Witch Fury

THIRTY-FOUR

“WE NEED TO GO DOWN.”

Sarafina rolled over lazily in bed and gazed at Theo.

The Coven was hosting a party to celebrate the defeat of the Duskoff and the Atrika. Although apparently, the primary purpose of the party was some mysterious announcement.

The celebration came on the heels of twenty-nine days of mourning. One day for every slain witch — twenty-two witches had perished. The extra seven days were the official Coven mourning period for the thirty-two witches who had lost their magick in the battle.

For the last month the Coven had been a somber place as they all grieved and repaired what had been so badly damaged, both physically and nonphysically.

During the time since Sarafina had accepted Theo’s proposal, Theo had moved into her apartment and made peace with Maria. As she’d requested, he’d kept his apartment, too — a solid tie to the Coven — and they’d spent the previous couple of nights there.

“I don’t know. I’d rather stay here in bed with you.” She laid a kiss to his chest.

Sarafina had an announcement of her own to make, but the thought of it made butterflies rise in her stomach, so she put the thought away for the moment.

“We’ve got the rest of our lives to spend in bed together, baby.” He chuckled low. “I’m really looking forward to that.” She stretched, enjoying her satisfied lethargy and the soreness that came from being well loved. There were some types of pains that were more like pleasure. “What should I wear?” He slipped the sheet off her, exposing her bare breasts and stomach. His heated gaze took her in for a moment, a familiar lust turning his eyes even darker. He lowered his head and sucked one nipple into his mouth and then the other, taking time with each.

It was odd how there seemed to be a direct line from her breasts to her sex when Theo touched them.

“I would prefer nothing at all, but I guess you should go down in a dress,” he murmured.

“A dress,” she answered in the breathless voice that Theo seemed to so often produce in her. “I can manage that, I think.” He rolled off the bed and stood. Sarafina sat up, admiring the bare rear view of him — the long, strong legs and back, and the most perfect male derrière she’d ever seen in her life.

He glanced out the window at the darkening twilight. These days they didn’t have to worry about Bai popping in on them, or Stefan threatening them, so they could do self-indulgent and absolutely exquisite things like spend the whole day in bed. That was exactly what they’d done.

“I guess we should get ready,” she said.

“The party will be starting soon.” Theo reached out a hand and pulled her to her feet. He raised a brow. “Shower?” She smiled. “If you’re in it, sure.” After they’d showered and. . other things, Sarafina pulled on a light gray spaghetti-strap dress and a matching pair of dove gray heels. She added a strand of pearls and pearl earrings, then did her hair in a tumble of boisterous curls and put on makeup.

She finished touching up her lipstick and walked out into the bedroom. Theo stopped in his tracks and stared. “Wow.” “Thank you.” She smiled. “You don’t look too bad yourself.” He was dressed in a charcoal gray shirt and a pair of black pants. His hair, still just a little damp, hung loose over his shoulders and his tattoos peeked from the neckline of the shirt. He held out his hand. “Should we go?” She nodded and took his hand.

Grosset was lying on the couch. When they entered the room, he lifted his head and wagged his tail. After patting him on the head and promising him a walk later, they left the apartment.

On the way down to the ballroom, they ran into Mira and Jack. Mira wore a beautiful red gown and Jack was dressed in all black. Both of them were practically running to get downstairs.

Adam and Claire came around the corner just as Sarafina and Theo did.

“Hey, what’s your hurry?” called Adam. “I’m sure Thomas ordered enough alcohol to last the whole night. No need to rush.” Jack called over his shoulder. “They just called to let us know that Helen is back with Eva!” They hurried on out of view.

That explained it. They hadn’t seen their daughter for over two months. They’d waited to have her brought back just in case the warlocks had something else up their sleeves.

Now the family would never have to be separated again. Jack and Mira would never have to worry about their very rare little air witch daughter being abducted or used in a daaeman circle. They were safe.

Theo, Sarafina, Adam, and Claire reached the ballroom just in time to see the reunion.

Eva toddled from Helen’s arms to her mother’s, a huge smile on her cherubic face, dark curls tangled around her chubby cheeks. Mira scooped her up and held her, her eyes closed and tears streaming down her face as she rocked her back and forth and whispered over and over how much she’d missed her. Jack wrapped his arms around both of them and nestled his nose in Eva’s hair.

Sarafina wiped away a tear of her own at the touching scene of a family reunited.

All around them stood the witches of the Coven, all talking and laughing. Waiters and waitresses circulated with appetizers and glasses of champagne and other drinks.

Theo wrapped his arms around her. “Are you all right?” “I’m just happy and anticipatory and, well, hormonal.” “Hormonal?”

She turned toward him and looked up into his eyes. “You said once that you hoped you could have kids one day, after all the mess with the warlocks was cleaned up.” “Yes,” he said slowly, his expression one of dawning—stunned—realization. “I want them one day.” “That’s a good answer.” She let out the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “How about in two hundred and seventy-nine days, give or take?” “What are you talking about, Sarafina?” From the tone of his voice, he knew, but it hadn’t really hit him yet.

Butterflies flapped in her stomach at his reaction.

Theo stared down at her, his face going blank and then white. A second later he smiled and shouted, lifting her up and swinging her around. He set her to her feet and kissed her. “Finally, some good news.” “I can’t tell you how relieved I am you think so.” He spread his hand on her stomach. “Sarafina, you’ve already given me love, hope, and joy. Now you’re giving me even more. Of course I’m happy about this.” He dragged her up against his chest and kissed her again. “I love you,” he murmured against her mouth.

“Hey, what’s going on?” asked Adam near them. Claire gazed at them curiously.

Theo answered before she could even get a word out. “I’m going to be a dad.” Adam smiled. “That’s just about the best news I’ve heard all day. One day Claire and I plan to have kids, too. Only we’re leaning toward adoption instead. There are little elemental witches out there caught in the non-magickal foster care system. We’re going to—” Sarafina pulled from Theo and launched herself into Adam’s arms. “Kids like I was,” she whispered huskily, once again on the edge of tears.

Adam laughed. “Yes.”

She detached herself from Adam and gave Claire a hug, too. “That is just so, so. . awesome,” she finished lamely, at a loss for any words to express her emotion. She looked at Theo. “Maybe we can do that, too.” Theo blanched again, then chuckled. “Yeah, maybe. Uh, let’s handle the one on the way first.” “I think Theo is still in shock,” said Claire with a grin.

“Speaking of kids, have you heard Thomas and Isabelle’s news yet?” asked Adam.

“No,” answered Claire with a smile. “You’re kidding, right? Are they pregnant, too?” “No, not yet. But Micah’s been messing with some earth magick. Found a spell that might help with witchy infertility problems. Something might come out of it.” Adam shrugged.

“Wow,” Sarafina replied. “Micah is a genius.” Adam nodded. “He is. He using some of the daaeman spells he got from a book given to him by the Syari when he came over to Eudae with me and Claire.” He paused, glancing at Micah across the room. “The loss of his magick is just brutal.” “Yes, how is he cooking up the earth magick?” “He can brew a lot of it, and research all of it. It’s just that someone else has to store and wield the charms and spells. He’s using a magickal surrogate, basically.” Sarafina looked over at Micah. He was speaking with Thomas. “He seems to be coping okay with it all.” Claire glanced in Micah’s direction. “His first love is research. I think he’ll be fine. He just needs someone as geeky as he is to test his spells. A permanent research and testing partner.” She looked pointedly at a tall, attractive brown-haired earth witch who was sipping a glass of wine across the room.

“Oh, she’s very pretty,” Sarafina answered. “Have you been meddling, Claire?” She pinched her thumb and forefinger together. “Just a little. I think Emily and Micah will get along really well. She’s just as interested in history and magickal theory as he is. Micah just needs a little. . push, is all.” Claire grinned. “They’re going to be working very closely together in the future. Plus, Emily’s been smitten with Micah forever. Micah has just never noticed before. He’s so oblivious to anything but his work.” Sarafina watched Micah glance at Emily across the room, then look again and stare at her a bit.

Uh-huh. Magick in the making.

“He’s not oblivious anymore,” Sarafina murmured, raising her eyebrow and taking a sip of her sweet tea.

Claire laughed. “Nope. The seed has been planted. It has nothing to do now but bloom.” “Good for Micah.” Sarafina sighed. “All this good news after so much bad, it’s heartwarming. We’ll all be raising a whole new generation of witches soon.” “The Coven’s future is bright,” answered Theo. He pulled her against his side. “Like ours.” “Okay,” said Thomas loudly. “It’s almost time for our announcement.” All the heads in the ballroom swiveled toward Thomas and the conversation hushed. Sarafina felt in the know, figuring his announcement would be Micah’s fertility tinkering. But when the large screen descended from the ceiling, Sarafina realized that perhaps that wasn’t what they planned to announce, after all.

“For your viewing pleasure,” Thomas announced to the hushed crowd. He smiled vibrantly, Isabelle and Micah on either side of him, also smiling. “I think you’ll enjoy this.” He hit a button on the remote control he held.

The evening news popped on.

And in business news this evening, millionaire Thomas Monahan has purchased a controlling stake in Duskoff International. Duskoff International has been in the news lately because of the mysterious disappearance of celebrity CEO Stefan Faucheux. Faucheux took the company public only last spring. The police are actively investigating his disappearance. But perhaps for now, the rudderless company has found a new man to help lead it.

The video cut to a smiling Thomas.

“Now that I have a stake in the future of Duskoff International, I intend to take an active hand in shaping the company’s future.” In other news. .

Everyone in the ballroom cheered.

The video stopped and the screen went back up. All around them people cheered and clapped.

Thomas hushed the excited murmuring of the crowd once again and raised his glass. “To the future of the Coven.” He paused. “To us!” Everyone raised their glasses and repeated the toast.

Magick flickered and flared all around them, the crackle and spark of all four elements in harmony and proximity, rising and falling, blending and twisting again. Up and up it all went to the ceiling of the ballroom and beyond — a combined expression of the Coven’s current shared state of mind and emotion.

Lightness and joy filled Sarafina. Smiling, she reached out and took Theo’s hand in hers. Fire sparked from Sarafina’s chest and curled downward to twine around their hands and wrists in licks of harmless but pretty blue fire.

Theo looked down at her with love lighting his dark eyes instead of the coldness that had filled them the first time they’d met. He lowered his head and caught her lips with his. “You’re so beautiful, Sarafina,” he murmured against her mouth.

She glanced down at her dress. “Thanks. It’s new.” He tipped her face up to his. “I didn’t mean the dress. I didn’t even notice the dress. You’re just beautiful, everywhere. Inside and out. Up and down. Every single inch of your body and your soul.” She tipped her head to the side a little and smiled. “Theo, is that you? Where’d the poetry come from?” He took a long moment to answer. “It comes from you, Sarafina.” He kissed her. “You gave it all to me.”