Page 54 of Grave Beginnings

“Nice to meet you,” I said to them. “This is my first time in here, but Angel brought me some treats yesterday. It all looks amazing.”

“Really?” Gwen said. “Angel brought you treats? How unusual for him to share.”

“Goddess…” Angel muttered. “We should get back.” He pulled out his wallet to pay.

“I’ll get it,” I said, putting my hand over his to push his wallet away. “You got me treats yesterday. Let me get yours today. Plus, I have stuff for Ivan.” I looked down at the three bags of food. “And a lot for me. Did you get enough for you?”

Angel shivered as our magics mingled for a few seconds while he slid his hand out from under mine and put his wallet away. He took a step back as I pulled out some cash and held it out. The women stared at me as if looking into my soul, and I sucked in air.

“Uh…everything okay?” I asked.

“Interesting,” Gwen said, her gaze sliding back and forth between Angel and me.

“You’re a lovely creature, Jude,” Lilith said.

“Thank you?” Was that good?

“Rare,” Gwen agreed. “You’re paying for Angel’s food, too? Feeding him?”

“Yeah.” I glanced back at Angel. “You got food, right?” I couldn’t believe I’d bought over a hundred dollars worth of food for myself and Ivan. “If you don’t have enough, you can have some of mine.”

He nodded, his cheeks a little flushed.

“We’re good,” I said, holding out the money.

Lilith took it from me, her fingertips brushing mine. I expected a zap or something, but her touch slid over me without any magic. Strange, as I could see the wriggling of an aura around her. She was something not human, but damned if I could tell what.

“Thank you so much!” I said as she handed over the change and receipt. Angel took two of the bags, leaving the third for me to carry. “Nice meeting you both.”

I turned around to leave and ran right into Lilith, who had somehow come around the counter and appeared in front of me as if she’d manifested there. What the fuck?

She cupped my cheek, and I swallowed a rush of fear, wondering if she was a vampire and about to fuck me up, but her gaze was soft.

“Everything okay?” I repeated quietly, afraid of drawing more attention to myself, and unable to see Angel behind the woman.

“Sweet little necromancer. Danger waits for you.”

I felt like the entire shop froze with those words. Other customers all gazed our way, and a chill arched up my spine. “I try to avoid danger whenever possible.”

“Fate has chosen you,” Gwen said from behind me.

“Chosen me for what? Is fate something I should worry about?”

Lilith sighed. “Come home when you’re ready. When you’re tired, and seeking rest, I’ll welcome you back into the fold.”

“Uh…” What the fuck did that mean? But she stepped out from between Angel and me, and headed back behind the counter as if she hadn’t justappearedin front of me. I blinked at Angel, who glanced behind me, then reached for my hand and tugged me out the door. I didn’t look back. Angel’s hand in mine, guiding more than holding, but the way our magic ran back and forth between us soothed some of the anxiety, though none of the questions.

“Do I want to know?” I asked.

“Maybe not yet,” Angel offered.

“Scary? Or am I overreacting?”

“Best to be cautious of most you meet across the Veil,” he agreed.

I filed away the knowledge that two beautiful women working in a bakery across the Veil scared my unflappable partner and should probably terrify me. “I’ll try not to think about it for now.”

“Good plan.”