Captivating Magic (The Thorne Witches #14)

Chapter 28

28

“ I ’m annoyed you didn’t court me properly,” she said, circling his nipple with the tip of her finger before flicking the tip. “Really, your assumption wasn’t cool.”

“I thought you said you weren’t a princess?”

“I’m not, but a little work on your part would be nice.”

His chuckle rumbled through his chest beneath her ear. “How do you suggest I make it up to you?”

“Who says I want you to?”

Wrapping his hand in her hair, he tugged lightly until her head came up and their eyes locked. “You wouldn’t bring it up unless you wanted me to show proper remorse.”

“True. Pure penitence is totally appropriate.” She rolled on her back and sprawled her limbs wide. “You can start at my neck and work your way down. About a thousand kisses should do.”

“A thousand.” He whistled and rose over her to admire her naked form. “That’s a steep demand, considering the hours I just put in.”

“I’ve suffered many, many years of neglect.”

“Mm. It’s true and entirely my fault.”

She giggled. “Not entirely. Your siblings were horrible to you and determined to intervene.”

“They were. We shall never forgive them,” he vowed.

Laszlo commenced with his punishment, and Ebba lost count after forty-seven.

The distraction was great.

“I’m hungry,” she complained twenty minutes later. “And the worst part is I’m craving raw meat. This wolf has disgusting dietary habits.”

His laugh was entirely too amused.

“If I were a witch, I’d turn you into a frog,” she grumbled.

“Come here.” Laszlo tucked her between his legs and wrapped his arms around her. Whatever he said next was lost because her mind was focused on the feel of him pressed against her back.

“Focus, Sweet.”

His low voice next to her ear caused her belly to somersault.

“I’m having a difficult time,” she admitted.

“Food or sex?”

“Don’t make me choose,” she whined.

With another laugh, he cradled her hands in his, palms extended about eight inches apart. “I’m making the call. Food first, sex after.”

“See? Your practicality is why I adore you, Lo.”

She could practically feel his eye roll.

“Mm-hmm.” He dropped a kiss on her exposed neck. “Focus.”

“Okay. What are we focusing on?”

“First, a wooden platter.”

She twisted to look at him. “Like a charcuterie board?”

“That works.” He gestured with his chin. “Concentrate on our hands, Ebba. Feel the wood against your palms?—”

She snorted. “‘That’s what he said.’”

“It’s supposed to be she , and your bawdy humor is not going to help you learn magic.”

“Wait! You’re trying to teach me magic?” Excitement thrummed through her.

“What do you think I’ve been doing?”

“I didn’t. The feel of your dick?—”

He clapped a hand over her mouth. “None of that, or it’s going to grow hard.”

After prying his fingers away, she sniggered. “Too late.”

“Jesus, we’re never conjuring food,” he muttered.

“Conjuring food? That’s a thing? I can do it, too?”

“Yes, and sort of.” He nuzzled her throat. “You can through me, so you’ll feel what it’s like. It’s doubtful you can manage it on your own, though. I’m sorry.”

She considered it and shrugged. “It’s cool you’re willing to share this experience.”

“That’s my Sweet Ebba.” Tucking his chin on her shoulder, he talked her through the process. “Visualize the wood in your hand—and don’t you dare make a snarky comment about wood. Consider the texture, the color, the grain.”

A low-amp current ran through her body, making the hair on her arms stand up and her skin tingle. “Ohmygod! Is this normal?”

“Yep. Now, see the spark of light? Grow the board in your mind until it resembles the platter you initially envisioned.”

The result astounded her. One second there was nothing but a hum of electricity, and the next, she was holding a charcuterie board.

“We can do that with food, too?” she asked, awed by the power and coolness of what he could do.

“We can. Start visualizing what you want to eat in the same way.”

Together, they created a feast for a queen.

“I’m going to love being your familiar,” she blurted as she reached for an apple.

His arrested expression stopped her.

“What did I say wrong?” Nerves ate at her belly. Did he not want her in that capacity?

“I’d forgotten for a minute,” he said.

“Is it a problem? The lifetime thing?”

Please say no. Please say no.

His smile was slow to form, but when it did, it consumed his entire face. His eyes sparked with joy, and his grin was engaging, making her want to crawl into his skin and live there forever.

“Like I said at the accident scene, it’s no problem at all, Sweet Ebba.” He leaned in and stole the apple with a chuckle. “I’m going to enjoy having you around for life. I can’t say the same for you.” The laughter died from his eyes. “You’re going to get sick of me pretty quickly, though.”

“You mentioned that. But why would you believe it?”

He shrugged. Listening to his words back in her head, she realized how hollow they’d sounded.

“Lo. Look at me.”

When he did, his underlying worry was present. Shoving aside the tray, she straddled him and hugged his face between her palms.

“I love you, Laszlo Thorne. I have forever and a day. Those who hang around the outskirts see things. I saw things. Yes, you can be moody and absent-minded, but I don’t care.” She rubbed her nose against his. “Because now I understand why. The ghost thing distracts you, I’m sure. But you care about your family, more than anyone I’ve ever known. They only have to ask, and you’re doing for them. Maybe too much.”

His brows met, and he looked troubled. “I’ll always go when they need me, Ebba. I?—”

“And I want you to. I’m not Charlotte, Lo. Whenever you want me to, I’ll be right beside you.”

His uncertainty fell away. “I absolutely do, in every situation.”

“Good.” She gave him a hard peck. “Now stop stealing my food. I’m starving. Shifting burns a shit ton of calories.”

“Does it?”

“Could be all the running and the muscle-building thing. I’m not used to exercise. Give me a good book and a cupcake any day.”

He laughed and drew her down on top of him. “I’ll conjure you different flavored cupcakes every day.”

“See?” She poked his chest. “That right there is why I love you. Who couldn’t love a man who conjures cupcakes?”

“Clearly the way to your heart is your stomach,” he teased.

“It has been recently.”

“Are you okay with me coming back to your place?” Lo asked.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” Ebba appeared disconcerted.

“I thought you might need rest. After.”

She snorted a laugh. “After the sex or the three days of wolfing out?”

“Both.”

Stretching up on tiptoe, she kissed him. “Thank you for your consideration, but I’m fine. I do need sleep, but I’m happy to have you lying with me.”

“Good.”

As she inserted the key into the lock, a form stepped from the shadows. Ebba’s reaction was immediate. The snarl from her throat was pure Kyrella, enough that it raised the hair on Laszlo’s neck, and she whirled so quickly, he barely registered the movement.

The newcomer was facing a massive black wolf with snapping jaws.

“Holyfuckingshit!”

“Clutch?” Heart pounding, Laszlo stroked Kyrella’s neck until her hackles lowered. “It’s all right, girl. Promise.”

Kyrella or Ebba, whichever was in charge, believed the opposite and growled low in her throat.

Trusting their instinct, he eyed his friend. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to talk. Death wants you back.”

“Death can go fuck herself.”

“Careful, Lo. She’s more powerful than you imagine.”

“I’m a fucking warlock who helps reap the dead and has a werewolf for a familiar, Clutch. I’m able to imagine a helluva lot.”

Kyrella leaned into his side, and Laszlo experienced a power punch along with a sharpening of his vision. Darkness formed around Clutch, and underneath his skin, something shifted, similar to Spencer’s possession of Ebba.

“Can you do something about your wolf, man? And did anyone check it for rabies before they merged the bodies?” His friend’s eyes watched Kyrella with something akin to malice.

“Yeah, sure thing. Wait here.”

Flattening his hand over the deadbolt, Lo envisioned the tumbler shifting to unlock. Once he opened the door, he gestured Kyrella to follow.

“Give me one sec to secure her, Clutch.”

Once inside, he pointed toward the bedroom. Needing no verbal communication, she bound away. He quickly conjured rock salt and, drawing his elemental magic to him, used the air to lift the salt, creating a protective circle on the ceiling. Satisfied it remained unbroken, he waved his hand and placed the candles in the shape of a pentagram in strategic places within the circle. One on top of the counter, one on the foyer table, and three more where they looked inconspicuous. At first glance, they would appear like ambiance.

“Contineo.”

Satisfied the containment spell would work, he opened the door.

“Come on in.” Walking only far enough to keep Clutch beneath the circle, he stopped and turned around. “Can I make you a cup of coffee or offer you a beer?”

He had no idea if Ebba kept any in the fridge, but he assumed she did since they drank the same brand.

“I’m good.”

“What did you wish to discuss?” Lo asked, tucking his hands in his back pockets in a casual pose. The move exposed his chest to attack, but nothing would pass the circle he’d created. Whatever magic Clutch threw at him would be held within the walls of the invisible cage.

“Ebba. More importantly, your relationship with her.”

Lo’s brows shot up. “Can’t see where that’s any of your business.”

“You’ve made it my business by jumping back in time to mess up the timeline.”

“Your job is to assist Death. Or that’s my understanding, at least. Where she directs you to go, you go. It has nothing to do with what went down.”

Frustration flared on Clutch’s face, and his eyes narrowed. “Like I said, Death wants you back. She’s not happy with the way things turned out and needs you to return to your Reaper status.”

Laszlo was never a full Reaper, and whoever was possessing his friend had just made a fatal mistake. “Who are you, really, and where’s Clutch?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” fake-Clutch said. “You’ve known me forever, man.”

“Right. So tell me. How did we meet?”

Face savage, fake-Clutch charged. When he slammed into the invisible wall holding him, he turned into the rabid beast he suggested Kyrella might be.

Ebba stepped from the room and approached. Tilting her head and narrowing her eyes, she said, “It’s Spencer.”

“Yeah, I got that impression, too.” Feeling decidedly grim, Lo asked, “But what happened to Clutch?”