me too.” The guy with tattoos grinned. “I’m Warner.”
I smiled and waved. “It’s nice to meet you all. I’m Saffie.”
Tegan cleared her throat. “Come on, Saffie. Let’s go check on Riah. Everyone else will be here after and you can pick their brains all you want then.”
Bright white light flashed in front of us — and then we were in the house, standing behind the long dining table that was still covered in dishes and a mountain of fried chicken. It looked like lunch had been interrupted. And by the way everyone else was taking seats I figured I was right.
Devon gasped. “Are y’all seriously about to eat in your ceremonial white?”
Tegan and Tennessee froze with their hands on the backs of chairs.
I turned to ask them a question when I heard the clitter clatter of nails running up the stairs. My heart stopped. I turned toward the door just as Chutney yanked it open – and Olli came rushing out. He ignored the crowd of people and dashed straight for me.
“Olli? What’s wrong?”
“He says he’s coming up,” Chutney answered for him. She crouched down beside my puppy and pet his head. “Who is?”
WHO IS?
“I am,” Riah’s voice echoed through the room.
I gasped and looked up – and froze.
Riah stood at the top of the stairs that led to the finished basement. He wore a light gray V-neck shirt, which I had no idea where he’d found, and his same dark jeans. Despite all the blood he lost there didn’t seem to be a drop of it on him anywhere. Even the long pale strands of his blond hair that had definitely been blood streaked now shined clean and bright, falling perfectly straight to his elbows.
My whole body locked down. I wanted to run to him, to wrap my arms around him but I couldn’t move. I was one blink from sobbing and I was too afraid my eyes were playing tricks on me. “Riah.”
Savannah charged for him. She waved a wand and a box appeared out of thin air right in front of him. Without missing a step, she jumped on it and then pulled her arm back and punched Riah in the face. His head jerked back.
OOOOOHH, the entire Coven yelled in unison.
Warner pointed at her. “SEE, I was right.”
Easton clapped and laughed. “Can we keep her?”
Gigi grabbed Savannah by the arm and dragged her back. “Savannah, stop.”
Savannah shook her hand out, it was already looking red and swollen – not that she minded. She turned her blue eyes on Gigi and arched one eyebrow. “Ma’am. Best let me go ‘cause these hands are rated E for everyone.”
Riah chuckled and rubbed his jaw. “I deserved that. Nice right hook, Savannah.”
She grinned. “Thank you. Now get out.”
“You can’t say that,” Gigi hissed. “The Coven are in charge.”
Savannah shrugged. “He hurt my friend, Gigi, and he has to pay for it. Those are the rules of friendship.”
“Wait, no, Savannah…” I took a step toward Riah but Cooper, Royce, and Deacon jumped out in front of me, blocking my path. “Excuse me?”
Tennessee stepped up in front of me but didn’t force the other guys to back off. He just grimaced and then turned a vicious looking glare at Riah.
Savannah crossed her arms over her chest. “You gots to go.”
Riah pointed to me. “If she’s here, I’m here.”
“Riah,” I shook my head. “You need to heal.”
“I go where you go,” he said in a low, calm voice, like we were standing right beside each other.
Lily frowned and leaned back in her seat. “Is this some caveman bullshit?”
“Who invited Legolas?” Bettina scowled and waved her hand in front of her. “We don’t do that here, buddy.”
“I actually understand that reference,” Riah smirked.
I tried to step around the four boys blocking me but when I stepped, so did they. “Guys.”
Bettina rolled her eyes. She was standing a few feet away from Riah and her hands were solid ice. “Okay, Captain America, but it’s still not okay.”
I huffed and stomped my foot, gold glitter erupting from under me. “But it’s okay for Tennessee, Deacon, or your Jackson?”
Tegan snorted. “Buuuuurn. Let her go, boys, or she’ll cut ya.”
“Let who go?” Easton strolled in holding a bag of chips. “Oh. Ease up, peeps. He’s her soulmate.”
Jackson spun around with wide eyes. “How do you know that?”
Easton shrugged and shoved a chip in his mouth, then held his left arm around to show his VI Mark. “Lovers card. I can sense these things.”