My eyes stayed on Beatrix. Keeping the pack safe shouldn’t have been something she had to worry about, but if I wanted to visit them with Foster, then that made it just another thing to add to her list. I didn’t like feeling responsible for adding more onto Beatrix’s plate when my magic was the cause for most of the coven’s current problems.

  “I won’t be going back to the pack until this is resolved,” I said. “Beatrix doesn’t need to worry about protecting them any more than she normally would if there were a mutual threat.”

  Foster’s darkened emotions hit me in the chest. They were sudden and sharp and had me fighting for air.

  His chest rumbled, but it was Mack who spoke first. “Andie is partially right. Beatrix doesn’t need to worry about our pack. We will take care of our own, so long as we’re privy to new information and lines don’t get crossed.” He leaned forward and turned to me. “You will come back to our land whenever you want.”

  Foster calmed, and the thunderstorm of his emotions that I was feeling faded away. I smiled at Mack. “Thank you.”

  He winked before facing forward again.

  Beatrix cleared her throat. “Yes, everyone in this room will be included in all new information. The plan moving forward is to continue searching through ancestral information for anything that will be helpful in learning why Moira has been led down this path and to prepare for what we can do to combat her dark energy.”

  Beatrix lifted the jar of dark magic again. “Leaving this type of power around isn’t something I normally like to do, but we’re expecting a visit from the vampires tonight and I intend to do some experiments with this. Who would like to volunteer to help with this?”

  Several hands shot up. One of them being Sheila’s, who hadn’t seemed on board with all of this earlier.

  “Chase, Merrit, and…Sheila. All three of you, meet me at my house after lunch. Between now and then, I’ll be emailing the rest of you a list of tasks to begin.” Beatrix raised a brow at Holden. “Would you like me to include you on that as well?”

  He grinned. “I’m happy to take some suggestions.”

  She nodded, fighting her own smirk. “I assumed that would be the case. Does anyone have any questions?”

  No hands went up. I still had a few of my own, but they weren’t anything that couldn’t wait until I saw what Beatrix assigned Foster and me to do. I was ready to deep dive into Moira because Beatrix made a valid point.

  If we didn’t understand what the monster wanted, then there was zero possibility of stopping her.

  A couple of hours later, I was walking with Foster and Charlie to her parents’ house. My clumsy was out in full force, and my hands were extra jittery.

  Foster wrapped his arm around my waist, keeping me from falling face-first into the cobblestone path when I failed to pick up my feet properly—and not for the first time.

  “If you trip again, I’m going to carry you over my shoulder,” he whisper-growled in my ear, pressing me tightly against his side.

  Charlie laughed. “Please do. I need a picture of that in my life.”

  I glanced up at Foster. “Please don’t give her that kind of happiness.”

  He didn’t respond, and I knew he was seriously considering her request. Instead of trying to convince him otherwise, I focused my eyes on the ground and made sure I didn’t let my nerves continue to make me more prone to injury.

  Charlie jogged ahead and then turned around to walk backward while smirking at me. “All you have to do is trust your instincts, Andie. Don’t overthink your movements, and nature will take care of the rest.”

  I barked out a laugh, leaning my head against Foster. “I’ll trust Foster’s iron grip over the nature of my feet any day.”

  Charlie did this weird shuffle with her feet and then spun around before we had to turn the corner to the street her parents lived on. “One day, you’ll see.”

  She ran ahead, and Foster pressed his lips to my head. “I think she’s right.”

  My eyes widened and I glanced up. “About nature keeping me safe?”

  He chuckled. “No. Well, sort of. I’m going to guess that you weren’t accident prone when you were a child.”

  I thought back, even in the early days of living alone with my mother. “Not particularly.”

  Most of the incidents had started a few months before I’d gotten my period at the ripe age of nine. Like, screw you, Mother Nature. That wasn’t freaking cool. More like frightening when I’d thought I’d been dying in the middle of the night and screaming for my mommy like a toddler.

  Though Foster didn’t need to know that, so I kept those thoughts to myself.

  “If my theory is correct, you started feeling off-kilter with your body around the age of ten?” he suggested, and I nodded since he was close enough to correct. “I think it took some time for your body to realize the energy you were born with had been taken away. Once it did, everything else was thrown off. When you get your power back, you’ll be whole for the first time in over a decade.”

  Shit. Maybe my clumsiness hadn’t had anything to do with puberty. His reasoning made a truckload more sense and wasn’t nearly as embarrassing, so I shrugged.

  “You might be on to something, Mr. Kline. I knew there was a reason I’ve been keeping you around,” I joked.

  He growled in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “Do I need to remind you of the many other reasons you’ve ‘kept me around,’ Ms. Bishop?”

  I was oh-so-tempted to say “yes,” but Charlie reappeared in front of us. “What’s the holdup? You know how hard it is to keep my parents from rushing outside to greet you like fangirls?”

  I grimaced. “Sorry.”

  She shushed me and grabbed my hand, yanking me out of Foster’s tight hold. “Come on.”

  Foster lengthened his stride and kept pace with Charlie’s quick movements while I somehow managed to stay on my feet, despite the butterflies swarming inside me.

  Charlie’s parents had always been kind, but I only remembered them from a five-year-old’s perspective. I had this idea of who they were. The more I thought about seeing them again, the more I worried the reunion wouldn’t be what I imagined. The possibility of that scared the hell out of me for some reason.

  Their yard was just as I remembered with two oval-shaped strips of grass surrounded by white rocks and a stone pathway leading to a light-blue door. Charlie barged through the entrance and positioned me in front of her.

  After making sure I was steady on my feet, I looked up into familiar hazel and green eyes, seeing William and Marlene for the first time in much too long.

  William’s previously dark hair had lightened several shades, not quite grey, but not vibrant, either. Marlene still had her golden-blonde locks that matched her daughter’s, and she was the first to step forward.

  “Oh, Andie. Look at you.” Tears welled in her eyes, and her arms wrapped around me. I melted into her embrace, fighting back my own emotions, and held on to her waist like I was still a child, even though we were nearly the same height now.

  Warmth, home, love, and so many other versions of happiness filled me until I heard William greet Foster.

  “I’ve been eager to meet the man who possibly saved my Marlene’s life,” he said.

  I pulled out of the hug with Marlene and whipped my head around. “What?”

  Foster met my confused gaze. “I didn’t know until we walked in the door. Back at Spell House, when I was helping outside, I left the door I was guarding to help one of the witches. I’d been furious with myself because I’d assumed my choice had allowed the one who hurt you and Benjamin to sneak in, but maybe there was a reason I was out there.”

  William clasped his shoulder. “There’s always a reason for everything, young man. Even if we never find that reason out. Believing there’s a purpose for everything we do in this life is the only way I’ve survived living in our twisted world.”

  Marlene scoffed. “I’m sure you mean that’s one of the ways. Right, dear?”

  William’s eyes softened for the woman next to me. “Of course, my love.” Then he took a few steps forward and pulled me into a hug.

  His embrace seared parts of my heart I hadn’t known I could feel. His earthy aftershave sparked a memory of my father, and I hiccupped from trying to fight back my tears.

  William pulled back, his lips turned down. “Andie?”

  I swiped at my face and glanced over his shoulder at Foster, speaking to him first, then William. “I’m fine. It’s just a lot. Your cologne reminds me of my dad.”

  William gathered me back up, then quickly let go. “I didn’t even think about that. Let me go change.”

  I snagged his hand before he could get more than a step away. “No, these are happy tears. Unexpected, but happy. I promise.”

  He smiled softly. “If you’re sure.”

  I nodded. “Absolutely.”

  Marlene came around and ushered us out of the entryway. “Well, then. How about we go out back and have some lunch while we catch up?”

  William went ahead, and I turned back to Foster. The crease between his brows couldn’t be missed, and even Charlie gave us some privacy.

  I’d known this was going to be hard. I just hadn’t understood why until the moment Marlene and William had embraced me. There was something about a parent’s love that couldn’t be replaced. My mom and dad had loved me with their whole hearts. For so long, I couldn’t remember the safety of my father’s hugs. Or the way I’d giggle when he hadn’t shaved and tickled my face with his kisses and love.

  And as I’d gotten older, it had been the look in my mother’s eyes that told me she’d understood me better than I’d yet to comprehend, especially when I’d been a teenager. She had always been kind and patient with me. Always supportive with her words and actions.

  Losing all of that—having them both ripped away from me so early in life—wasn’t okay.

  Foster’s arms curled around me, and I took a shuddering breath. He kissed the side of my head. “You’re hurting.”

  I nodded. “I miss my parents. Remembering how close our families were before I left here… It’s bringing back emotions I spent a long time burying while I was on my own.”

  Foster pulled back and cupped my cheek. “You’re not alone anymore, but that doesn’t mean you have to face this head on, right this very minute.”

  I leaned into his touch. “I know, but I’ve missed William and Marlene since the moment I could remember them again. I just wasn’t in a hurry to rip old wounds open. Now that they are right here, I don’t want to hide anymore. That’s not how I’m going to move forward.”

  He pressed his lips to mine and grabbed my hand. “Then let’s go enjoy some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cut into stars, macaroni and cheese, and chocolate-dipped fruits.”

  My head tilted to the side. “What?”

  Foster pointed to his ears. “Wolf perks. I heard Charlie complaining about the menu.”

  I smiled brightly. “Those were our favorite foods as kids.”

  Charlie’s parents hadn’t changed much at all.

  With one last shuddering breath, I squeezed Foster’s hand and we ventured through the living room we’d been standing next to and around the dining area, where there were sliding glass doors leading out onto the covered concrete patio.

  A light-pink tablecloth with teacups all over it was on the table. I laughed and cried a little more at the same time. “You still have that thing?”

  Marlene’s smile glowed. “Of course. Tea-Party Tuesdays with my two favorite girls were my favorite day of the week.”

  She was already sitting, but I went to her anyway, wrapping my arms around her from behind and giving her a tight squeeze. “Thank you, Momma M.”

  She let out a small sob, and her fingers dug into my forearms for another second before she cleared her throat. “Today wasn’t supposed to be a sob fest. We can save that for another time. Come have a seat and tell us all about the woman you’ve become.”

  I took the chair between her and Charlie, who reached under the table and gave my hand a squeeze. I met her gaze, which was also filled with tears. I might not have any blood relatives left in this world, but these people right here were still my family, and I would cherish them for as many years as I could.

  8

  FOSTER

  Knowing Andie was nervous about seeing Charlie’s parents and watching her come undone were two different things. I’d known there were deep scars that she carried from her past, but I hadn’t realized how fresh they still were.

  Though, as much as I hated to see my mate hurt, I knew that facing the harder emotions was the right thing for her to do. While her parents couldn’t be part of her life anymore, remembering the happier times and finding a way to accept that she still had plenty of people who cared about her would only help strengthen Andie.

  We stayed at William and Marlene’s for several hours before going back to Andie’s to wait for the vampires to arrive. I leaned my back against the arm of the couch with Andie sitting between my legs.

  She hummed while I ran my fingers lightly over the tattoo on her bicep, following the feather up, and passing around the birds before I made my way to her neck. I used my thumbs to work on the knots I could feel under her skin.

  Her head lolled forward, and she sighed. “Can we just stay here for the rest of the day?”

  She moaned loudly when I pressed harder on her shoulder blade. I tried not to let my mind wander, but my dick had other ideas.

  I shifted beneath her before answering. “We could, but then you’d miss meeting some important people. Beatrix wouldn’t let just anyone into the coven. I think you’d regret that later on.”

  She groaned and half-moaned. “Probably, but I’m also going to regret letting you up.”

  I laughed. “I promise to resume my services later tonight when we’re sure not to be interrupted.”

  Andie’s phone vibrated with a text on the coffee table. She burrowed deeper between my legs, but I reached over and grabbed it. As much as I enjoyed having Andie to myself, I was intrigued with what Beatrix had said that morning.

  A future in which supernaturals didn’t feel the need to live separately wasn’t one I’d ever pictured, but it would be the start to maybe not remaining in hiding from the humans for centuries to come. Before meeting Andie, I wouldn’t have given two shits about that kind of unity, but knowing my mate had been raised human had given me a different perspective on things.

  She saw things in humanity that most supernaturals never could. I didn’t want to take that part of her life away.

  Andie took her phone from me when I waved it in front of her and tapped the screen.

  Beatrix: Come to the rock pillars.

  Andie sighed. “She might have shown us a side of her we’d yet to see this morning, but she still isn’t polite with her words.”

  I let out a small laugh. “Would she really be Beatrix if she used words like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’?”

  “No, probably not, but we might want to strangle her less if she did.” Andie groaned, then sat up and looked back at me. “Your fingers are too powerful for their own good.”

  Her words were not helping me keep the desire to take her into the bedroom in check, but I wouldn’t deny that I enjoyed when she shared her thoughts in any form with me. It was something she did more and more every day.

  I swung my feet off the couch and pressed Andie back into the cushions before she could get up. I blocked her in with my arms and legs and captured her lips with my own.

  She opened for me without hesitation, and my tongue tasted every corner of her mouth until her chest was heaving between us. Then I stood up.

  Andie huffed and glared at me. “What the shit was that?”

  “That was payback for the moans you took pleasure in while I rubbed your neck. Come on. We’re going to be late.” I turned my back before she could see the grin growing on my face.

  Except I wasn’t getting away with that so easily.

  I walked behind the couch toward the door, and Andie launched herself at me. I caught her with ease. Her legs wrapped around my waist while her hands gripped my shirt.

  “That was rude.”

  I winked. “I’ll make it up to you tonight.”

  She glanced behind us as I opened the door. “The stars are already out. It’s nighttime.”

  I shook my head, smiling. “You’re killing me, Andie.”

  She slid down when I paused to shut and lock the door, then she patted my chest. “Good. This wouldn’t be a proper relationship if we didn’t torture each other.”

  My chest loosened and tightened all at once with conflicting emotions. I never thought I’d care for another after losing my pack that had included my own blood family. I’d never wanted to risk the pain I’d experienced because I couldn’t keep another safe.

  But seeing Andie walk ahead of me, her head up and shoulders strong, I knew that any life I might have lived without her would have been like living in hell.

  She was the light I was happy to follow. To guard and make sure no one ever stole the goodness from inside her.

  Andie stopped in her tracks, and I closed the distance between us in two strides. “What’s wrong?”

  She tapped her foot and looked around. “I have magic now.”

  I nodded. “You do. Does something not feel right?”

  “Everything is fine, but shouldn’t I start to use the magic? I mean, if I’m going to try to get my necklace back from Moira, then I need to be comfortable with the energy inside me.”

  She was talking fast and still looking around.

  I placed my hand on her lower back. “Yes, that would be good, but we still have time. Moira hasn’t made any other appearances.”

  Andie’s eyes fell on mine, wide and bright. “But she could. At any moment. We don’t really have time. We just have the false sense of peace that could be ripped away tomorrow.”

  Before I could respond, she took one step forward and rubbed her hands together. When light-purple sparks flickered from her fingertips, I stayed where I was and let Andie do what she needed to do to calm the sudden nerves she was displaying.