reaction I expected.” I laughed.
Zia chuckled along with me, stood and approached Haven. She rested her hand on Haven’s cheek and immediately woke her.
“You are all right? Kyden is alive? You’re back?” She rambled on.
I laughed, patted the bed for her to sit with me. “Okay, take a deep breath, and let me tell you what happened.”
By the end, Haven sat with her mouth wide open. Finn looked equally shocked.
“You’re the Ruler of the Underworld?” Haven whispered, disbelief clear in her tone.
I nodded. It was all I could do; worried she wouldn’t be pleased with the news.
Haven blinked twice, then burst out laughing, as did Finn. Kyden and I joined in.
“Just when I think it can’t get any worse, something always proves me wrong.” I sighed and wiped tears from my eyes.
Haven wiped her own and took a deep breath to gather herself. “It’s not so bad. You said it yourself—you don’t really have to do anything.”
“I guess.” I shrugged a little. “It’s just so bizarre. I never thought I would be grateful to a bunch of demons.”
Haven giggled. “Me neither.” Suddenly, a curious look came upon her face. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah, I feel fine. Why?”
“Then we have somewhere to go.” She smiled.
“I’m not going anywhere. I only just got back.” I jumped off the bed and moved next to Kyden. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and lightly ran his fingers across my skin.
Haven stomped her foot, her lips pursed in a pout. “But I have something planned for you.”
“How have you had time to plan anything?”
“Well…” She smiled sneakily. “It was something I planned a week ago and since all is well now, we should continue on with the plans, don’t ya think?”
“Plans for what?” I asked, hesitantly. I’d become suspicious, who can really blame me? Haven had a knack for doing the unexpected.
Kyden leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Have you forgotten what tomorrow night is?”
I met his eyes, trying to think. Tomorrow. What was happening tomorrow? Then, it hit me like a smack in the face. “Our bonding ceremony?”
He smiled, brushed his fingers across my cheek. “I’m glad you haven’t forgotten.”
Haven watched me impatiently to give her the acknowledgement she sought. As much as I wanted to stay with Kyden and never leave his side again, we had agreed that this wouldn’t rule us. This situation was over and I needed to treat it as such.
As the acceptance settled in, I noticed the mischievous look in Haven’s gaze. “What have you planned?”
She wriggled her brows. “You’ll see.”
Oh for Christ Sakes! This was going to be bad.
Chapter Two
“This is amazing,” I exhaled as I leaned back into a giant hot tub filled with rose petals. Of course, Haven sat next to me. She’d pulled together a whole group of us—Zia, Misa, Briar, Sabi, and a few other Witches to join in the relaxing splendor at the Juvenex Spa in New York City.
I was a bit sad that Rynn, Briggs’ mate, was unable to make it, but she was busy with wolf business. Boy oh boy, was she missing out.
We’d already distressed and detoxed in the Jade Igloo Sauna, sweated in the Diamond Herbal Steam Sauna, then had an invigorating Cold Rainforest Shower. Now, Haven and I soaked in a private tub that resembled a hot natural spring, more than an actual tub. It was serenity with a splash of bliss.
After about an hour soak, we met up with the others. All seated in pedicure chairs that massaged my back brilliantly while a poor woman got to work on my feet. It’d been a while since I had a pedicure. Life had been crazy, so sue me for enjoying it fully.
The poor little Asian woman worked up a sweat while she went to town using her foot file paddle.
“My lover will enjoy this silky new body of mine,” Briar commented.
Briar, a Witch who, on the outside, looked about as pretty as they come. With coiled red hair, amazing aqua eyes—it all made her soft looking. Her mouth was entirely something different though. She sputtered profane and naughty comments constantly that had me holding back laughter.
I cracked an eye open and glanced at Haven. We both burst out laughing.
“Something funny, dears?” Briar asked.
“This tickles,” I said, gave a wiggle of my toes in an attempt to save the moment.
After that we joked, laughed, gossiped—did everything girls should do at a spa. But now, it was onto the body treatment, the dreaded hair removal.
Haven stayed with me,