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“Well, that’s disappointing,” Carlotta calls from her seat at the kitchen table, placing her teacup down on its matching saucer. “Even if you are nephilim, you seem like such a nice boy—a good balance to all of my granddaughter’s other boyfriends. I still think Callie could also find a nice witch boy to date. I can think of at least half a dozen good suitors…”
Mildred sighs as she looks over her shoulder at the other matriarch. “For the hundredth time, you will not set Callie up with a witch for balance. She’s more than capable of appreciating witch culture without having to be romantically involved with one of our kind.”
“No, I mean I’m not having second thoughts,” I clarify, trying not to grimace over the idea of Callie having yet another boyfriend.
“What’s the harm?” Carlotta argues as if I haven’t said anything. “She already has multiple boyfriends. Why not one more? This one can help guide her through witch society. I’ll make sure her prospects are all powerful witches, so she will have an equal.”
“No one is her equal,” Mildred and I say in unison.
The Lyncas matriarch rolls her eyes, picks up her teacup, and grumbles, “You’re all so literal,” before taking a sip. She frowns at the liquid and then adds more sugar.
“At least you’re finally willing to admit Callie is a spirit witch,” Mildred comments, stepping to the side so I can enter.
“Obviously our granddaughter is special and has a power that the modern era has never seen,” Carlotta acquiesces, crossing her legs at the ankle and taking another sip of her tea. Seemingly pleased with the mixture, she continues, “However, the idea that the council has somehow been systematically eliminating any witch that shows signs of these abilities without anyone noticing seems a bit far-fetched. It seems far more logical that the power is simply so incredibly rare that it’s fallen into obscurity.”
“What about the journals?” I point out, stepping far enough inside so the door can close behind me. “They clearly show that there used to be women with Callie’s powers who held some type of leadership role.”
Carlotta motions between herself and Mildred with her free hand. “Undoubtedly recordings of early matriarchs known by another name. It’s been over a millennium since those were written. Governing powers change and evolve.” She takes a final sip before setting her teacup down. “I know you’re still learning the intricacies of witch society” —she gives Mildred a hard look that illustrates her disapproval that I know anything at all— “however, one of the basic fundamentals is that our most powerful lead, because that power allows us to govern all supernaturals.”
“Except for vampires,” I note, unsure how I got sucked into this argument in the first place.
“Only furthering my point,” she insists, picking through a selection of finger sandwiches. “It seems highly unlikely that the council would waste an advantage on the vampire queen.”
“They would if it meant holding onto their own power,” Mildred counters, returning to her seat at the kitchen table, and then she shoos me away with a flick of her wrist. “You didn’t come here to help me debate the power structure of witches. Go upstairs and give my granddaughter the good news that you’ve come to your senses.”
“Just one second,” Carlotta interjects, licking a bit of egg salad from her thumb. She holds out her hand and murmurs something under her breath. A wave of hot, dry air surrounds me for a few seconds before dissipating. “There, much better. Can’t have you looking like a rumpled mess when you’re confessing your devotion.”
Looking down at myself, I notice my shirt is now wrinkle free. “Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome.” She beams at me and then makes her own shooing motion. “Go sweep her off her feet.” She aims her smile at Mildred. “Isn’t young love so sweet?”
“It is,” Mildred agrees, her voice tender and a bit wistful.
The fae, currently still known only as Mr. Mischief, wanders into the kitchen in his house cat form. He eyes Carlotta before leaping into Mildred’s lap. She unconsciously scratches him behind the ears and under his chin, and his menacing stare loses some of its heat when he starts to purr.
“This is utter madness,” Carlotta fumes, glaring down at him. “That is a conscious being that still refuses to explain himself. He’s a literal interloper, and you… you… continue to treat him like a pet!”
“We don’t know his circumstances. Perhaps it’s difficult for him to shift to a humanoid form,” Mildred protests, using her free hand to pick up her teacup. “All his actions have shown that he means no harm to Callie or me, and he’s the first fae to reveal himself since the days of the shifter wars. I’m certainly not going to chase him away due to a lack of patience.”
“Patience?” Carlotta shouts, her expression one of indignant outrage. “This is not about patience.”
Afraid that if I don’t move now, I’ll be caught in another disagreement between the two women, I quickly make my way upstairs and down the hall to Callie’s room. After taking a fortifying breath, I open the door.
Callie is curled up on her side in bed, sound asleep, her hands fisted under her chin. Carefully, I walk over and sit on her bed, admiring her sleeping face. Part of me wants to leave her this way, but the ticking clock of the nephilim retreat looms, and now that the decision is made, I can’t leave without telling her I love her and that being with her is more important than my fears.
Brushing her hair away from her face, I murmur, “Callie.”
Her nose scrunches up, and she tugs her comforter up over her shoulder.
“Callie,” I call again softly while gently shaking her.
She slowly blinks her beautiful gray eyes open, and her sleeping pout spreads to a delighted smile. “Kaleb.”
My name sounds sweet on her lips, and it makes me want to taste them. I’ve been holding back for so long. Now, it all just feels like wasted time.
“Hello, columba mea,” I reply with a smile.
As she grows more alert, her brows furrow. Looking through the French doors that lead out to her small balcony, she notices the sinking sun disappearing behind the forest. “Aren’t you supposed to be heading to the retreat by now?”
