Chapter 48

I’ll be fucked. Medusa had Cas in the grotto splashing and catching fish. I loved seeing him like that, especially when the shit was hitting the fan with the Coalition. She was definitely magic because it wasn’t that easy for Pax and me.

Typical Cas, he’d already called the healers and green witches and invited them for breakfast. Pax and I saw Cas playing and went back inside to cook. Cas liked to spoil us, but we were decent cooks, too.

Kat came over with Jezebel and Calamity right when our healers arrived. I knocked this time from outside the house to tell her we were making breakfast. Calamity was a demon, just a different kind than me, and she’d just come from a Coalition basement. I wasn’t even thinking about that last night and scared the shit out of her. I felt terrible about it and I really didn’t want a pissed-off, original vampire and hybrid after my ass.

Cas came in later carrying Medusa. Fucker was shirtless. Yeah, Bepo was loving every minute of this. He set her down and took the bucket of fish from her. Cas all but kissed her. I could tell he wanted to. I liked this. She was good for him.

Thalia was this ancient witch and one of our healers. I didn’t know how old she was because she’d probably hex me if I asked, but it wouldn’t shock me if she was born around the same time Medusa was. We were lucky to have her. She was a fantastic healer, even her bedside manner was a little brusque.

“Everyone needs to get the fuck out of my way. If you interrupt me or get feral because I’m touching your mate, you will regret it.”

Kat just flashed her a fangy grin.

“Fancy seeing you here, Thalia. The last time I saw you was the fall of Rome.”

I knew it.

“And you’re still running your mouth with people’s secrets. They don’t know my age. It’s weird you change your name every time you move. Now, shut up and let me do my job.”

Kat kissed Calamity on the top of the head.

“Thalia and I go way back. She’s one of the best healers I know. You can trust her and you’re safe here.”

There was just enough vampire compulsion in her voice for Calamity to believe her if she wanted to but not enough to force her to feel a certain way. I knew I liked Kat.

Thalia hovered her hands over everyone, including Cas, Pax, and me since we were there, too, before she gave us her diagnosis.

“I don’t have to tell any of you that the reason the three you rescued are still alive is because of the magic in their veins. The Coalition wards might have been blocking them from accessing it, but they can’t take it away.

“Medusa is a mystery. There should be more internal damage from the lack of food. Our magic can’t fight starvation. She looks like she should need me to set up an IV to get a healing potion full of nutrients directly into her blood stream, but I scanned her and she doesn’t.”

“It’s Athena. I have her magic in my blood because of the curse. She also doesn’t want me dead. Perseus was one of her heroes and he wanted my head. There was this whole elaborate ruse where he thought he killed me and so did everyone else because she swooped in and made sure I didn’t lose my head. I guess it’s a blessing this time?”

“Not quite,” Thalia said. “You still need time to rebuild your strength, but you’re in good hands with this group. You all just need time. I’ve taught Pax most of my potions. Pax, Calamity needs the one with chamomile to help with the memories, Jezebel needs the one with cinnamon to balance her siren and succubus since she said her lure was acting funny, and Medusa needs the maize mixture I picked up in India so she gains weight.

“All three of them need to handle their magic, too. Jezebel has her mates, so that works. Medusa needs to spend time in the garden. As much as I hate to say this as I actually like the man, but maybe next time Benji is torturing Sherrif Riddle, he can rope Calamity in on it because she needs chaos as an Imp.”

“Ooh, girl, trust me. He’s got it coming, and I’d love to collaborate with an Imp on my vengeance,” I said, holding up my hand for a high five.

Riddle was going to rue the day he ever fucked up my Pokémon game.

“Um, okay?” Calamity said shyly.

I liked her. She was young for a supernatural and kinda low key for a demon. I had a feeling when she put New Eden in her back window, we were going to have so much fun.

Thalia left so we could eat and so did the green witches. I could tell they wanted more time with her because green witches liked their own, but they got she needed to heal. They left behind some tonics for her.

This was our moment. We had forgotten to give her the plants we got. I wasn’t going to present her with boxes of tampons, pads, and midol because I wasn’t a fucking idiot. I just slipped those in the bathroom like a good mate.

I trusted whatever potion Thalia told Pax to make Medusa. I knew the three of us could make amazing food, too. She needed Di, and I hoped he would get here soon. I’d already figured out who Di and his friends were and I knew why Athena didn’t come when he was here. It was fun watching Cas grump about it. I just didn’t want to watch her have another panic attack because he wasn’t back yet.

Maybe the plants we got her would get her mind off the fact that Di hadn’t shown his face here just yet.