CHAPTER FIVE

AMbrOSE

In a daze, I make my way slowly back to our Trice Adored tent.

My sister Silvia takes one look at me and snaps her fingers, freezing time.

“Patience!” she yells, which brings my other sister running.

Both of them peer at me and grin.

“It’s finally happened! You found her!” Patience declares before charging me and wrapping her arms around me in a hug. Silvia throws her arms around the two of us and hugs us tightly.

“She’s human,” I manage to force out.

Their arms loosen, and as one, they take a step back. Despite seventy years between their births, they act more like twins than mere sisters. They’ve been thick as thieves since the time Silvia turned sixteen. They exchange a glance full of meaning that I cannot decipher, then turn to face me.

“Surely not,” Patience states, idly twisting her fingers about in the air sending a stream of orange-colored magic into a never-ending loop.

“What does it matter?” Silvia interjects, crossing her arms as her eyes bounce between me and Patience. She has yet to find her soul mate but seems unbothered by that.

I open my mouth when Patience talks over me. “A human, Silvia. With no magic, no powers, just a living, breathing, MORTAL.”

The way she stresses the word mortal has me wincing. I had forgotten that part. Every witch and warlock have the option to embrace immortality when they turn twenty-five. Naturally, almost all do.

Our mother is seven hundred years old and our father is five hundred. They are living in Europe currently. They laugh over their children’s quaint habit of running a business and living in a monster town instead of one populated entirely by witches.

“It doesn’t matter that she’s mortal. I’ll make her immortal.” The idea of losing Natalie in sixty or so years to death is appalling. I’ve only just found her!

Before either sister can comment further and try to bring down my happiness, I hold out my hand. “She wrote this for me,” I say proudly.

Shoving a fist in her mouth does no good as Silvia’s giggles sneak out from around her hand.

Patience grins broadly and nudges her. “Big brother scored his first phone number.”

Their eyes connect and they collapse into a heap, wild giggles blasting my eardrums.

“What’s so funny?” I snap.

Silvia is the first to catch her breath. She rolls her bright blue eyes. “Get with the times and get a phone.”

I sniff and peer down my nose at my sisters still lounging on the ground. “I have no need of one.”

Smirking, Silvia bounces to her feet. “If you’re going to date a human, you’ll need one.”

Drawing myself up to my full six-foot two-inch height, I give her a frosty glare. “I’m not dating Natalie. I’m claiming her.”

“This should be good,” Patience mutters, rolling her eyes over to Silvia and smirking.

“It better be.” Silvia snaps her fingers and time resumes.

***

NATALIE

I’m having a lot of second thoughts as I wait for Ambrose to pick me up for our date. I don’t know this man at all. Other than he’s odd and yet insanely hot.

A shiver goes through me at the memory of his piercing eyes and the way even his scent called to me. I’ve never been so attracted to anyone like this before.

Surely that’s a good sign. Wouldn’t I get a bad feeling if he was a deranged psycho killer or something? He doesn’t wear serial killer glasses, which is a point in his favor.

Actually, the man has a lot of points in his favor and if he can hold a conversation, has a decent job, and doesn’t live in his parents’ basement, he might be the guy I’ve been hoping for.

Other than the down-to-earth part.

Any guy who wears silver contacts and works as a magician is a far cry from that.

Glancing at my phone, I see it’s almost six and still no sign of Ambrose. I’m getting hungry and a bit on edge, so I step away from the window and plop down on the couch to wait for him, taking care to smooth my skirt as I do.

An odd sound reaches my ears that I simply cannot place. It almost sounds like… I shake my head. I’m in the middle of a housing development. I couldn’t be hearing a horse.

Several minutes go by and the strange sound ceases. I’m twisting my necklace around when a brisk knock comes on my door.

I open the door to Ambrose, standing tall and handsome on my porch. He’s in a perfectly cut black suit, complete with black shirt and tie. I’m sensing a dark theme here with him.

My gaze moves past him to the gleaming black horse and carriage in front of my house. A gasp leaves me, and my hands pluck at my long skirt.

I dressed casually in an ankle-length brown skirt and an off-the shoulder turquoise blouse that has two layers of ruffles around the top. It’s fun and makes the most of my blonde hair and blue eyes. Except now I’m feeling severely underdressed.

Gesturing at my clothes, I ask, “Should I go change?”

Ambrose’s silver eyes glow as they trail over me. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever beheld.”

Hot color rushes to my face and I’m sure I’m bright pink.

“Our carriage awaits.” He holds out his hand and guides me over. A man in a black uniform stands at attention, holding the door open for us. I go to step up when hands grasp me about the waist and smoothly lift me into the carriage.

Where Ambrose’s hands touched, warmth remains as my heart thuds in my chest and I take a seat on the padded bench inside. Climbing into the carriage, he takes a seat next to me instead of on the opposite bench and suddenly my side and leg are pressed to his.

He’s so close that my nose fills with the enticing scent of him. It’s like a drug as I breathe him in, my eyes feeling heavy as my breathing speeds up.

I swallow hard and shift over a little to put some room between us. He’s such a sexy man. Odd too, but I guess that goes along with his job.

“Tell me, Ambrose, how long have you been a magician for?”

His dark brows swoop into a tight V above his nose. “Magician? I’m a warlock.”

It takes a moment for my mind to process that, and I fight back a grin. Of course he is. “Oops. My mistake. Sorry. Being a Fall Festival, I should have guessed that. I didn’t really wear a costume, though I tried to have a little fun with my clothes.”

He’s quiet and I rush to fill the silence, hoping that I didn’t offend him with the magician comment. But come on, a warlock? He wasn’t carrying a staff or wearing a cool hat. How was anyone supposed to know the difference?

“What’s your daytime job?”

“I run a shop with my two sisters.”

Something turns over in my chest at how wholesome that is. “Aww… that’s so sweet. I couldn’t imagine working with either of my siblings. I have an older sister and a younger brother, leaving me smack-dab in the middle. If we all worked together, we’d be at each other’s throats in no time.”

Ambrose lets out a husky chuckle. “It has tried my patience over the years, but it gives me a reason to get out of bed each day.”

The man is just full of surprises!

“What a fantastic way of looking at it,” I gush. “I’m a vet tech and I love my job. Sure, some days are hard, and it gets emotional. Still, I worked my ass off to get where I am and…” I trail off. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get all worked up.”

He takes my hand. “You have a lot of passion within you. It’s a beautiful thing.”

His words and touch have another rush of blood surging to my face. Before I can fully process what’s happening, his lips are on mine.

Ambrose’s lips are full but firm. He leads the kiss, his lips moving skillfully over my mouth. When his tongue teases at the parting between my lips, I open to him, nearly moaning when he sweeps inside and strokes my tongue.

My nipples tighten and press at the cups of my bra while a familiar ache builds in my core. A rush of heady desire makes my head swim, and the kiss goes on and on.

When he pulls away, his eyes are fixed on my face. It should feel awkward, kissing a man I only met this afternoon, especially with those strange silver eyes of his. Yet it doesn’t. I feel a connection. A burning need to know more about this man.

“Exquisite,” he breathes.