Page 36 of Twisted Fates
He nodded. This time, he wasn’t smiling. “It’s very unusual to receive an invitation to a wizard's home. Much less if you have ghosts in residence. You’re new. Are you sure you wish to open that can of worms?”
I searched my thoughts for any instinctual concerns, and although there was certainly a reticence from the ghosts coming at me, I couldn’t see any reason why I shouldn’t trust Cary. I stared at him for a moment more while weighing all the concerns.
From what I could see, the main one was the same as the movies said about vampires. Once you invited one in, they could come and go as they chose. Of course, the only difference between most homes and ours was that ours was full of spirits that I doubt even a witch could contend with.
“I can see no reason not to invite you in, but the invitation applies only to you, not your coven, not your relations, only you. If I choose to open an invitation to others, it will be done individually. Can you commit to that?” I asked, and Cary nodded, the smile still gone. I felt how important it was to give a consequence, so I sighed and wished I didn’t have to come off as rude, but apparently, it was required.
“Know this, witch. If you break this agreement, you will never be allowed in or around my residence again. That includes the entire neighborhood.”
“As it should,” Cary said and lifted his hand. I did the same, and light transferred between us, sealing the bond and the agreement.
Cary’s smile returned as I glanced at Owen, whose mouth was agape. “That was intense.”
“Oh, you’ll get used to it. When you have the power that your boyfriend has, you have to be very careful about who you invite into your home. I am very honored, wizard, as will all my coven be. You have earned yourself a lot of very useful allies by your generosity.”
I snorted. “You say that, but you haven’t met our house full of spirits yet.”
Cary stopped short. “Housefullof spirits?” he asked.
“Oh, very full. Orville, also a spirit, has yet to tell me how many, but I know it’s several dozen.”
He shook his head. “You are a very strange wizard, Damian, but more power to you, and I appreciate the warning. I’ll wear my citrine pendant, just in case.”
I realized that citrine repelled harmful spirits, but I seriously doubted that any crystal would hold off the spirits in my home. Not only because there were a lot of them, but even more importantly, having lived over a century with a powerful wizard, they had also manifested powers, although Orville denied it. I didn’t think they were the kind that could be used outside their own forms, but they could and likely would be formidable if provoked.
Chapter twenty-six
Owen
Dinner party, dinner party.Oh dinner, dinner, dinner. Dinner party. I kept humming the words to the tune of the song “Lollipop” the rest of the afternoon. I almost invited my bosses over, too, when I remembered how serious Cary had become when Damian invited him. It was a big deal to come into a wizard’s home. Or was it domain? Maybe I was getting into this whole wizard and witch game now.
Regardless, I loved the home we’d established in such a short time, and I liked Molly. I also couldn’t wait to see how Cary and Molly got along. I imagined it would either be amazing or the two would clash like lightning and water.
When Cary refrained, and yes, I realized now that’s what this was, from dumping a bunch of paperwork on my desk, I met him out front after the partners left for the day. “Okay, you driving?” I asked.
Cary nodded, then told Mrs. Patterson we were leaving. I followed him to his car and climbed in. “Owen, you do realizehow significant it is for him to invite me over? I know he does. He’stheLegacy Wizard, but do you?”
“I do, I guess. I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal. Is it because you can now come visit anytime afterward?”
Cary laughed. “Honey, witches are the original Central Intelligence Agency. We can come and go undetected in almost any home, building, business, or other place as long as it’s not warded to keep us out. By inviting me to his home, your sweetheart has made the statement that he trusts me implicitly.”
“But you wouldn’t come into our home uninvited, would you?”
“Not likely. A wizard is a powerful ally and a terrifying enemy. Not to mention, you have resident ghosts. You know how strange that is, don’t you?”
“It’s strange, but they are pretty awesome when you get to know them. I haven’t gone into the basement yet, and I don’t recommend anyone do, but the ones who come into our living space are kind and helpful. I sort of think of them as friends.”
Cary shook his head. “You’re as strange as him. The two of you belong together.”
I smiled and winked at him. “I think you’re right about that, or that’s how it feels.”
We chatted all the way to the house, and I showed him the little alcove in front of the fence where he could park and not get a ticket for blocking a sidewalk. Luckily, whoever addedthe fence likely did so in anticipation of a need for a place for people to park while still protecting the perimeter.
We reached the gate, and Cary stopped just outside. “I’m, it’s not open to me,” he said.
“Damian,” I called quietly so as not to sound like I was yelling at him. He appeared a moment later at the front door and waved his hand when he saw Cary standing there. Cary nodded and stepped through the gate. A bluish light activated around the gate as he walked through. I watched transfixed as that light then radiated around him, before it encompassed the entire property.
Cary winked at me when I turned back toward Damian. “One down, one to go,” he said, and we walked toward the front door together. This time, Damian shook Cary’s hand but didn’t let go. Instead, he pulled him through the door. Apopsounded as Cary walked through.
