Reign of Night (The Thorne Hill Series Book 7)

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Reign of Night (The Thorne Hill Series Book 7) Page 15

by Emily Goodwin


  “What is it?” he asks Julian. “It has no scent.”

  “A potion,” Julian repeats.

  “What will it do?” I continue.

  “Temporarily bind your powers. All your powers.”

  Chapter 16

  “Why would I want to do that?” I raise my eyebrows. “That sounds awful.”

  “Binding Callie’s powers is the last thing that should be done,” Lucas scoffs, looking at the potion with disgust.

  “Yeah, I have to agree there.” I look at Julian, confused. “Why would I do that? I’d be helpless against, well, everything.”

  “That’s the point,” Julian goes on. “With your powers bound, the other angels might not be able to detect you are the Nephilim. This is only to be taken if absolutely necessary as a last resort.”

  “Fuck,” Lucas grumbles, closing his fingers around the small glass vial. “How long will it last?”

  “Sunrise to sunrise.”

  “Is it safe to take while pregnant?” I ask, and Lucas turns to me.

  “You’re not thinking about taking this, are you?” His blue eyes flash.

  “If it came down to taking it or being found, and then killed, by my aunts and uncles, yes.” I look at Julian again. “Is it safe to take while pregnant?”

  “Yes, Michael specially said so, knowing you’d ask,” Julian tells me.

  Letting out a slow breath, I take the vial back from Lucas. “I’ll add this to my angel-safe.”

  “Angel-safe?” Julian questions.

  “It’s an enchanted box in my room with Bael’s dagger, the knife Michael gave me, that stupid blank piece of paper, and now this.” I hold up the vial again. “This is going to taste awful, isn’t it?”

  “It doesn’t smell good,” Julian starts. “But the flavor isn’t terrible.”

  “You tried it?” I ask him, and he nods.

  “We tested it on me.”

  “And it worked?” Lucas questions.

  “Yes,” he tells us. “My powers were bound for half a day. With you being half angel, the potion will last longer.”

  “Will I still have my witch-powers?”

  “There’s a chance they could be minimal, but this potion is strong. I wouldn’t count on it.”

  “How did Michael make this?” I ask. “I didn’t realize he could make potions like this.”

  “We’ve been working on it since Varrador came after you but couldn’t get it right. Lucifer provided the final ingredient—”

  “So you’ve seen him recently?” I interject.

  “No. He knew we were on his trail and left what was needed, and it worked.”

  Lucas eyes the vial. “What was the final ingredient?”

  “Brimstone.”

  I make a face. “So it’s going to taste terrible. Brimstone smells like farts.”

  “I’ve never tasted a fart,” Julian says seriously, and I have to stifle a laugh.

  “You know, I never have, either.”

  “Then how do you know what one tastes like?”

  “I can’t explain,” I laugh. “But okay. I have a potion that’ll bind my powers for a full day, but how will I know to take it? If the angels show up, it’s because they’ve suspected me already and popping the potion in my mouth will be too late, won’t it?”

  “We will give you a warning. I’m not sure how, but you will know.”

  “Thanks. Can you stay a while?”

  “Yes, a while.”

  “Good, because I have to tell you about a demon we dealt with last night.”

  “Mhhh,” I moan as Lucas drags his fingers up and down my back. “That feels good.” We’re in bed, and a fire is crackling in the fireplace, lighting the dark room. I’m sweaty from the marathon sex we just had, and my body is on overdrive from the back-to-back orgasms.

  “I have a surprise for you,” Lucas says, putting his lips to the back of my neck.

  “You do?”

  “Yes.”

  “What is it?” I ask, rolling over onto my back. Lucas splays his fingers over my belly. “Cheese? For some reason, I think it’s cheese.”

  “If that’s what you’re hoping for, no, it’s not cheese.”

  “That’s okay. I have some in the fridge. If it’s not cheese, then what is it?”

  “I booked you a prenatal massage at Serenity for seven p.m. tonight.”

  Serenity is the only salon in Thorne Hill. I’ve gotten my hair trimmed there before, in between attempts at doing it myself. It’s small but nice, and Alexa Myer, the owner, comes into the bookstore frequently. She loves cozy mysteries and is always the first to get a new one when we get them in stock.

  “When did you do this?” I turn on my other side, hooking a leg over Lucas.

  “A few days ago.”

  “Did you forget and just happened to get the text reminder? It’s what, four p.m. now?”

  “Four-thirty, and no. I didn’t want to tell you in case we had to cancel. You’ve had enough disappointment lately, I didn’t want to add to it, no matter how insignificant it may seem.”

  “Oh, Lucas,” I say, eyes brimming with tears. “Stupid hormones.”

  He smiles and wipes away a tear that rolls down the side of my face. “Anything for you, my love. Though I think you’ll find my hands are much more skilled. Getting a prenatal massage seems like part of a normal pregnancy, and I told you I want to give you as much normalcy that a witch would have.”

  “You are so good to me.” I tug him over, wanting him on top of me.

  “We won’t be able to do this for much longer,” he says, propping himself up with his elbows. “Are you comfortable?”

  “I am.” I bring both hands up and rake my fingers through his hair. “I know the woman who owns the salon.”

  “You know a lot of people in Thorne Hill. It’s a small town.”

  “True, but what I mean is, I know her. And she knows I’m pregnant now that I’m getting a prenatal massage.”

  “Yes, pregnant women get prenatal massages. I’m not following here, Callie.”

  “What am I going to tell them?”

  “In regard to what?”

  “How I got pregnant.”

  “I’m sure they know how babies are made, and you’re a married woman, Callie.” He puts his lips to mine, and for a brief moment, I forget the point I’m trying to make.

  “But you’re a vampire,” I say between kisses. “What if they ask how it happened?”

  He pushes himself up enough to look at me. “Do people typically ask pregnant women how it happened?”

  “No, but most pregnant women aren’t married to vampires.”

  “If anyone asks how your vampire husband got you pregnant, tell them it’s none of their business. Because it’s not. Or if you want to go into specifics and tell them what position I fucked you in, tell them.”

  “Fair enough, and the only people who are gonna ask are people who I’m close to because they know I wouldn’t go to a sperm bank and buy some sperm for you to shoot into me.”

  “I am so glad I married a classy lady,” Lucas says, and I laugh.

  “Oh, I know! I can say you had sperm frozen. Not everyone knows how old you are.”

  “I’d rather you say that than go with your buying random sperm idea. That baby is mine.”

  I smile and run my fingers through his hair again, twirling a curl around my finger. “I hope she has your hair.”

  “And your eyes.” Lucas moves to the side and moves me so his body is spooned around mine. He pulls up my shirt and rests his hand on my stomach again. “She’s growing fast.”

  “Is that a nice way to tell me I’m getting fat?” I joke.

  “Not fat, but pregnant. And it’s so fucking hot.” He slides his hand down my stomach, going between my legs. “I thought fucking you senseless proved that.”

  “It did, but you’ll have to prove it again tonight.”

  “Or now?”

  I smile. “I’m tired. You wore me out.”

>   “We did fuck for an hour.” He covers us up and kisses my neck. “Go to sleep. I’ll wake you up in time to make it to your appointment.”

  “Okay,” I tell him, too tired to protest. I roll over, snuggling up next to him, and fall asleep just a few minutes later, not waking until Lucas gently brushes my hair back.

  “Callie.”

  “I’m awake. I’ve been awake.”

  “You are now.” He kisses my neck, tongue running over the little puncture wounds. “It’s a little after six. You want to eat before your massage, I’m guessing.”

  “Yeah, just something light.”

  “I’ll take you to the salon,” he offers, saying it casually on purpose.

  “And then what? Sit in the room watching like a creep?”

  “No, of course not. I’ll sit in the reception area.”

  “Uh, no way. Men who sit and wait like that are abusive, controlling assholes, and that’s exactly how it will come off.”

  “I don’t care what people think. We know that’s not true.”

  “I care what people think.”

  “You do?” he questions. “Because that would be news to me.”

  “I care what people think about us because us is important to me. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, okay? I don’t want to taint that with anything, so stop being so caring and protective.”

  “Just yesterday, a demon wanted to kidnap you and give you to the new ruler of Hell.”

  “He’s not an official ruler yet,” I counter. “And Lucas, I know things are a little dicey right now, but I can’t do this for the next four months. I need space to be on my own, and you do, too.”

  “You can have space when Heaven and Hell aren’t looking for you.”

  “That could be for the rest of my life!”

  “Once Lucifer is back on the throne and in charge of the demons again, the rumors about you should quell.”

  “And if that doesn’t happen?”

  “Then I will do everything I can to keep you safe.” He takes me in his arms. “I told you I didn’t think I was capable of loving someone until you proved me wrong, but you made me feel other things, too, Callie. Things I hadn’t felt since in centuries.”

  “Like what?”

  “You kept me guessing and were constantly surprising me. That was a first in a very long time. But that night when Varrador almost killed you…it when then I realized I love you because I felt something else, something I hadn’t felt since I was human: fear. The thought of losing you terrifies me. I’m not alive, but I don’t want to live without you, so if that means sitting in the car in the parking lot while you get a massage, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

  “Sitting in the car is still creepy, but better. Won’t you be bored?”

  “I’ll bring a book.”

  “Overprotective, rich, great in bed, and a reader. You really are my dream man, Lucas King.”

  He flashes a cocky grin that shows off his fangs. “I am no man.”

  “Really, guys,” I press, flipping a page in my Book of Shadows. It’s Sunday afternoon, and Kristy, Nicole, and Naomi are over. We’re in the kitchen, making potions and margaritas at the same time. Mine’s virgin, of course, but still tastes pretty damn good. “It’s not that much different than how things were before.”

  “Oh no,” Naomi quips. “Instead of demons wanting to kill you, they want to kidnap and marry you.”

  “I’m sure they wanted to marry me before. I mean, who wouldn’t want to?” I run my finger down the ingredient list, though I have this potion memorized.

  “And archangels haven’t wanted to kill you before,” Kristy adds pointedly.

  “Technically, they have,” Nicole interjects. “They just didn’t know who the Nephilim was. But since it was talked about, they wanted to be sure the abomination was destroyed. No offense.”

  “None taken, as that’s pretty damn accurate.” I go to my spice cabinet, feeling rather adult by how excited I get to have everything organized in matching glass bottles. The builders thought I was some great cook, needing extensive shelving put in to hold all my spices. These cabinets were designed specifically for holding all my jars. Everything is in alphabetical order, making it easy to find everything.

  “But the angels are busy looking for your uncle,” Naomi adds a shot of tequila to her glass before pouring the margarita mix in, keeping the pitcher alcohol-free for me.

  “Right. They’re very distracted, and if I wasn’t worried about staking a claim for the throne, I’d almost be happy he took the attention off of me.”

  Pandora jumps off the counter, shifting into her shadow form, and looks at the herbs. She’s good with potions and is helping me come up with something new. The more potions I have, the better, because we have no idea what we could be dealing with in the upcoming months.

  “I still can’t believe I met the devil,” Kristy says and reaches for the tequila. “He looked so…so human.”

  “Oddly enough, he acts the most human,” I say, getting the Vesta powder down as Pandora suggested. “Maybe it’s because he actually spends time with them—well, their souls—in Hell. The other angels aren’t very interactive when it comes to humanity.”

  “Julian is quite awkward,” Nicole laughs. “I think it’s cute, though.”

  “It is, and he’s getting a little better. The more time he spends with me, the more he picks up on all things human. Watching TV helps, depending on the show.”

  “Do you have any Devil’s Shoestring?” Naomi asks.

  “I should. Not much.” I grab the jar from the cabinet and give it to her. “Will this do?”

  “Yes, I only need one small piece.” She unscrews the lid of the jar and takes one two-inch twig out.

  “Abby is going to try to sneak me into the ER and get me in for an ultrasound tomorrow,” I tell everyone as I mix more herbs into a bowl, following Pandora’s instructions.

  “I expect pictures,” Nicole says.

  “And I expect a video of the heartbeat.” Kristy smiles. “And I know you’ve already settled on Elena for the name, but Elena Kristina King sounds wonderful.”

  “It has too many ahs in it,” Nicole shoots back. “Elena Nicole sounds much better.”

  “That actually does sound nice,” Kristy laughs.

  “Are you really going with Elena?” Naomi asks.

  “I’m pretty sure. Lucas suggested it, and I really like it. It’s different but not like weird different. And as for the middle name, I have no idea. I wish I knew my mom’s middle name. I have her first name, so it would be neat to give my daughter her middle name.”

  “That would be.” Naomi holds her hand over her potion, heating the bowl with magic. “Are you nervous for the ultrasound? You have no idea what to expect when it comes to you.”

  “I am a little nervous, though if it’s just Abby in the room, it’ll be fine. I won’t have to worry about altering her memory or anything. What if anatomically, I’m not right on the inside?”

  “You are on the outside, so I’d think everything is in place.” Kristy waves her hand up and down my body. “And if not, like you said, you have Abby there to tell you and make sure no one else finds out.”

  “Yeah, good points.”

  “When tomorrow?” Kristy asks.

  “Sunset so Lucas can come.”

  “I bet he’s excited.”

  “He is,” I say with a smile. “And I am, too.” We go back to drinking and potion making, taking me back to our days at the Academy together. It’s nice to hang out with my friends, and though we’re prepping for demon attacks, we try and keep the conversation light.

  I didn’t know how much I needed that until they leave. I walk them to the front door and then go back into the kitchen to finish off the rest of the virgin margarita. Lucas is in there, looking at the potions we made.

  “You look happy,” he says, setting down a banishing potion.

  “I am. It was nice to hang out with the girls.�


  “I’m glad, and it looks like you got a lot accomplished.”

  “We did. Most of these are protective potions, but I did have everything I needed for some more truth potion. If the demon is possessing a human whose body is still alive, it might work. I do not think it’ll work on a demon in a dead body, but it won’t hurt to try.”

  “That’s a really good idea. We could finally get answers without wasting the time to torture.”

  “Right? And Pandora came up with it, so I can’t take credit.” I pick up a bottle and look at the amber-colored liquid. She added a couple extra things that made it almost tasteless, too. It can be a little strong, and if you mix a few drops in someone’s drink, they might think something is wrong with their drink and not finish it.

  “It seems like a good thing to have on hand.”

  “Oh, for sure. I need to do a better job keeping my witchy cabinets stocked, too. I should have these potions ready at all times.”

  “How long do they last?”

  “Different ones last different amounts of time. The truth potion will only keep for a few weeks, but these banishing potions will be good forever if you don’t open the lids.”

  “Are you done for the night?”

  “Yeah. These have to cool on the counter, and these three in the moonlight. They’ll freeze outside, but the conservatory has more than enough windows.”

  “Good,” Lucas says, taking both my hands in his. “Let’s watch a movie tonight. Show me how to use the popcorn maker and I’ll make you some.”

  “I can do it,” I say, remembering the last time Lucas attempted to make me popcorn. It burned, and the whole downstairs reeked like burned popcorn for a day. “That popcorn machine is fun to use.” I stand on my toes to kiss him and take my potions that will spend the night in the conservatory.

  Then I change into PJs and meet Lucas in the den, which is our main TV-watching room. This house is huge and has been modernized as minimally as possible to keep it original. The kitchen and bathrooms got the biggest updates, followed by this den. There’s a large TV on the wall, with surround sound and mood lighting.

  I make the popcorn, eat so much I feel sick, and then fall asleep halfway through the movie, which isn’t surprising. Lucas carries me upstairs when it’s over, and I lazily wash my face and brush my teeth, eager to go back to bed.

 

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