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“That’s not the issue…” I can’t sleep in a hotel full of vampires—the leader of which wants me dead. By leaving me alone, Fintan is inviting the entire horde of vampires to an all-you-can-eat Josie buffet.
“I will come again at sundown, and we can see about that spellbook of yers. If ye decide that yer hungry between now and then, just give a shout.”
“To who? Room service? There’s no phone in here.” I spin to double check, but nope.
“No, I mean literally,” Fintan says with a straight face. “Just yell. I will hear ye, or someone else will and bring you something to eat. Goodnight, Josie.”
“Wait—” but the door clicks shut before I can reach it, and when I grab the knob, the stream of Zana’s magic is flowing through the panel of wood. I feel it out a bit more before deciding it’s pointless and give up.
I’m locked down tight.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
FINN
Josie is mine. She must be. There is no other answer to why she grabbed my attention so thoroughly in such a short amount of time. When Sebastian was dangling her over the edge of the building, I knew I would kill him if he hurt my witch.
I wouldn’t have hesitated.
And then in her room, it was like her emotions leaked into me. It must have something to do with my gift, but usually it’s more like hints of feelings and impressions.
With Josephine, it’s like sharing emotions. I’ve experienced nothing like it before. I’ve experienced nothing like her before.
Sebastian is right about one thing: the Dumont witches are complicated. Perhaps I need to change my tactic for getting Josephine to like me.
I laugh out loud at myself, the sound bouncing around the empty hallway as I walk to my quarters to turn in for the day.
I haven’t done a great job so far.
Whatever link is forming between Josie and me has grown in the short time she’s been here. Despite that, there is still an undeniable rift between us, and I fear that divide has grown too.
I can sense it, but I don’t know what can be done about it. I don’t want to be like the werewolves who lock up their Unity Witches, only using them to quell their animalistic urges during full moons. That’s not the relationship I envision for Josie and me.
There is a possibility she may not leave me any other choice. I need to find the middle ground between keeping her in line and away from Sebastian while also gaining her trust.
What am I to do with Sebastian? And Rune? How will he take the news now that I have taken Josephine off the market?
I don’t want to, but I know I should speak with him before Sebastian breaks the news. He should hear it from me. If I want to keep Josie safe while she’s here, I need Rune on my side.
I’m outside the door of his chambers before I can second-guess and talk myself out of it.
“I think Josephine Dumont is my Unity Witch,” I say, not bothering to knock before letting myself into his room.
“Hello to you as well, Finn.” Rune lounges on the leather loveseat that sits facing a crackling fire in the cobblestone hearth he built himself. He holds a goblet in one hand, swirling rich, dark liquid around the sides of the glass. “Care for a nightcap?”
“Did you hear what I said?”
Of course he did. He’s just ignoring me on purpose. Like an immature child.
“I told Sebastian that Josephine is my Unity Witch,” I repeat, taking the seat across from Rune.
“And how did our fearless leader take that tidbit of information?” Rune asks, taking a sip of his blood ale.
I wonder absently how many he’s already thrown back since returning from the Dumont house. Alcohol is one of his go-to coping mechanisms. It ranks second, behind a round or three of some kinky, rough sex at the club.
The fact that he’s here alone tells me plan A failed. Plan B doesn’t seem to be working very well.
Despite Rune’s languid pose, the room is rife with his tension and anxiety. It oozes from him like the thick blobs of a lava lamp.
