Page 2 of Magic and Muffins

She chuckled. “Be there in twenty.”

I hung up and checked my messages.

My parents had sent another group of pictures from the cruise they’d “won” when the chaos in D.C. began. It looked like they were having fun and oblivious to what was happening back home.

Please let them stay safe.

While I knew I had Cross, Shepard, and the entire D.C. pack to call on, it still comforted me that my family was out of Orphia’s reach.

I responded with a cheerful text, stating that I hoped they were having fun, then checked Shepard’s text.

His simply said that he was still dealing with the aftermath of last night and that he would see me later. The message was abrupt for him.

“Did you talk to Shepard?” I asked Cross.

“Yes. An hour ago. He’s still coordinating the cleanup at the nest locations his people raided last night. With so many vampires turned to dust, the police are struggling to identify them. They want to know how many were in the missing person's count.”

I shook my head at the senseless deaths. Although I knew the pack didn’t have a choice, I wondered if the people that the vampires had turned had understood their chances of surviving the change and being hunted.

Cross smoothed back my hair and kissed my forehead. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m wondering how many of the vampires who died had wanted to be a part of Orphia’s army and how many were innocent victims—like the two you spared?”

“I think most of the newly turned vampires were like those two than not. If they’d truly embraced the night life, they wouldn’t have run into the sun to meet their end.”

“Adriel did.”

Cross studied me, and I saw a glint of never-ending loneliness in his gaze.

“Adriel was tired and knew there was no hope for him. Shepard and his people would have never let him go after everything he did.”

“And you? Would you have let him go?”

“No. To protect you, I would kill every vampire in existence.”

Did he count himself in that number? I hoped not.

He smiled suddenly, like the loneliness had never existed, and playfully tugged my hair.

“If you want a shower before Vena gets here, you better hurry.”

With a groan, I threw back the covers and got out of bed.

Cross’ bathroom was a slice of heaven. Twice as big as my old bedroom, it had a fully tiled wet room type shower and soaker tub to one side and a long vanity with a lower makeup station and chair near the door. It was the stuff out of home decor magazines. He’d obviously spared no expense. While I liked to be thrifty, I couldn’t complain that he had made his second-floor apartment so luxurious.

I glanced in the large mirror above the vanity and winced at my reflection. My tangled blonde hair made the dark circles under my grey eyes more noticeable. It wasn’t a good look.

Cross stepped into view behind me. “You’re beautiful.”

I snorted. “Hardly. But thank you.”

He leaned in to kiss my neck. “You’ll always be beautiful to me, Everly.”

The only beautiful person in this room was Cross. With his dark hair, which had a touch of auburn, and classic features, he was handsome. Add his tall, athletic physique and the expensively tailored suits he favored, and he was eye candy.

I didn’t know how I got so lucky to gain his interest—or Shepard’s—but I wouldn’t change anything. Not even all theunwantedattention I’d gained after falling into the cave and waking Cross from his self-imposed hibernation.

My gaze shifted to the expensive ruby and silver necklace around my neck. A gift from Cross, the necklace held a protection spell from a powerful half-fae. It should have protected me from Vivian the night before, but it hadn’t stopped him from grabbing me.

---