Page 19 of Jade Lion and the Witch Boy (Haunted Hearts: Season of the Witch #5)

“I CALL THIS Boysen House coven meeting to order,” Lisbeth declares. She’s sitting in her large armchair in the living room, and we’re all seated around the coffee table. “And by that I mean, it’s dinner time.” She claps her hands with glee and gazes at Kai expectantly.

I would be annoyed, but he’s told me time and again that he enjoys conjuring supper for us. I give him a knowing smile and bump his knee with mine since we’re both sharing the sofa. He seems eager to please, but that could be the horny grin he’s sharing only for me.

Because we had sex last night. This sexy, all-powerful mage hunk is into me. Squeal.

Today has been business as usual; we all went to work, and Kai went to the library.

He drank coffee at Brew-Ha as he waited for my shift to end, shooting me suggestive looks all the while.

We haven’t talked about it, but if I asked him to sleep in my bed tonight, I have no doubt he’d say yes.

Sex or no sex, Kai and I are closer than ever.

He has his memories back, and I have an amazing, magical guy in my bedroom to get freaky with. I’m on cloud nine.

Kai conjures burgers and fries, and we dig in.

“This is quite different,” Lisbeth remarks.

“But I can’t complain about free food,” Anika says.

We eat quietly, and I’m loving the spice mixture on the french fries. It’s Cajun, not too salty, with heat and sweetness. “Is it to your liking?” Kai asks me quietly.

I nod and smile. “It’s amazing. How’d you know about this recipe?”

He shrugs. “I read about Mexican-style American food. I knew how fond you were of these potato sticks.”

He did all this for me? His thoughtfulness warms my soul. “Well, I thank you, sir,” I reply.

Before I do something absurd like kiss him in front of everyone, I scoot away and turn my attention back to the food.

Lisbeth is studying us, and I know we could be more subtle.

I don’t think I’m ready for the whole coven to know that Kai and I are…

something. But there have been many developments, and I need to share with my witchy family.

“So, how was last night?” Lisbeth asks.

“It was…informative.” I turn to Kai and silently ask him with my eyes if I can keep going.

“Yes,” he says, gazing at me. “I regained all my memories.”

“Really?” Taina asks.

“That’s wonderful,” Lisbeth adds.

“Yes.” I clear my throat and steel myself to tell the truth. “We…discovered something new. Something huge here in Cosmo.”

The ladies pause and study me. “We were approached by a wizard,” I say.

“What?” Lisbeth asks, in shock.

For the next five minutes, I describe our experience with the Union of Mages.

I explain how wizards have a base across town, and that they use geo arcanum and portals to protect the world from dark forces like the Other Side.

The ladies don’t interrupt, and hopefully they understand the gravity of the magical subculture we’ve uncovered.

“Wow,” Anika says, taking it all in.

“I’ve never met wizards before,” Taina says, aimlessly toying with a french fry.

“That’s because wizards are awful,” Lisbeth mutters in a spiteful tone.

“I told you there was a portal here in Cosmo,” Ashley says to Lisbeth. “I’ve been tracking wizards my whole life. My ancestors had run-ins with them.” Ashley frowns and stares at her meal. “And they shunned witches. We get burned at the stake, and they get their mansions and wealth.”

My face softens in sympathy. As the shyest of the bunch, Ashley hasn’t shared with me her sordid past with wizards. And now I’m here bringing up old wounds over burgers and fries.

“Are you sure they weren’t just really wealthy witches?” Anika asks.

“I assure you, they were wizards.” Kai’s voice is deep, serious, and leaves no room for disagreement.

I nod and continue, “Luther asked us—well, asked Kai—to join the Union. We haven’t given him an answer, but…”

“I will not join a group that would exclude witches. You are my friends,” he says, decisively.

I beam at him, and my cheeks warm. His loyalty to us makes him extra sexy.

Lisbeth’s eyes dart between us, and she almost looks panicked. “I had heard rumors of a portable resource of magic.”

“The geo arcanum,” Ashley adds. “The very rock that grants wizards their weaponized sorcery.”

Anika sits back and sighs. “They’ve hidden themselves well. And those selfish bastards wouldn’t even talk to us or share their wealth and knowledge.” She wrings her hands together and looks away. “Wizards hate witches, a tale as old as time.”

“They’re awful,” Ashley says in a dejected tone. “The worst.”

I shrug. “Maybe. But they are fighting against the Other Side, remember?”

Lisbeth bristles. “For all we know, that was all an illusion spell to convince you to join them.”

“There was nothing fake about that.” Kai leans forward, his voice louder and sterner than usual.

“The creatures of the dark dimension are not to be trifled with or underestimated. What we saw was no illusion. I fought them for years before I came to your time.” His fists flare up with emerald energy.

“Never question that threat, do you understand?”

Woah. We all share alarmed looks. He’s never raised his voice like that during a coven meeting.

No one says a word. After five long seconds, Kai’s energy disappears.

He leans back down, and an uncomfortable peace is restored during dinner.

The sounds of the six of us eating our meal fill the room once more.

Anika and Lisbeth leave to argue about some wine in the fridge, leaving the rest of us to our meal.

“I’m glad you have your memories back, Kai,” Taina says.

“I’m sorry those awful wizards did that to you,” Ashley adds.

“It is fine,” he says.

I tap his shoulder. “Like I said, memories or none, you’re safe here.”

His face softens, and he touches my hand. “Thank you.” His fingers on mine send sparks across my skin. Something tells me that even if Kai wasn’t the Jade Lion, he would enchant me just by being himself.

Dinner ends uneventfully, and cleaning up is a snap, literally, with Kai’s powers. Our plates and scraps go away, and I’m once again grateful to have the man sitting next to me as part of Boysen House.

I’m about to suggest that he and I go for another walk in the woods, when Anika returns. “Kai, I was wondering if you’d like to tend to my garden with me.”

I exchange quizzical looks with Kai, then turn back to Anika. She bows and says, “Now that you’re one of us, I’d love to show you what this green witch can do.”

I shrug at Kai, and he replies, “Very well.”

“I’ll see you later,” I say softly. “I’m going to make some more muffin batter for the shop.

Go ahead.” Upon reflection, I have been spending all my time with Kai, one-on-one.

Lisbeth told me to, but he has his powers and his memories back.

He ought to spend some quality time with the rest of the coven.

When he leaves out the front door with Anika, I head for the kitchen.

I’m nearly done putting all the ingredients into my mixing bowl when a scary thought strikes me: what if Kai leaves?

He’s no longer searching for memories, and he’s way more powerful than our little coven.

I always assumed he’d go back to Hong Kong, but spending all this time with him for three weeks has made me grow attached.

It certainly doesn’t help that I know what his lips taste like.

I wonder if he’ll let me taste his cock…

I clear my throat and begin to stir when I sense a presence behind me. Turning around, Lisbeth, Ashley, and Taina are all staring at me expectantly. “Um, the muffin mix isn’t done.”

“We need to have a coven meeting,” Ashley says. “With you.”

“Didn’t we just have one?”

“One without…” Lisbeth subtly points out the window and quietly adds, “The Jade Lion.”

My pulse picks up. What’s so important that they can’t tell Kai? I lean back on the counter, and my brow furrows. “His name is Kai,” I mutter. The ladies exchange concerned looks, so I continue. “What’s wrong? I thought you all liked him.”

“We do,” Ashley says.

“And you really like him,” Taina adds, her tone dripping with innuendo. She crosses her arms and looks away.

My cheeks warm. Okay, maybe he and I were a little louder than I thought.

“Whatever we’re doing…” I cough and lift my chin high, ready to fight for my man. “It’s no one’s business. I thought you wanted me to make him feel welcome.”

“We did, but the game has changed,” Lisbeth says sternly. She puts on her no-nonsense coven leader face and stands up straight. “We need you to seal the deal.”

“What?” I’m not about to tell them about my sex life.

“Seb, these wizards are a threat,” Lisbeth says. “They have always shunned witches and hoarded their magic. You saw this geo arcanum, yes? A giant rock filled with magic for all mages?”

I nod and look away. “What does that have to do with Kai?”

“He’s our golden ticket,” Lisbeth explains.

“He’s very powerful,” Taina whispers.

“And we deserve power, don’t you think?” Ashley asks softly.

I turn and study them. These ladies, my second family, seem to be sternly pleading with me. “What are you…?”

“The greatest magic of all is true love.” Lisbeth shrugs and crosses her arms. “It’s corny, but real. And we need you to hurry up and make that lion man fall in love with you.”

My mouth goes dry, and my head gets dizzy. “Wha…what?”

Lisbeth bristles. “Why do you think I’ve left you two alone every night? The Jade Lion is a gay man, and you’re a single gay witch boy. It was all so perfect until these wizard bastards decided to show up.”

Ashley nods at Lisbeth, then looks at me. Her huge brown eyes sparkle with desperate need. “Seb, we don’t want to lose our chance. Please…”

I shake my head. “Please what? I thought you wanted me to get him to stay here! And I did just that—he outright said that he would rather be with us than with the Union.”