“I still can’t believe the spirit that talked to you with that medium was actually your friend.”
Gigi shuddered. “Yeah, creepy.”
“You would have liked her.” I sighed as that tightness filled my chest again, the way it always did when I remembered the people from all those years ago. I shook myself. “She actually found her soulmate here in new Eden while she was pregnant with angel Gabriel’s baby.”
Savannah pouted. “Sooper will never be a thing, that’s what you’re telling me?”
I frowned. “Sooper?”
Gigi shook her head. “It’s a couples’ name, where you mash both names together to make one. Savannah and Cooper, Sooper.”
“Or Saffie and Riah…Saraphiah?”
I snorted.
“Saraphiah?” Riah said from suddenly behind me.
I gasped and spun around. “Riah.”
He arched one eyebrow and smirked. “Hello, love.”
My face warmed. “We were just—”
“Putting our names together for a couple name? I know. Like Brangelina.”
Gigi gasped. “He did not just say that.”
“I cannot say I am proud of that, but I digress.” He shrugged and shoved his hands in his front jeans pockets. “But Saraphiah?”
Savannah snorted. “Well, you insist on calling her Saraphina, soooo…”
“Saraphiah reminds me of a guy who hangs witches from tree limbs.”
I shuddered. “Well, that one has to go now.”
“Shit. What about Riaphina?”
Savannah snapped her fingers. “Saffiah.”
He narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips…then nodded. “Saffiah will suffice.”
Savannah and Gigi both giggled.
I held my hand out to him and he took it. “Am I neglecting you?”
“Not at all. I was outside with Tennessee, helping Timothy become acquainted with his new sword.” He moved closer. “But then Emersyn came out and ordered us in for dinner. She has prepared a feast for everyone. I was sent to retrieve you. All of you.”
“I can go?”
He smiled. “Katherine is helping Kenneth up the stairs as we speak. She assured me you were free to join us for dinner.”
Us. I really, really liked how fast The Coven had accepted him as one of their own.
“What’s for dinner?”
“I saw several homemade pizzas and a variety of baked pasta dishes.” He rubbed his stomach with his free hand and it made me smile. It was the most human thing I’d ever seen him do. “And something called chicken parm, which I must admit I am fascinated to try.”
Savannah gasped. “She made chicken parm?”
“Indeed, she did—”
“Oh shit.” Savannah jumped out of bed and sprinted for the door. “This is not a drill y’all.”
“Emersyn’s from the south, right?” When I nodded, Gigi hurried after Savannah. “Southern women can cook.”
And then I was alone with Riah. I looked up into his golden eyes. “What is chicken parm?”
“Haven’t the slightest idea, but the scent of the air upstairs is mouth watering.” He tugged on my hand, pulling me to my feet. “Shall we?”
I nodded and let him lead me out the door. It wasn’t until we were halfway up the stairs that I realized my puppy was not in his arms. “Where is Olli?”
“Ah, I do believe little miss Chutney is claiming ownership at this very moment.” Riah pushed the door open for the main floor and smiled at me. “Olli absolutely detests it.”
As soon as I walked through the door I was hit by a wall of smells that smelled so good my stomach growled like a bear.
Everyone turned to look at me.
Jackson shook his head. “How does a person so small make that noise?”
Olli barked from my left. I looked toward him just in time to see him leap out of Chutney’s arms at me. I gasped and caught him. He wiggled and wagged his tail, showering me with kisses…and then he spotted Riah over my shoulder and howled. Riah laughed and pulled him into his arms.
I shook my head. “Traitor.”
“Here, Savannah.” Willow grinned and waved, then patted on the chair beside her. “There are seats over here! Gigi, you too!”
“Sweet.”
As Savannah hurried over to the far side of the table with Gigi following close behind, I took a moment to soak in the image in front of me. Somehow, despite there being almost three dozen of us, everyone was sitting at the same table. Sure, it was the longest table I’d ever seen and it had to be fifteen feet long, but the point was everyone was together.
I hadn’t realized just how many couples there were in the group.
Timothy and Katherine sat in the middle on the right, all cuddled up together. Constance and her soulmate Daniel were beside Katherine and they kept giggling at each other. Willow was after them looking