he cut up his food. “He’s back in The Coven. The job must move on.”
Tennessee cursed.
Tim laughed and smacked the table. “Well shit, that’s right. Those are the rules. Who will take my place? Daniel is about to be a first-time father. I don’t want him back at it.”
“I would if there’s no one else,” Daniel said softly and pushed his glasses up his nose. “Goddess knows I’ve done it all this time. But I would prefer to just be a professor if we have another option.”
Kenneth chugged the rest of his drink and then licked his lips. “Wait a sec, I’m a civilian now. This is great news. I would LOVE to be Headmaster.”
Tennessee sighed and ran his hand through his wild hair. “That’s settled then. Any other business we need to address?”
Lennox raised her hand. “Speaking of school, are we going to have our traditional Red Ball?”
“OHHHH,” all the younger people at the table said.
“Tenn, we have to.”
“Yeah, we deserve it.”
“Everyone deserves it.”
“I do look good in red.”
“Bloody hell, I forgot about that one.”
Bettina frowned and raised her hand. “What’s the Red Ball?”
“Valentine’s Day dance here at school, but you can only wear red.” Jackson shrugged. “Usually a good time.”
“Usually a great time, dude.” Warner scoffed. “Samhain and Valentine’s are our most fun dances.”
Tennessee sighed, which I noticed he did a lot. “Tegan, penny for your thoughts? You’re awfully quiet…do you know something we don’t?”
She froze, then glanced around. “Sorry, I was planning my slutty red outfit to torture Cooper with in my head.”
Cooper threw a garlic bread at her. “Dad?”
Hunter cursed. “Son, if you’d stop reacting like this, she might stop torturing us.”
“Do I own anything red?” Tennessee asked, though mostly to himself.
“I’ll get us something matching, babe. Don’t worry.”
“Okay, but no more sexy tangos with Deacon. Not sure I could not kill him a second time.”
Deacon’s eyes widened. “I second that request. I’d also like to not die.”
“I third that request.” Emersyn ripped a breadstick in half. “I did kill someone last time.”
Tegan threw her head back and cackled.
“Hey, D?” Tennessee leaned around Tegan. “Can you invite SOMA to join us?”
“On it.” Deacon pulled out his cellphone and started typing.
Savannah cleared her throat. “Um…not to change the subject but I need to call my parents and tell them what happened…Katherine or Saffie, can you tell them I’m okay? They won’t believe me and they’ll want me home, I know it.”
“No,” Tegan said and then took a sip of her drink.
Savannah gasped. “No…what?”
Tegan shook her head, “You’re not going home.”
Savannah frowned and looked to me, but when I shrugged she turned back to Tegan. “I’m not? They’re going to freak out and want to see me.”
“That’s fine.” Tegan picked up her fork and stabbed her food. “They can come here. You’re not leaving.”
Royce cleared his throat. “Tegan, pumpkin, you’re doing that creepy thing again.”
Braison shook his head. “You can’t stop her, she’s not in The Coven.”
Tegan arched one eyebrow and pointed to her head, her crystal crown appearing instantly. “Y’all made me Coven Leader, remember? So yes, I can. And I will.”
Everyone looked to Tennessee.
He grinned and leaned back. “Be careful what you wish for, folks.”
Savannah chewed on her bottom lip. “Okay, so I’m staying here but you’ll tell my parents right?”
Tegan nodded.
Gigi leaned forward. “Can I stay, too?”
Tennessee glanced over, then did a double take. He cursed. “I forgot you were still here.”
Gigi grimaced.
Tennessee shook his head. “No, you have to go.”
Gigi paled “But—"
“No.” Tennessee held his hand up. “You already got one of my people killed. I won’t have that happen again.”
Gigi looked to Riah with wide eyes.
“Riah is not here to clean up your kills,” Tennessee growled.
Gigi bit her lip and turned to her right. “Savannah?”
“What do you want me to say?” Savannah closed her eyes and cringed. “I’m sorry but…I died Gigi. Because of your inability to control your shifting. I’ve begged you to work on that for years and you didn’t and I died. My Coven Leaders have ordered me to stay here.”
“Where am I supposed to go?”
Tennessee shrugged. “I can’t order you where to go, but I can order you to leave my land.”
“So I just go home to Salem and do what?”
“I’d say I don’t care what you do but it’s my job to keep this realm safe and you’re an endangerment to everyone around you, including yourself. So Koth will be hearing of this, and I’m sure he’ll have an opinion.”