comes in, holding a glass of amber liquid. “Don’t you have any tables with chairs?”
Ambrose shrugs. “Do you want a pillow for your delicate knees?” He throws a tasseled pillow at Bram’s head. He catches it and stuffs it under his knees without another word.
The rest of us watch as he and Ava look through the books.
“Don’t go so fast. There’s no way you can read that quickly,” Ava says.
“Yes, I can. Keep up,” Bram grumbles.
“Oh my god. You’re going to rip the pages.”
“I can have a soft touch when I want. A firm one, too. I’m talented like that.”
Ava snorts, “Sure thing, maestro.”
The two of them aren’t even looking at the books anymore. They’re just glaring at each other.
“Maybe I’ll just look at this one.” Piper slides Ava’s book across the table and sits down. Ambrose tries to do the same with Bram’s book but gets a growled, “Try it.”
Odie and Stellan are sitting on the couch with Penelope, watching everyone else with amusement. Roman and I are at the end of the table, waiting for the chaos to calm down.
Piper hums under her breath. Ambrose leans in to see what’s caught her interest and she freezes up. Ambrose either doesn’t realize or he’s not afraid of pushing personal boundaries. I think it might be the latter.
“What is it? Did you find something?” he asks Piper, whose cheeks and neck flush.
“Ah, just, can I see that book?” She points to Bram’s book but doesn’t look him in the eye.
Ambrose pulls it closer, but Bram slaps his hand down on the open pages.
“Oh, don’t be a dick. I’ll give you your book back in a second.”
“Fine,” Bram snaps. Ambrose drags the book to Piper, and she mumbles a thanks.
“See here.” She flips to the last page of her grimoire and to the first page of the other book. “And here. They literally cut it in two. Right in the middle of an entry. This book”—she points to the book in front of her—“has the beginning section, and the other has the later half.”
Ambrose pushes up from his spot at Piper’s side. “Well then, as much as I’ve missed grade school group reading time, I think this might be a one- or two-person job. Who wants to read? I can make some snacks.”