Page 41 of Cursed Sight
Ethan smirked. “Apparently, but he wasn’t wrong about you.”
Once they neared the apartment, Ethan sensed more magic. Serena peered up at him and stopped. She handed him the small bag she held and weaved her magic into the air. The power she emanated grew within the space, the energy like a caress against his own field. She muttered an enchantment under her breath, and the hall glowed briefly as it sealed in her spell.
“Which apartment?” she asked, her high-priestess tone in place.
Ethan pointed at the next door on the right a few feet ahead of them. Serena walked past the door, and he watched as she created another protective barrier.
“Lean back against the wall,” she told him.
Another series of hand gestures accompanied an incantation he had not heard before, and she shoved her magic down both sides of the hall. Ethan looked down one side and up the other, wondering what the last one had been for.
“Use the anti-cloaking spell and see if you see my magic or theirs.”
Ethan did as she asked, and his brows raised. “No, I don’t see it or feel it.”
Serena nodded with satisfaction. “Good,” she said before raising her fist to the door.
He knew there was a lot he needed to learn, but in that moment, he was reminded how powerful Serena was. She may be his soul mate, and no one could sever their bond, but he still had a lot to learn about her.
“You made it!” Brandy said excitedly and opened the door wide. “Rye, they’re here!”
“I’m sure the neighbors know it too,” Ryan called back with a chuckle. “Welcome.” He greeted with a small bow of his head in respect of Serena.
“Thanks for having us,” Serena said, accepting Brandy’s embrace.
Ethan handed Ryan the bottle of wine. “Save it for when the baby’s born,” he said with a shrug.
“No reason you guys can’t enjoy a glass when I can’t,” Brandy said as she wound an arm around Ethan’s waist. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
Ethan laughed. “Technically it’s been a week.”
“That didn’t count.”
Serena stepped into his side as Brandy rounded the kitchen island. “This place is beautiful!”
“Thanks, it’s definitely better than the apartment over Alumbra,” Ryan said, referring to his old place over the werewolves’ headquarters.
With the Volark scare pushed to the back of their minds, their moods relaxed. Brandy pointed at a stack of plates next to the stove and told them to serve themselves.
Ethan rose to clear the dishes when Brandy swatted at him. “This is Serena’s first time here. Let me be formal,” she said and winked in her direction. Ryan was clearly not part of the rule, so he helped her load everything into the dishwasher quickly.
“Dinner was delicious,” Serena said in their direction. “It’s the best salmon I’ve eaten.”
“Thanks, I’ve been playing around with different recipes in my downtime,” Ryan said.
“For dessert, I went back to Amanda Jo’s and got another cheesecake. This way Rye could taste our wedding cake.” Brandy laughed as she placed the cheesecake in the center.
Serena groaned. “Your family really wants to fatten me up. I thought you said you didn’t want to challenge me?” she asked, and the room became silent. “I’m kidding. Geez, tough crowd.”
“That wasn’t very nice,”he told her.
“What? I thought we all agreed Brandy didn’t care to be a high priestess,”she said.
“She doesn’t, but you know Ryan is very respectful of your position,”he replied.
Brandy squealed, interrupting their telepathic conversation. “Oh my God! Youaresoul mates!”
Ethan raised a brow at Serena and smirked.
