Chapter 26

Caesar

It was pretty sad that I knew Shea's scent so instinctively that I was able to follow the aged trace of it from Arya's house to Shea's grandmother's house. How fucking pathetic was I? But seeing as neither Shea nor her grandmother were listed anywhere public, it was the only thing I had to go on.

I wandered slowly up to Shea's front door, trying to figure out what my approach was even going to be. What was I going to say? Sorry for getting drunk and letting you blow me in the pub bathroom? And also, sorry for running out before I could return the favor.

Holy shit. I ran my hands down my face.

That could never happen again. It was inappropriate on so many levels, it was unbelievable. Why had I let it get that far? And why couldn't I stop fucking thinking about her? And fuck , that had been the best blow job of my life, and Shea was beautiful and smart and funny and—

Knock it off, dumbass!

I checked my wrist watch. It was five minutes after three. Would she even be home yet? It was a school day, and as far as I knew, Shea did attend a human high school. Maybe she wasn't here yet. Maybe this was a huge mistake. I should have just called her. But then it would have been super awkward, and this wasn't the kind of favor one asked for over the phone.

Maybe I should've just texted her. Like a coward.

As I stood there pacing and slowly going insane with indecision, the door opened. I turned with my heart skipping a beat with hesitant excitement to see her, but the old lady standing in the doorway definitely wasn't her.

"Can I help you?" she asked, giving me an appraising look up and down behind her spectacles.

I froze for a few long seconds, probably looking every bit as much of a dumbass as I felt. "Um, yeah, sorry. Is Shea home?"

She crossed her arms under her sagging bosom and arched a graying eyebrow at me. This woman may have been short, stout and wizened, but the authority in the look she gave me made me feel about two feet tall.

"No, she's not returned from school yet," she replied, disdain thickly lacing her tone.

"Okay. Well, do you know when she might be back?" I asked, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly like I was a pimply young school boy.

"And what business do you have with my granddaughter exactly?"

I was stumped for a moment. Obviously, I knew that she was a witch just like Shea, but I had no idea how much she really knew about any of what had gone on between Shea and I, and I didn't want to out Shea on anything that she might not want her to know.

So, as much as I hated lying, I decided I had to.

"I'm the case worker for her friend, Arya Walker," I stated with some trace of authority. It wasn't entirely a lie, just omitted a lot of the finer details. "I just have a few questions for Shea to help with Arya's case."

She eyed me heavily, and I almost wondered if she was using some magic to try to read my mind. Thankfully, I'd been trained in mao interrogation, so I knew how to clear my thoughts. Just in case.

"Fine. You may come in and wait for her," she relented finally, stepping aside and holding the door open in invitation.

"Thank you," I said with a nod of appreciation as I entered.

She gestured for me to sit on the small couch in the living room, and to my chagrin, she sat on the arm chair opposite me.

I couldn't remember the last time I was so uncomfortable in anyone's presence. I'd battled vampires and argued with shifter delegates. I'd faced Hadrian himself! I was a force to be reckoned with. Hell, I'd even had disputes with General Dracul that didn't intimidate me, but this small woman stole all of my composure, making it very hard to sit still in this tense silence.

When she leaned forward to pluck her tea cup from the coffee table, I nearly flinched.

"You know," she said, slowly taking a sip of her tea. "I know what you are. Don't think you can fool me, sir, because I could sense your aura from a mile away."

I swallowed, unsure if I was relieved or concerned by that declaration.

"You are the director of that school Arya got sent to." Not a question, but a statement of fact.

I cleared my throat. "Yes, ma'am, I am."

She nodded, setting her tea cup back down, her brow wrinkling with the first sign of any emotion I'd seen from her. "How is Arya fairing after what happened?"

I let out a breath, relaxing my shoulders slightly. "It's been a struggle. That's actually why I'm here. There's been…an incident regarding Arya that I was hoping Shea could assist with."

"Hmm," she hummed, her sternness back in full force, and when she met my eyes, I was struck with the strangest, most acute sense of dread. "Well, Shea is an adult and she can do what she wants. But, if you put my granddaughter in any kind of danger, you will experience my wrath."

I blinked at her, both shocked and a little impressed by her threat.

"Ms. Le Fey, I promise you that I will do everything in my power to keep Shea safe," I vowed.

We stared at each other for a moment, both of us falling into some unspoken agreement of our joint intentions. Then the front door opened, and Shea paused in the doorway, her eyes darting back and forth between us uncertainly.

"Um," she stammered.

Shea's grandmother sluggishly stood up off the couch. "Well, my soaps are about to start. Shea, let me know if you need anything."

She gave each of us a warning look before disappearing down the hall.

"Eh, Caesar?" Shea waved at me, beckoning me to follow her outside.

Seeing as I hadn't heard her grandmother close any doors, I jumped eagerly off the couch. She didn't need to hear any of the things Shea and I had to say to each other. Especially certain things in particular.

Shea practically shoved me onto the porch when I reached her and shut the door behind us, then yanked me onto the lawn and under a tree.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she whispered accusingly.

"We're outside, why are you still whispering?" I asked hushedly.

She gave a deadpan look. "My Gram is a witch. She probably cast an amplification spell, so make it short and quick."

I chewed my lip at that knowledge. Was there any wonder why I didn't trust witches?

"Okay, well, first, about the other day," I began.

She waved her hands at me, shaking her head. "It's okay. You don't have to make any platitudes." Then she crossed her arm and jutted a hip. "But a phone call or text would've been nice."

"I know, and I'm sorry. For a lot of things. I shouldn't have taken advantage of you like that."

She balked at me. "Um, were we in the same bathroom? Because the way I remember it, I took advantage of you ."

My cock stiffened at the memory of just how skillfully she took advantage of me, but I pushed that thought away.

"That's not actually why I'm here," I said, shaking my head. "I came to ask you for a favor."

She narrowed those cunning eyes at me. "What kind of favor?"

I sighed. "One of our mer students has been attacked by vampires."

"What?" she exclaimed, forgetting to whisper. "Is Arya okay?"

"Yes, she's fine," I said, raising calming hands to hush her back down. "But this mer keeps saying Arya's name, and we don't know why. Our top harpy has tried to heal her, but she sustained some head trauma and we've been unable to resuscitate her. I was hoping you might be able to help us with that."

She cocked her head at me with confusion wrinkling her nose. "How could I help?"

I arched a leading brow at her.

She jutted her opposite hip. "You want me, a witch, to use magic on one of your students?" She laughed sarcastically. "I'm sure the great and pious Celeste is completely on board with that."

I shrugged. "Well, actually, I'd have to sneak you in."

"Are you freaking kidding me?" Shea scoffed loudly, tapping a foot against the grass.

"The other professors wouldn't understand," I insisted. "But this could be a stepping stone on the path to them trusting witches. That is, if you're successful."

She scoffed again and shook her head.

"Please, Shea," I implored. "If the vampires know something about Arya, it's imperative we find out what that is."

She scowled at me for a long moment. "I might consider it. I have a prior engagement today anyway. So, I'll let you know later what I decide and if I can make time in my busy schedule."

It wasn't the answer I was hoping for, but it also wasn't a no.

What prior engagement did she have? Was it with this other guy that she bought my kitty sweater for? Ugh! What right did I have to even think about that?

"Okay, thank you, Shea," I said. "I hope you make the right decision."

"Ugh, okay, go away now," she said, pushing me off her lawn.

As I walked away, I should have been worrying about Letti, about the vampires and what they might be up to, and if Arya was in imminent danger. But all I could worry about was what Shea thought of me, and if her saying yes to this would mean anything about that.

And did I want it to?