I grinned and pointed to the tray of food on the nightstand. “And yet you sent us food.”
“Well, I don’t know about him, but I knew you needed to eat.” She winked and then glanced around our very empty room. “I understand not having time to really move in yet…but mattress on the floor?”
“Not much different than on the dirt or inside a ride.” I shrugged.
“Or in a cave,” Riah said softly.
My cheeks warmed. I was not going to think about that right now.
“I have not slept in a bed in over three centuries.” I pushed up on my elbows. “Although that couch in Lookout Tower was nice – but I don’t have to tell you that.”
Tegan gasped. “Saffie, sassy.”
“Though she makes a warranted point. Perhaps we will furnish the room properly.” Riah pointed to the sheets beneath him. “Particularly a real bed.”
“Okay, well, before you get excited to decorate, I came to remind y’all it’s time to go.”
I frowned. “To go where?”
“The surprise party?” She arched one black eyebrow and her pale green eyes sparkled. “Remember? I said be downstairs by seven? Well, you’ve got literally two minutes.”
Oh, shit.
“What is the attire expected?” Riah gestured to her outfit. “Or have you not prepared thyself yet?”
“There’ll be a variety of clothing styles, so go in whatever you choose.” Tegan shrugged. “Tenn will be in his usual and I’m going like this.”
Like this meant ripped black skinny jeans, beat up studded black combat boots, a black top with that fancy studded black leather jacket…and her purple dipped hair.
“Okay…we’ll be right down. Promise.”
With a single wink she was gone, and I was officially nervous. A Coven party. My first Coven party and I wasn’t even close to being ready. I leapt from the bed and began to run for the closet only to stop mid-step. I had nothing, nothing that belonged to me. Riah chuckled and sat forward, resting his arm across his knees. The sheets fell down to his hips, revealing all that tan skin, and my mind suddenly went blank.
“The view is nice from here.” A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest.
My cheeks burned. I held my hands out to my sides and let my magic flow, covering me from head to toe in golden glitter.
In my mind I pictured exactly how I wanted to look and prayed it was perfect for this occasion. I’d seen it on a television show back in Salem. Thin straps over my shoulders held a long flowing dress that brushed the tops of my feet. The front dipped down into a V that stopped just at my chest and a long slit ran up the side, showing off my left leg. It pulled tight across my waist, hugging my body and then flowing to the ground in an array of shimmering shades of deep purple, navy blue, and emerald green. Then I gave myself flat sandals that strapped up my calf.
I held my hands out to my sides and posed for him. “Well…what do you think? Dangerous? Cute? Lethal?”
His eyes roamed over me from head to toe and a lazy sideways grin spread across his face. Those golden soulmate lines seemed to glitter as he thought. “Intoxicating.”
Warmth heated my cheeks and I fought not to hop right back into our makeshift bed.
He narrowed his eyes. “Can you put my clothes back on me for me…or shall I do that myself?”
I wanted to make him do it, but I knew that was a dangerous request. His clothes were right there anyway. I flicked my wrist and golden glitter wrapped around them – and then his clothes slammed right into him, but just before impact my magic coiled around his body. Light flashed and his clothes were on .
In this lighting, I realized his jeans were actually a dark gray, and they somehow matched nicely with the pale gray color of his V-neck t-shirt. I was secretly glad he didn’t wear black like Tennessee. I wasn’t sure I could handle him like that. Besides, this color palette went perfectly with his burning ember scent. It was like he was the smoke billowing from the flames.
I flicked my wrists and his black boots popped onto his feet.
He grinned and climbed to his feet. His long blond hair hung effortlessly and perfectly over his shoulders. “Ready?”
I nodded and held my hand out.
He grabbed it and dragged me out the door into the hall. I jumped onto his back and wrapped