Chapter 47

The enveloping calm surrounding Ephie vanished like smoke. She blinked rapidly, trying to remember where she was. Jean-Luc was on her lap. Then it all came back to her. She was in Alice's practice.

But so was Remy. He was right in front of her, a big goofy grin on his face.

"Hey," she said, shaking off the last of the spell's euphoria.

"Hey." The word came out of him filled with relief and happiness. "How are you feeling?"

"Um…" She thought a moment. "Honestly, like I just had a spa day. I feel great. Although I feel a little disconnected from things. You know, the way you do after a great nap?" She laughed.

Alice, standing by the worktable, smiled. "The disconnection will fade soon. You did very well."

Ephie inhaled. "I was … under a spell, right?"

"Yes," Alice said. "You were completely immersed in one, to be precise."

"I feel like I've been gone for days. How long was I in there for?"

Remy looked at Alice.

She answered. "Not quite an hour."

"Wow." Ephie tried to equate that amount of time with how long it had felt like. But there was no meshing the two. Being in the spell had seemed timeless. Literally as though time no longer existed.

She smiled at Remy. "Did you just get here?"

He nodded. "I did."

"Oh! You and Mom and Darryl were tricking Lang into thinking I was dead." Concern filled her, both that she'd forgotten what was going on and to ask how it had all played out. "Are they okay? Are you okay? Did you get him?"

"We're all fine, and yes, we got him. By now, I'm sure he's locked up in one of the special supernatural-proof cells. A pair of representatives from the vampire council should be here by the end of the week to transport him."

"To where?"

Remy shook his head. "That's not information they'll share, but we'll be made aware of the outcome of the trial. We may even be called to testify, but we've been told that can be done by video conferencing." He took her hand. "I'm so glad that's behind us."

"Me, too."

Jean-Luc stretched, blinking lazily up at them. Let's go home now, Mama.

Ephie squinted at Remy. "What did you say?"

"I didn't say anything."

"I just heard you say something. About going home."

"Wasn't me, but I'm all for that."

It was me, Mama. Jean-Luc.

Ephie's jaw fell open, and she glanced at the cat in her lap. "That can't be right."

Jean-Luc reached a paw toward her. I want to roll around in the grass in the backyard, Mama.

Ephie tipped her head at Jean-Luc. Could that really be him talking? "Um, Alice?"

"Yes?"

Ephie looked at her. "This is going to sound crazy, but I can hear Jean-Luc's thoughts in my head."

"What?" Remy said. "You can hear Jean-Luc's thoughts?"

"Yes," Ephie said. "Crazy, right?" She turned toward Alice again. "That can't really be possible, can it?"

Alice crossed one arm over her body, resting her other elbow on her hand as she seemed to contemplate the possibility. "Well … Jean-Luc's a ghost. And you're technically dead, seeing as how you're now a full-fledged vampire." She paused. "It's possible that the spell I cast could have seen you as one entity, so when I broke the spell, it released you both at the same time and somehow linked you."

She shook her head. "Nothing like that has ever happened before with my magic. I apologize. I will consult my library and find a way to fix it."

Ephie laughed. "No, don't. I love being able to communicate with my little bebe. It's a gift. Thank you."

She scooped Jean-Luc up and kissed his head. "You sweet thing. Yes, we will go home now, and you can roll around in the grass all you want."

Also, I would like some tuna.

Ephie chuckled. "We'll make the tuna happen, too. Get up on my shoulder, and we'll go out to the car. I just have to collect my things."

Jean-Luc climbed up onto her shoulder. I want to go to Remy.

Ephie got to her feet. "He wants you."

Remy leaned one shoulder forward. "Come on."

Jean-Luc hopped across and rubbed his head on Remy's.

"I wonder…" Ephie shook her head. It was silly. "Never mind."

"You wonder what?" Remy asked.

"I was just thinking it would be nice if you could hear Jean-Luc, too. I mean, seeing as how we're both going to be around you for a while, but maybe you wouldn't want to, and Alice is probably busy and—"

"I'd love it," Remy said.

"The recipe for zombie dust has eluded me for years," Alice said. "I only have it now because of you two. If you want me to repeat the isolation spell in an attempt to bond Remy and Jean-Luc, I will absolutely do it."

"Let's try it," Remy said.

Alice nodded. "You'll have to step out, Ephelia. Even if you're not in the circle, I worry the magic would recognize you and potentially include you again."

"No problem. I need to pack up my things."

"Then we'll see you in about twenty minutes."

Ephie winked at Remy and Jean-Luc. "See you boys then."

She went to the guest room where she'd spent the night, keeping an eye on the time while she packed. Twenty minutes later, she returned to the practice, knocking softly on the door.

"Come in," Alice called out.

Remy was sitting cross-legged in the same spot Ephie had just occupied. Jean-Luc was sitting in Remy's lap looking pleased with himself, although Jean-Luc often looked like that. Remy was blinking like he was still coming out of the spell.

"How did it go?" Ephie asked.

"I don't know yet," Alice answered.

"Jean-Luc, say something to Remy."

Jean-Luc meowed and flopped over in Remy's lap.

"Hey," Remy said, looking from the cat to Ephie. "I can hear him. Wow, that's incredible. Alice, your talent surpasses your reputation."

Alice's smile was demure. "I can't take credit for something that was merely a side-effect, but I am happy to have learned something in the process."

Jean-Luc went to his usual spot on Remy's shoulder, and Remy stood. "Thank you for your part in this. We couldn't have done it without you."

Alice nodded. "Pleased I could help. Be well, both of you."

Jean-Luc chirped from his shoulder perch.

"All three of you, that is," Alice corrected.

They said their goodbyes and left the practice. The butler appeared at the door, opening it for them. He bowed as they approached. "Good night."

"Good night," Remy and Ephie replied.

Remy went ahead of her and opened the SUV's door, then went around to the driver's side and let Jean-Luc get in, then followed after him. Remy and Ephie buckled up, then he started the SUV and headed for home. "Quite a night, huh?"

"I'll say. But probably more for you than it was for me. All I did was veg out in magical limbo."

He smiled. "I'm glad that's all you had to do."

"How did it really go?" Ephie asked. Jean-Luc sat on the console, staring out the windshield. "Did he fight?

Remy shook his head. "It was all fairly smooth. Other than Darryl's plan to stake Lang once he was knocked out."

Ephie's jaw dropped. "He did not."

"No, he didn't, but there were a few seconds where I wasn't sure what was going to happen. Your mother was all for it."

"That doesn't surprise me." Ephie could imagine that her mother would be far happier with Lang completely removed from the picture. "Are they still at your house?"

"They are. They want to see you and know that you're all right."

"Okay." She reached in front of Jean-Luc and wrapped her hand around Remy's forearm. "I love you, you know. Thank you for helping me deal with all of this."

"I love you, too. And Jean-Luc. I'm so glad I'm not going to lose you again."

"The same goes for me. About that. I'm not going to tell my mother just yet that I'm staying, but soon. Like, after she's back in New Orleans and can't pitch a fit that wakes the neighborhood."

Remy laughed. "I support that decision."

"Somehow, I knew you would."