Chapter 20 Callisto
CALLISTO
The library is still, quiet in that sacred kind of way.
It’s beautiful this time of night. Moonlight pours in through the tall bay windows on the far side of the room, casting silver patterns across the floor.
The desk lamp hums softly, its warm glow wrapping around the space, just bright enough to read without straining.
My eyes skim over the book I found on grounding techniques when the pages begin to flutter.
I press my hand down immediately, holding them still.
“Could you not?” I say with a huff. “I need to figure this shit out.”
“You’re not going to learn what you need to from those books, little witch.”
I turn around in the chair to find Alabaster leaning over, our noses almost touching. I still, trying not to let him see how he’s affecting me.
“Pray tell, how do I learn, then?” I ask, cocking my head ever so slightly as I raise a brow.
He responds with a mischievous smile. “Hands-on learning is the best way I’ve found that works.”
He brushes my jaw with his fingertips. It’s light. Barely there. But my body reacts instantly, heat rushing to my cheeks before I can stop it.
Fuck him for making me feel this way.
I turn my head, roll my eyes, pretend I’m unfazed by the obvious flirtation. Like it didn’t land. Like it didn’t set off a fuse somewhere deep under my skin. I’m too busy to get distracted. I refuse to be distracted.
Even if part of me wishes I could afford to be.
“Look. You can help me or not,” I say flatly, then return to my book. “If not, then leave.”
“Ask me, and I will.” His snide tone makes me want to say no. But I’m not in a position to refuse. He may be right about just doing. But it scares me…
I sigh, tilting my head back to see him above me. Staring down into my eyes.
“Will you help me?” I say, shooting him my best doe-eyed look.
His face flattens as his glowing eyes pierce through me. “Say please, pretty girl.”
The look on my face drops and immediately I spit back at him through my teeth. “Will you help me… please.”
“Good girl,” he says, smiling that fucking smile that gets to me every time. “Follow me.”
He stands and walks to the double doors at the back of the library—opening them wide before stepping onto the patio. And into the half-finished secret garden Cade and I have been building, for the coming summer.
He turns back, hand extended, beckoning me to him.
A small smile tugs at my lips as I follow, slipping into the quiet array of leafless, dormant fauna. I find him at the center of the space, standing on the concrete slab where I’d planned to put a table.
His hands come together in a loud smack, and he rubs them together before speaking.
“First thing you need to learn is to follow your instincts.”
He lifts his hands in front of him, palms open.
The vines move before I can register what’s happening—slithering out from the bushes on either side of me, thick and alive.
“What are you doing?”
A chill runs up my spine as I step back, my voice quieter than I mean it to be. He doesn’t answer me, just watches me with a Cheshire cat grin as the vines move closer to me.
One wraps around my wrist. Then another. Cool tendrils slide around my ankles, trailing up my calves. More crawl out from the shrub wall, slipping into my hair, brushing against the back of my neck. They curl slowly and deliberately. Almost like they are teasing me.
“Stop.”
My breath catches.
“Stop right the fuck now.”
The vines still.
His smile fades, replaced with something unreadable. He tilts his head slightly, like I’ve surprised him—like I’m the one overreacting.
“You need to be in a situation where you have to use your magic to get out.”
He walks up to me, the vines moving again, slower this time. They creep up my arms, holding me in place as he leans down, meeting me at eye level.
His breath brushes against my lips, close enough to make my heart stutter. The vines continue to move like they’re thinking, like they know exactly where to touch. One traces up my thigh, curling beneath the hem of my shirt, dragging lightly across my stomach.
I shiver beneath the cool vines as they roam my body like they are alive and curious…
He watches me. Watches the way my breath shifts. The way I tense but don’t pull away.
“You can feel it, can’t you?” he murmurs, his voice smooth and dangerous. “Right under your skin… That power. Just waiting.”
Another vine glides over the curve of my hip, and it’s soft. One loops around my waist, pressing against my stomach. He leans in, mouth close enough to brush mine.
“I told you I wouldn’t hurt you,” he says. “But if you want out, you’re going to have to get yourself out.”
A pause. His smile curves up.
“That is… if you even want to.”
His eyes drop to my lips, and my heart kicks up again.
“Come on, pretty girl,” he whispers. “Show me what you can do.”
I try to move, but the vines keep me in place.
I feel them gently squeezing my thighs and arms as they wrap around my neck—just tight enough to feel it.
I can’t think. Between his hands slowly wrapping around my ribs, pulling me toward his body, and the vines holding me in place, I’m overstimulated in the best way.
Getting lost in the sensations all at once.
I open my mouth in an attempt to speak. “I—I can’t—” I say, breathless.
He bites at my collarbone, his sharp teeth piercing my skin. My head tilts back as I bite my lip, enjoying the pain. I feel the warm blood drip down my chest as the heat of him disappears. I look up. He is staring at me, his eyes hungry.
“You can.”
He turns, walking over to the bucket of gardening tools next to the spigot with the garden hose.
“You just need… incentive.”
He turns on the spigot and walks over with a glint in his eyes, dragging the hose behind him.
My eyes follow him as he gets on his knees. He looks up at me before he reaches under my skirt with both hands. My body jerks at the sudden contact and I feel him tear into my panties. The vines begin tightening and coiling around me further, as my feet lift off the ground, my weight supported.
I look down at him, waiting for him to say something—when he turns the hose on.
Setting it to high pressure before immediately aiming right on my clit.
The freezing cold water hits my body like it burns.
I cry out. The pressure feels so good. My arms and legs attempt to thrash, but I’m unable to move.
“Fuck! Alabaster. Please!”
He stops the hose.
“Please what? You have a mouth. Use it. Unless you get out, I’m going to use every tool at my disposal until your body can’t handle it. Maybe I’ll get the hand rake next.”
He looks at me and smiles.
“You want it to stop, make it stop.”
He turns it back on, the pressure already drawing an orgasm from me.
The vines continue to tighten around me and I feel a prickle of heat under my skin. The same heat I felt when I knew he was near. He is warming me.
My orgasm comes fast and hard. My moans come in reckless and loud as my breathing falters. He stops the hose and stands, keeping it in hand. I lose feeling in my toes.
As I come down from the high, my body relaxes. I want down now. The vines begin to release. Uncoiling quickly. My weight dropping. He catches me with ease.
He says nothing as he carries me inside into the downstairs bathroom.
Sets me down on my feet as he turns the water on, checking the temperature and adding a scoop of my bath salts before coming back over to me.
Gestures for me to put my arms up. I comply, my body tired and bruised.
He pulls my clothes off slowly, keeping his gaze on my face the whole time.
He lifts me and guides me into the tub, the warm water easing the ache. I relax into it.
“I thought you said you were going to keep me there,” I say in a hoarse voice.
“I was. You wanted out, so you got out,” he says, toying with the surface of the water with his finger.
“That’s it? I just have to want it? That’s too easy,” I say, adjusting myself and sitting up.
“It takes focus, instinct, and intention. Without that, your magic is reckless. Dangerous.” He stands. “I’ll meet you in your room. I want to get back to that book you’ve been reading.” He starts to dissipate.
“Don’t fuck with my yellow tabs!” I call after him, loud enough to make my point.
I shake my head, smiling. Sinking back into the tub. I lay there for a moment, thinking. Though his methods are kind of fucked-up, he’s right. It always boils down to me letting go—and trusting my intuition.
Makes me wonder what I’m actually capable of.
I finish the bath and wrap myself in a towel. Looking at myself in the mirror, I can’t help but wonder if I would have come this far without Alabaster’s help.
I can feel him changing me.
I feel… good.
I feel confident, despite the fact that not twenty minutes ago, I was in the most compromising position I could have never imagined possible.
It’s late when I decide to go make myself coffee, leaving Alabaster on my bed, nose-deep in my book. I slide my house slippers on and wrap my fluffy robe around my waist as I head out of the room, Karma in tow.
I’m not even halfway down the hall when Jack steps out of his room, rubbing his eyes as he looks me over.
“You look cozy.”
“And you look exhausted,” I say with a smile. “How do you feel?”
He reaches down, giving Karma a pet. “Hey, girl…” he coos. “A bit better, actually. Thank you.”
“Want some coffee?” I offer, still smiling.
“Now who’s way too chipper,” he says as he follows me down the stairs.
After making us both a cup, I sit down at the kitchen table with him, checking my phone for the notifications I know aren’t there. I’m just lucky to have a phone at all. Took Jack and me years to convince Cade it would be safe to let me have one. Jack speaks up, breaking the silence.
“I know I made it into a joke, but you really do seem happy.” He sips his coffee, watching me. “You doing okay?”
I rub my sore arms, already knowing I’ll have bruises. “Yeah. I feel pretty good right now,” I say honestly.
He leans back, shooting me a sweet half smile. “So… who’s the guy?”
My eyes snap to his. “Huh?”
“C’mon, Cal. The last time I remember you smiling like that was when it was with me.” He laughs under his breath.
My face turns red. He might be right, but this just got weird. And I am absolutely not telling him that a demon made me come with a garden hose, in our backyard, while I was tied up by sentient vines.
Nope. Taking that one to the grave.
“Umm… it’s this guy I met in town?”
“Yeah?” He sits back deeper in his seat. “When did that happen?” His voice dips just enough to be noticeable. Flat and guarded.
I stutter for a second, then land on something halfway believable. “Yeah, I met him when I went into town to get everything for you yesterday.”
I shrink into my seat, my cheeks hot. This is weird, talking to Jack about this. I glance over and he seems—off. There’s a look in his eyes I can’t place.
Anger?
“What’s wrong?” I ask, concern slipping into my voice.
He leans forward, shifting like he’s going to say something… but then stops. His jaw tightens before he responds.
“Nothing.”
Grabbing his mug, he walks to the sink, rinsing it out in silence. Before leaving, he turns back to me.
“I’m happy for you.”
He throws me another half smile, then disappears upstairs.