have made my French toast a lot more interesting than it was that morning. But I would have been pissed to deal with a demon before I even finished my coffee. At least wait until a witch is fully caffeinated, okay?” I tap the jar. “Okay. Glad we have an understanding.”
Eliza slowly shakes her head. “I said it the first time I saw you and I’m saying it again: there is something seriously wrong with you.”
“I don’t disagree,” I tell her.
“I do.” Lucas’s deep voice rumbles right through me, and I look up, heart skipping a beat. “Callie is perfect.”
Eliza makes an exaggerated gagging noise and rolls her eyes. “Well, your perfect little wife has demon ashes in the dining room. You might want to talk about properly baby-proofing this place, because if little Callie Junior gets bored and resurrects a demon, you’ll have a lot of explaining to do to the babysitter.”
“We won’t have a babysitter,” Lucas replies without even thinking.
“Excuse me?” My eyebrows go up. “What if I want to go out?”
“I assumed we’d have Kristy or Evander watch the kid.” Lucas looks at Eliza. “Or you. I only trust two people in this world, and you are both in this room. I’m willing to possibly let your friends watch our child solely because you trust them,” he tells me.
“I almost feel sorry for you,” Eliza huffs. “But you were the one who spread your legs.”
“We’re getting ahead of ourselves,” I say, head spinning. “All I want is to make it through the rest of the day without throwing up, okay?”
“Of course, my love.” Lucas strides forward and pulls me to my feet. He tangles me in an embrace, eyes looking into mine. Our love is so strong it’s tangible, and right now desperation to show him just how much I love him is more than I can handle.
I’d blame it on hormones, but I’m always desperate to feel him next to me. On me. In me.
“I got a new tea set,” I say, voice coming out a little breathy. “Along with a Book of Shadows, it’s a traditional thing to pass through a magical family line. And now…now…”
“Now we have our own family line,” Lucas finishes, bending his head down so his forehead rests against mine. “You have to leave soon, don’t you?” Lucas sweeps his hands down to cup my butt. Desire washes over me, fueled by hormones.
“I have a few minutes.” I wiggle my eyebrows.
“You know I hate rushing things with you.” Lucas gathers my hair in his hand and moves it over my shoulder. He puts his mouth to my neck, drawing his fangs so they scrape against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. “I very much enjoy taking my time and hearing you beg.”
“Gross,” Eliza loudly huffs and walks out of the room.
“You’re taking all three familiars,” Lucas says, but I hear the question in his voice.
“Yes. I know I said I’d take Scarlet, but on second thought, I think it would be better to leave her here. If me being a Nephilim comes into question, having a hellhound with me probably wouldn’t look too good.”
“I agree with you there, though I’d rather you have her with you.”
“I’ll be fine,” I press. “I’ve walked through the woods many times to get to the Covenstead door, I’ve not been attacked more times than I have. And it’s daylight, and we know how demons prefer to lurk in the cover of darkness.”
Lucas presses his lips together and pulls me closer. “I know you’re capable. It doesn’t mean I have to like you going out alone. I can protect you better than anyone else.”
“You can.” I run my hands down his firm chest and hook my fingers inside the waist of his pants. “I feel safe with you.” Closing my eyes, I let my head rest against him, soaking in the brief moment we can just stand here and be still.
“Want me to text you when I get to the door?”
“I’d like that,” he admits, and I can see the tension in his face. He knows I’m capable of defending myself. He’s stronger and faster than me, but when it comes to a magical fight, I have the upper hand.
So it’s not just the fact that I’m carrying his miracle child inside me and I’m going off in the woods alone, but the fact that as a witch, I can walk in the light and the dark. I’ve bridged part of the gap by