Page 30 of Witch's Rite
I popped a cheese cube in my mouth, which was nowhere near as decadent as what Sal conjured up for me that night at my house.
My thighs clenched at the thought of my hot-tempered, yet sweetly submissive demon. I craved him like nothing else, except for Raum. And Ash, especially after that hyper-realistic dream of healing his back and giving him new wings.
That still shook me hard. I couldn't get it out of my mind. It felt so real, ithadto have really happened.
I looked across the room to where Diana, Laurel, John, and a few older witches gathered, talking in low voices. They sat around a small coffee table with candles, crystals, and herbs arranged in front of them. On the way here, my grandmother had kept her anti-demon rhetoric to a minimum, thankfully. But coming to this party with her reminded me of what Raum told me. Demons didn't bother making deals with humans, especially not against witches.
It led me to wonder how she came to the conclusion that it was demon magic that killed my mother. Despite admitting she had no proof, my hope lingered that she based her theory on some actual evidence, maybe some ancient ritual or pact, not just prejudice.
Juno, Erik and I hung out in the kitchen with a few other coven members who looked to be in their twenties and thirties. From the moment Diana and I walked in, I gravitated toward Juno's clique and Diana immediately started catching up with Laurel and John. Apparently, they were part of neighboring covens back in the day.
Across the kitchen island from us stood a guy introduced as Seth, drinking a beer and mainly keeping to himself. But I felt his eyes on me like an itch on my skin that wouldn't go away.
I did my best to ignore his gaze. With his tousled dark hair, stormy gray eyes, motorcycle jacket, and tattoos peeking out of his shirt, it was difficult. His bad boy image reminded me of my guys and even friendly eye contact sent a nervous fluttering in my center. If I didn't know any better, I'd suspect he was a demon in disguise. Even his aura was nearly as dark and electrically charged as theirs.
"Care for a smoke?"
Erik tapped a pack against his palm as his eyes flickered across all of us. Juno and I declined but Seth gave a curt nod. The guys headed for the backyard and with Seth gone, the intensity instantly fizzled out of the room.
"Are you having fun?" Juno asked, giving me a playful poke on the arm.
"I am," I admitted with a smile. Laurel and John's home was just as comforting as their presence at the bar. They were incredibly hospitable hosts and the coven members I met seemed warm and welcoming as well. It truly felt like I was among friends.
"I think Seth likes you," she teased.
"Really? ‘Cause I get the impression he'd enjoy carving my eyeballs out with a spoon."
Juno laughed. "He's just really intense. He actually hasn't been around much in the last year. He's been traveling to all kinds of places like Iceland, Romania, and I think Africa, too."
"Oh yeah, doing what?"
"Hunting demons," she remarked casually.
17
DEJA
My blood turned to ice. I tried to keep my expression blank while my heart stopped in my chest.
"Oh, really. That's a thing, huh?" Keeping my voice steady felt impossible but Juno didn't seem to notice.
"Yeah, I don't know much about it," she remarked, dipping a celery stick into ranch dressing. "Just that it's incredibly dangerous and very few witches take on that role. It's kind of an elite, secret agent thing."
"Hmm," I mused, sipping my beer and trying to keep calm. But my insides swirled with panic. What kind of abilities did he have? Could he tell just by looking at me that I kept company with the same creatures he hunted?
The guys returned from smoking before I could properly settle down. And Seth's intense gaze now only made me want to run off and warn my guys as soon as possible.
"Deja, right?"
Naturally, that was the time he chose to unmute himself.
The scent of cloves and woodsy cologne hung around him like a cloud as he popped a mint into his mouth.
"Yeah." I forced a tight smile.
"It's a sexy name." His mouth twitched into a smirk, daring me to tell him off.
"Uh, thanks."Please don't ask if my last name is Vu.
