2. “What are you doing next Saturday?”

CHAPTER TWO

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEXT SATURDAY?"

"O-M-G! I wish someone would take these down. It's so grim having to look at their faces all the time," says a girl as I walk past her on my way to the dorms. The place where I almost lost my life.

She's stopped in front of the notice board, where there's a fresh poster with the faces of the three students Lucian and I killed to save myself and my power from being abused.

Even though it's been a month, someone keeps insisting on putting up the missing posters.

Sometimes I wish I could tell everyone they're fucking dead and deserved it, but I know that would have ugly consequences for both Lucian and me.

The dean is already suspicious of Lucian because the guys went missing after he reported Ryan Byron to him. We don't need to have those suspicions confirmed.

I still think he should have erased the dean's memories of the night, but Lucian insisted it was better this way. It gave purpose to their absence. Which I guess has some logic, but I still don't like it. What guarantees he won't turn on Lucian and accuse him of something just because of what he is?

I go through the double doors and up one set of stairs before I find Jace's room and knock.

"It's open," comes his voice from the other side, and I push the handle down.

He's sitting on the floor between the two beds next to his desk with his back to me. He's naked, aside from a pair of boxers. His hands are moving up and down in front of him, and as I approach and look over his shoulder, I find a dead mouse in the middle of a circle.

"How's it going?" I ask.

Jace doesn't look up but continues to point at the mouse and twirl his fingers.

"Do you see a ghost mouse running around anywhere?"

I shrug.

"I don't know what you're hiding under those boxers."

He looks up and the pick comb hooked in his curly hair jabs me in the stomach and falls to the floor with a clatter.

"You're so funny, honey. You know that? Since you got with your future husband, you've become hilarious ."

His verbal amusement doesn't translate to his face, which makes me laugh even harder.

"If said future husband knew you were naked with me, he'd roast you alive."

Jace sighs and drops his head between his shoulders.

"And I'd probably still be a shitty necromancer."

"Shut up." I set my bag down, pick up his comb, and start combing his wet hair. It's a habit we've gotten into lately since he spends day and night practicing his magic and not doing much else, like looking after himself or eating. "You stopped that time witch, Alan, last month and saved our lives. You're not shitty."

Jace looks at the door and shushes me.

"Do you want anyone to hear you? Jeez! And I may have stopped him for a split second, but that doesn't mean I'm getting any better. I can split live people from their souls, but I still can't do the basics of my power."

"Are the basics making a puppet out of dead mice?"

I reach for the coconut oil and work it through his curls before moving on to his wardrobe to pick his clothes for the day.

"Do I need to remind you that a few weeks ago, you were powerless? We can't all have demons to look after us, you know."

"I know." I sigh and nod.

Not for the first time, I think how easily the problem would be solved if I just let Lucian fuck him, but call it jealousy, call it possessiveness, call it ego…I can't even imagine suggesting it.

If only there was another way.

"I just…I can't afford to fail this class. I wouldn't care otherwise. I'm a useless witch, whatever. But if I fail this class, I may get kicked out, and this place is my home."

"You can always stay with me," I tell him, even though I know that wouldn't solve failing Lockwood.

"I couldn't impose on you, and you know it."

He could but won't for whatever reason. I may have kept secrets from him before Lucian freed me, but that doesn't mean I know all of Jace's.

I won't push him. When he's ready to share, I'll be here, and I hope he knows that.

"Lucian won't let them kick you out."

Jace laughs.

"What's he gonna do? Kill the dean and the whole school board?"

"If he has to."

Jace smirks. "Can he take care of Sorrowhand while he's at it?"

I roll my eyes.

I don't know what it is about his necromancy professor, but Jace absolutely hates him. And I'm not entirely sure it's only because Jace is failing his class.

"I'm sure it won't come to that. We still have another two months before the end of the semester. Two months to work on your magic and figure it out."

"Two months to stress my guts out and be miserable, you mean." His belly rumbles, and I shake my head.

When did my best friend become such a pessimist?

"Shut up and eat. The mouse will still be there when you're done."

Jace scratches his head and purses his lips.

"I'm all out."

"Yeah, that's why I brought you food." I glance at my bag, and Jace's eyes widen with excitement.

"Really? Oh my goddess. What would I ever do without you?"

"Probably turn into a skeleton. Now go on. I made you bibimbap and bulgogi. It should still be warm. I cast a spell to keep them nice and toasty."

Jace opens the bag before I'm done speaking and stuffs himself with food. A tug in my chest makes me smile. I never realized how good looking after people could be until I started cooking for Lucian and Jace. Seeing them savor every bite, every moment, the light in their eyes getting brighter and their bellies fuller, gives me more satisfaction than I've ever known. And who would guess cooking would be something I enjoy after spending an eternity catering to those monsters I called my step-family.

I lay his clothes on the bed and join him on the floor before grabbing a pair of chopsticks and nibbling on some of the beef.

"We found a place," I tell him.

"Really?" He sprays food but doesn't give a damn.

"I didn't ask for the weather!" I laugh. "And yeah, really."

"Where?" This time, he puts his hand in front of his mouth.

I tell him about St. Frances church and the ghost tour, and he pauses long enough to frown.

"You want to get married in a haunted church? A demon and a witch? Are you…crazy?"

"Only slightly." I smirk. "It's gorgeous though. And it feels special to both of us. You know how important that is for demons."

"So…are you ready to set the date?"

I nod and hide behind my chopsticks. Unsuccessfully, might I add.

"What are you doing next Saturday?"

Jace pulls back and takes a deep breath.

"Boy, you guys don't waste a minute, do you?"

"Why should we? We're soulmates. There's no one else for either of us."

"Lucky," he mumbles. "Are you sending out invites?"

"I just invited you. Isn't that enough?"

Jace puts the chopsticks down and takes my hands.

"Am I the only guest?"

"And witness."

"You're not inviting anyone else?"

I kiss my teeth and recount all the people I know. They're all either dead or dead. Even if they weren't, they wouldn't be invited. Except my mom.

"What about your classmates? You told me you started hanging out with some."

"Not come-to-my-wedding hanging out."

"And Lucian? What about him? No family?"

"He's a hell-demon."

Jace winces.

"Does that mean he has no family?"

I shrug. I actually don't know the answer to that. Which is strange considering we spend all our time together.

"He hasn't mentioned anyone."

"Weird."

"Why is that weird?" I ask and start eating again. I've got a class in half an hour and still need to get Jace dressed up and out, so I need to fill my stomach, stat.

"He's centuries old. Surely, he's met people in all that time."

"Yeah, people who summoned and enslaved him."

"Not them, obviously. But, like, what has he been doing in hell all this time? Doesn't he have friends? Family?"

That is a very good question.

"I guess I've been so burned by my family it didn't even cross my mind."

"You're welcome." Jace also picks up his food again. "Also, yes, I will be your best man."

"I didn't ask you to be my best man. I asked you to be our witness."

"Same diff. Best man sounds…better anyway."

I chuckle and bite my lip.

How did I miss such an important detail about Lucian's past? But, surely, if there was anyone important in his life, he would have mentioned them by now, wouldn't he?