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I felt Lochran pull me closer into him, his murderous growl, and that of the rest of my family, drowned by the savage snarl of Billy, who I suspected might have started to shift.

I saw memory-me hold out a hand I hadn’t realized had been shaking at the time. Memory-me hesitated for a moment until a look of triumph crossed Chad’s features. Finally, memory-me clicked her fingers, and Chad’s dick shriveled into near-nothing.

The snapping of Billy’s jaws filled the room as the memory faded, the purple wisps pulling themselves back toward the dais, presumably forming into the crystal ball once more—I couldn’t actually tell because the room was filled with shadows, which the witchfire skittering over Mom’s and Jake’s skin could barely penetrate.

The sound of Grandma’s cane clanking on stone finally broke the murderous rage filling the room. Lochran, Dad, and Granda’s shadows finally started receding, wrapping protectively around me one more time before settling into the corners of the room. I just about caught Billy’s muzzle returning to her human features, though she was still too worked up to be able to shake off the elongated canines.

My gaze fell on the witnesses. Tears streamed down Caitlyn’s eyes and Declan wore a look flashing between fury and abhorrence.

“Innocent!” Caitlyn croaked.

Declan brought his index and middle fingers from both hands to hover just above the corners of his lips before gesturing outward.

Innocent.

All eyes landed on Priscilla, who looked indifferent as she idly checked her watch.

“Ms. Raisin?” Grandma’s voice was laced with warning.

Priscilla rolled her eyes. “Sure. Innocent.Whatever,” she finally said.

Grandma cast Priscilla a final warning glare before she crossed the room and clasped my hands in hers. “Innocent,” she said.

Chapter 21. Lochran

I tried my best to push the memory of Lex’s ordeal to the depths of my mind. There would be time enough to dwell on it later, but for now, my mate was animated and happy, and I would not sour her mood tonight.

Declan was the first to break off from the group, but not before signing that Lex and I should come to the tea shop tomorrow for some free tea.

Lex’s parents, flanked by her grandparents, marched quickly toward their house to finish making the celebratory dinner we’d been promised, leaving the rest of us to walk idly in their wake. Jake and Priscilla walked far enough behind us that we couldn’t hear their latest argument. Lex talked animatedly to Caitlyn, while Billy marched solemnly beside me, every so often throwing a subtle glance back at Jake.

I felt sorry for the shifter.

The moment she’d scented Jake through the closed door, something had changed in the wolf. It was like her entire bodyhad focused in on him and him alone. Her desires had practically screamed “Mate!”

Unfortunately for Billy, her fated mate had the emotional range of a teapot.

Which was why his scent kept changing between the hazy notes of confusion, a bland indifference when he looked at Priscilla, and the heady, earthy notes of evergreen needles and petrichor when he stole a glance at Billy. There was attraction there, sure. But it was as if his body just couldn’t understand what that extra layer was, especially as Billy grew gradually more irritated with him as the evening progressed.

“Lochran said he’d take me away,” Lex said excitedly, and my attention homed in on my mate once more.

“Like, on vacation? If you want, I have a cabin near Headless Hollow. It’s booked up until the end of the week, but it’s yours if you want it,” Caitlyn said.

“Headless Hollow? Sounds like a place from a horror movie,” I said.

Lex scoffed. “Headless Hollow is one of the few towns in America that exclusively caters to magical creatures from all walks of life. It’s been on my bucket list for years! I didn’t know you had a property there, Cat?”

Caitlyn’s smile faltered. “I don’t, technically. I’m just looking after it until...” She trailed off, but it seemed like Lex knew exactly what she was talking about.

Neither witch expanded for the benefit of Billy and me.

“What do you say, Lochran? Oh, and Billy, you should cometoo!”

“I don’t want to be a third wheel—”

Lex sucked in a breath as if she’d just realized something. “I know! What if Lochran and I go alone, and you can stay here and mind the house for us? It adores you, Billy. And haven’t you always talked about just letting your wolf roam free and away from your pack? Here would be perfect. There’re no mortals around, so you can spend your days frolicking in the woods, hunting bunnies, and rolling in fox poo to your heart’s content.”

Billy’s lips twitched into the first smile since she’d scented Jake.