When The Grave Calls (The Veil Diaries #9) - B.L. Brunnemer Page 0,31

after.”

Isaac looked at his brother, horrified. “How the hell do you know that?”

“Are we really fucking talking about this?” Zeke muttered.

Ethan shrugged. “I have a lot of friends that are girls. They talk.”

This was the strangest conversation of my life.

“There are potential side effects of an IUD,” Miles added as he turned to me. “Including damage to your uterus.”

My uterus. I was talking about my uterus with four of my boyfriends. God, this was weird.

“What about that implant under your arm? That thing lasts for like three years,” Ethan asked as he turned to me. “Or the shot?”

Miles shook his head. “She’d have to be sure to get an appointment on time every three months. That might not always be possible.”

I couldn’t stay silent anymore. “Okay, first, what goes in my body isn’t up for debate. I’ll decide if I go on any form of birth control, not my boyfriends.”

“Beautiful, we’re just wanting everyone on the same page,” Ethan said carefully. “No one is telling you what you should do. Condoms work fine.”

“We just think we should add a back-up,” Isaac added softly.

“Oh my God.” My face caught fire. “Okay, look. If everyone gets tested, I’ll add the pill or the shot or … something as a back up to condoms. Okay?” I looked at each of them. “Good.”

Isaac was the first to laugh, but within a heartbeat Ethan followed.

My face continued to burn as they stared at me. Miles was the next one to chuckle. Followed closely by Zeke.

I dropped onto the mattress and held a pillow over my face. “Shut up!”

“I’ve never seen you so red, Red,” Isaac teased.

“You’re all assholes and can go sleep outside!” I pulled the pillow off my face and shot a glare at Isaac.

When they kept chuckling, I threw the pillow. It hit Ethan in the face which just made him laugh even more.

“Screw you all, I’m going to sleep.” I rolled onto my side opposite them and proceeded to try to ignore them.

In the end everyone ended up staying in Miles’ room with blankets or sleeping bags. Miles and the twins took the bed with me, while Zeke propped himself up against the door.

It was quiet and warm. I smiled to myself. “I think we need a bigger bed.”

Chapter 6

It was early morning, and I was at Rory’s drinking coffee when he came out of his bedroom.

He paused on the other side of the table. “Lexie, what are you doing here?”

I lifted my head and met his gaze. “We need to talk.”

He sighed as he moved to the coffee maker. “About what?”

I shook my head. “It’s about Tara, Jess, Maria, and you.”

He finished pouring his coffee and sat down across from me as the early light filtered through the window and across the pine table. “What’s going on?”

“A few hours ago,” I began, “a girl appeared in the house who we think was taken in New Orleans. We think she astral projected to us.”

He rubbed his eyes with one hand. “I thought the house was warded?”

“So did we.” I half shrugged. “I think you guys need to leave town. Even Aunt Susan.”

“Susan’s on the lecture circuit in Europe.” He frowned at me. “What do you mean you want us to leave?”

“It’d be the best way to keep you safe in this.” I looked down at my coffee, hating that this conversation was even happening. But I’d rather be the bad guy than watch them end up hurt or dead.

“Because I was compelled?” he asked, the lines of his face deepening.

Letting out a low breath, I couldn’t lie about it. “Partly. Not because it was you, but because it could happen to anyone.”

“You can fight compul—”

“Rory, you almost died,” I growled. “If we hadn’t gotten that magic off you, you would’ve died fighting it. Imagine if something like that happened to Tara? Or Jess, or Maria? I can’t. I can’t risk you guys.”

“You’re saying we’re liabilities.” He frowned, his facing darkening as he took a sip from his mug.

“I’m saying, you are non-combatants in an area that’s quickly turning into a battlefield.”

“I’m not a civilian,” he countered.

“This isn’t the military, Rory,” I shot back. “Can you block magic? Can you throw fireballs? Because that’s the kind of weapons we’re talking about here.”

“I can’t say that it hasn’t occurred to me.” He sighed and met my gaze. “But I’m not leaving you here. Maria can watch out for Jess and Tara. I’m staying.”

No. No, that couldn’t happen. I appreciated that he wanted to protect