Chapter 3

Three

Gem

There was something Professor Black was hiding, and I didn’t like it. Not to mention the warmth I felt when we shook hands—I had never experienced that with another witch before. Now, being alone with this handsome man in his small school office was making me anxious. The book itself was making me anxious.

“Gem, please stop pacing,” he said. I hadn’t even realized I was doing it until he spoke.

“Sorry, Professor Black.” I sat down across from him as he thumbed through the pages, a crease forming on his forehead. “I understand it’s a spell book, but what kind?”

“It’s more than just spells and enchantments. Some of these foreign ones can summon demons,” he said nonchalantly, as if he hadn’t just dropped a massive bomb on me.

“I’m sorry, what?!” I stood up, looking down at the brown-haired, green-eyed professor. Gods, he’s gorgeous, I thought, but I quickly dismissed that thought. I didn’t have time for distractions, especially from a man I suspected was hiding secrets.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “This book can summon demons, for whatever purpose the summoner might need them.”

“I thought those were a myth too! What else is real that I don’t know about?” I threw my hands up in defeat. Professor Black met my gaze with a serious expression.

“Vampires, for one,” he said flatly. My jaw dropped.

“Professor Black, you can’t be serious!”

“Oisin, and yes, I am. My roommate is one.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I’m serious. Honestly, this book shouldn’t be discussed here. If you’d like, we could continue this conversation at my place—it would be a more appropriate setting.”

“I… yeah, that’s probably for the best.” He nodded, wrapped up the book, and handed it to me.

“My place is a short walk from here, or I can give you directions if you prefer to drive.” He grabbed his things.

“Let’s drive; that way I have my vehicle.” He nodded in agreement, and I led the way to my car.

After we arrived at his apartment building, he opened my car door and guided me up three floors. Oisin paused with his hand on the doorknob. “When you meet Jude, remember he’s just like you and me. He can go out in the sun and eat food; he just also needs blood to survive.” I nodded in understanding, and Oisin gave a single nod in return before opening the door.

My heart froze as I saw the man standing at the kitchen island, drinking a red liquid from a wine glass. His ember eyes met mine, and he froze as well. “Mate,” he whispered in a British accent. I’d never heard of a witch having a mate, but this day had been full of surprises.

“Well, that’s certainly a revelation,” Oisin whispered back as Jude approached us.

“I have two mates,” Jude said softly, causing me to snap my head towards Oisin.

“I used ‘roommate’ because I didn’t know how to explain,” Oisin said, as if it were obvious. “Witches don’t have mates.”

“I know,” I said breathlessly. I glanced between the two men. “Does that mean you and I are… mates too?” I asked Oisin.

“From the warmth I felt when we shook hands, I would say so,” he replied softly as Jude intertwined his fingers with Oisin’s.

“You felt that too?” I asked, nervously twirling my earring. Oisin nodded. I began pacing again, my thoughts spinning. “That’s why the book showed up—to lead me to you two. But why now?” I was almost completely ignoring the two stunning men beside me. My mates.

I was about to pace again when Jude spoke to Oisin. “You have to tell her the whole truth, love.” I looked at them, and Oisin sighed in defeat.

“Come sit down, Gem,” Oisin said, taking my hand. The warmth was stronger than before as he guided me to an armchair. They settled on the couch.

“I had this book a month ago,” Oisin began. “I destroyed it, but now it’s appeared to you. I believe I know why.”

Jude nodded, and Oisin continued, “I had summoned a demon, seeking answers on how I could extend my life to be with Jude. Yes, we live longer, but Jude is immortal. Apeiros, the demon I summoned, spent a week with…” He trailed off, glancing at Jude, who smiled softly and nodded. “Apeiros had started falling for me. The only way to spend eternity with my mates was to find my four and complete the square.”

Oisin sighed. “I was frustrated that he was suggesting Jude wasn’t my only mate and that he was speaking in riddles. So, I banished him.”

I nodded, absorbing what he had said. “So, how did I end up with the book? Did this Apeiros somehow know I was your mate?” Oisin shrugged.

“And who’s the fourth?” I asked.

Oisin raised an eyebrow. “Apeiros is the fourth. But the more I think about it, the more I realize he must not have been able to reveal anything beyond what he did. And I was a complete idiot.”

“Arse,” Jude said at the same time Oisin said “idiot,” and I let out a chuckle before I could stop myself.

“So, we summon Apeiros again. What’s the problem?” I asked.

“I can’t summon him again. It’s against the rules; it has to be you, Gem. Plus, we need more supplies to do so,” Oisin said.

Nodding, I looked between them. “Understood. Well, it’s a good thing I own the largest apothecary in the northeast.”

Jude and Oisin smiled, and then Jude gasped. “Wait! You own Moonshadow Apothecary?! I’ve been wanting to visit for ages!”

I nodded. “Yeah. My Gram helps me run it.”

“That is amazing! Your apothecary is so beautiful!” Jude exclaimed. I blushed at his praise.

“Thank you. It’s definitely time-consuming but worth it,” I said with a smile. The shop was my life, and I loved every minute of it.

Jude nodded in agreement. “I have just one question: why did the book take so long to reach you, Gem?” I blushed again at his use of “our.”

Oisin looked like he didn’t have an answer, and then it clicked for me. “Samhain—the veil between worlds is getting thinner. Apeiros must not have had the energy after his banishment to revive and send it until the veil thinned.”

Nodding, Oisin looked at me. “That makes sense, Gem.”

“How did he know I was your mate?” I asked, the question burning most brightly in my mind.

“The only thing I can think of is that he could sense you while he was here on Earth,” Oisin said. I nodded; that made sense.

“So, we need to go to Blue Haven and summon Apeiros,” Jude declared happily. Oisin looked at him.

“What? You weren’t the only one who started falling for him,” Jude added with a smile.

“How did you not sense he was your mate?” I asked Jude.

“The summoning circle must have kept his scent muted, but I felt drawn to him,” Jude explained, rubbing his chin. “So, we need to pack and get going.” Oisin and I nodded in agreement as they stood to head to their bedroom, leaving me alone in the living room.

I had come looking for answers about this book and was leaving with three mates. Gram was going to freak out.