Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
ZOE
Hazel told me to trust my instincts, and I’m so glad I did.
I sit at the desk in my parents’ library with no fewer than six grimoires open in front of me, and I know I’ve done the right thing.
As I snap pictures of the pages, I am sure my idea will work.
I can create a gold ring just like the Saint’s Order one, a ring that will hold the goddess’s celestial magic.
The power of the creator to face off against the power of the destroyer.
And the best part is, most of it I can do without ascending.
I don’t need to be in the Gold Room to form the gold into a ring or to soak it in a potion.
I can sing an incantation and draw the symbols to add the layers of enchantments.
Five layers. A celestial counterspell for each of the dark ones in the original ring.
The only thing I’ll have to ascend for is to infuse the charms, enchantments, and spells I perform into the metal.
But as long as Seb isn’t in a hurry, I think I can wait until I heal a little bit more before I do it.
I can make him the defensive ring he needs without falling into a full-blown dependency situation. I’m sure of it.
Quickly, I finish taking my pictures and slide my phone back into my purse.
I was lucky to quietly sneak in here without anyone seeing me, but the party will be winding down soon, and I need to get back out there before someone notices I’m gone.
I close the top book and walk it to the shelf, carefully returning it to the spot where I found it.
I do the second book and the third. I’ve just closed the fourth when the door opens, and Jeremy strides into the room.
“Hello,” I say lightly. My stomach sinks at the sight of him. I hate that he caught me in here. I’m not doing anything wrong, but I don’t want to answer his questions. I arch an eyebrow. “Ever heard of knocking?”
He smiles, but it doesn’t quite meet his eyes. “I didn’t think there would be anyone in here.”
I giggle. “That’s why you knock.” I return the book I’m holding to the shelf. Behind me, he walks deeper into the room. “I’ll be done in a second if you want to use this room.”
He clears his throat. “No. I came looking for you when I noticed you were missing.”
“You don’t need to keep track of me, Jeremy. I’m a grown woman and perfectly healthy now. No babysitter needed.” I mean for it to come out teasingly, but I can’t keep the sharp edge from my words.
“That’s strange, because it looks like you were planning to do magic before I’ve cleared you.”
What the fuck? I whirl to face him. “First of all, my researching magic is not the same as my doing magic. Second, why haven’t you cleared me? I’ve been sober and thriving for over a year.”
He scowls. “Thriving? You’re barely getting by on your own.”
I jerk back. “What the hell does that mean? I’m gainfully employed. I’ve made a home for myself. I’m healthy.”
He runs a hand over the spell in the last book, still open on the desk. “I wouldn’t know that, would I? Now that you’re missing our appointments.”
“You don’t have to worry about me. In fact, I’m here because of something Hazel said to me, and I feel better than ever.
” I reach for the book to pull it out from under his hand, when I notice a large silver ring on his ring finger that reminds me far too much of the Saint’s Order rings.
Fear catches in my throat like I’ve swallowed a fist, until I notice that the face of the ring is different.
There’s a pentagram instead of a Saint George cross and no inscription.
“Where did you get that ring? It’s new since the last time I saw you, right? ”
He slides his hand off the book and behind the desk. “Not new. It used to be my father’s.”
“Oh.”
“As for Hazel, I’d be careful taking her advice. She’s from another time, really. So old, her opinion is hardly relevant anymore.”
I snort. “Hardly relevant? She’s the most powerful witch in the coven.”
“That depends on how you define powerful.” His words lash through the center of the room and send a chill along my spine. I close the book and slide it back on the shelf.
“I should take off. I’m going to say goodbye to my parents.” I turn to leave, but his hand lands on my shoulder.
“Zoe, wait.” When I turn to look at him, my cheek comes close to his ring, and I feel the gravity of the metal.
It’s that same silent, cold draw, like a black hole of energy, that I felt from the Saint’s Order ring in the Gold Room.
I yank my shoulder away from his touch before I can school my features.
“Where did your father get that ring, Jeremy?” The hair on my arms stands on end.
“Goddess, what is with your obsession with my ring all of a sudden?”
“Nothing,” I say, as I step into the hall. “Just think it’s interesting. Wondering if they have a female version.”
“No. It’s a family heirloom.”
I nod and head for the stairs.
“I want to see you again,” he blurts. I can’t tell if he’s asking me to set up an appointment or a date.
“No.”
“Why not?”
I decide it’s better to presume he’s talking about an appointment. “I think, given our personal history, that I should see someone else professionally going forward. I’ll talk to my parents.”
A grin spreads across his face. “Then there’s nothing stopping us from dating,” he says hopefully.
I frown. “Yes, there is.”
“What?”
God, this man is dense. “Me. I don’t want to date you either. I’m sorry.”
Rage colors his face, and I descend the stairs at a fast clip. He follows me. “You should be careful who you’re fraternizing with, Zoe. Dragons are dangerous.”
I stop in the great room at the base of the stairs and look over my shoulder. “What is with your obsession with dragons all of a sudden? Are you a dragon, Jeremy?”
He opens his mouth to say something, but I don’t wait to hear it.
I take off toward the backyard and am relieved when I find my dad straightaway.
I manage to get him and my mom alone in a bedroom and tell them the truth.
I reveal that Jeremy asked me on a date tonight and that I don’t feel that seeing him professionally is appropriate now.
“I told you he was interested in her, Anita,” my day says through a frown.
My mother shakes her head. “But are you also interested in him, though, darling?” Mom asks brightly. When Dad gives her a sour look, she says, “I only mean, might you have led him on in some way?”
I take her by the shoulders. “Not even a little bit, Mom. And you should know that I’ve been healthy for over a year, and by all accounts, he should have cleared me by now. I believe he kept me on because of his attraction to me.”
“On my dime,” my father says angrily.
“Are you sure? It sounds so devious!” Mom says.
“Look at her, honey. She’s the picture of normalcy. He’s been using her as a meal ticket.”
When I pulled them in here, I didn’t mean to trash Jeremy or his reputation, but I don’t stop them from drawing their own conclusions. Everything I’ve told them is true, and I’m sick of being hounded by that watchdog.
I text William to pick me up and give both my parents a firm hug.
“I’ll take care of everything,” Dad says. “Don’t worry about Jeremy.”
“I love you guys. Happy Beltane.”
They walk me to the door, where they see that William is waiting, holding the door open for me. I promise to call before slipping into the back seat. Only when the door is closed do I see a Jeremy-shaped silhouette in the front room window. His dark face follows us as William pulls away.