About to say that I’ll be there in a minute, when Jude steps in, nudging my arm when he says, “Why don’t I take them home?”

And even though I’m not thrilled with the idea of him going to Damen’s, sure that Damen will like it even less, there’s really nothing else I can do. As long as Roman’s in my house, I’m pretty much stuck here too.

I follow them to the door, Rayne tugging my sleeve, pulling me down to her level when she says, “I don’t know what you’ve done, but something very bad is brewing.”

I look at her, about to refute it, tell her it’s nothing like that, it’s all under control, but she just shakes her head and adds, “Changes are coming. Big changes. And this time, you better choose right.”

Chapter Forty-Five

By the time Jude returns I’m out by the pool, watching the blond, tanned, physically glorious, golden-boy Roman splashing around and inviting everyone to jump in and join him.

“Not a fan?” Jude says, sitting beside me and eyeing me closely.

I frown, watching Haven’s aura light up like the Fourth of July, glowing brighter and brighter as she clings to his back as he dips underwater, having no idea that he isn’t really her date like she thinks. I’m the one who brought him here. He’s bound to me now.

“Is it concern for your friend, or—something else?”

I fidget with the crystal horseshoe bracelet on my wrist, the one Damen gave me that day at the track, turning it around and around, as I narrow my eyes. Wondering what’s taking so long. If the spell truly worked (and I know it did), then why don’t I have the antidote now? Why is he delaying?

“So, the twins—they okay?” I ask, tearing my gaze away from the pool and focusing on Jude.

My eyes meeting his when he says, “Damen might’ve been right about the book being too strong for them.”

I press my lips together, hoping Damen doesn’t know I went behind his back and interfered with his lesson plan.

“No worries.” Jude nods, reading my face. “Your secret’s safe. I didn’t even mention it.”

I sigh in relief. “Did you see him—Damen?” I ask, throat tightening, heart clenching, the mere mention of his name turning my insides to mush, imagining how he must’ve felt to find his nemesis of the past several lives, the very same guy I embraced on the beach, standing on his front porch, Romy and Rayne at his side.

“He was out when I got there, and the twins were so freaked I waited ’til he got back. That’s some place he’s got.”

I press my lips together, wondering what he saw, if the twins gave him a tour, if Damen’s special room is restored.

“I think he was surprised to find me watching TV in his den, but once I explained, it went fairly well.”

“Fairly?” I raise my brow.

He shrugs, looking at me, gaze so direct, so open, it’s like a lover’s embrace.

Prompting me to turn away, voice shaky, unsteady when I say, “So how did you explain it?”

His cool breath on my cheek as he leans in and whispers, “I told him I found them at the shuttle stop and decided to give them a ride. No harm done, right?”

I take a deep breath and focus on Roman, watching as he hoists Haven onto his shoulders so she can dogfight with Miles. Splashing and playing, and, on the surface anyway, engaging in nothing but good clean fun—until Roman turns, and time seems to stop. His eyes meeting mine, gleaming, mocking, as though he knows what I’ve done. And before I can blink he’s back to playing again, making me question if I really did see what I thought.

“No. No harm done,” I say, a terrible ache invading my gut, wondering just what it is that I’ve started.

Chapter Forty-Six

After Miles’s third failed attempt to get me to dive in, he finally gets out, moving toward me as he says, “Hey, what gives? I know you got your bikini on—I can see the straps!” Laughing when he pulls me off the lounge chair and hugs me tightly to him, whispering, “Have I ever told you how much I love you, Ever? Have I? Ever, Ever?”

I shake my head and pull away, glancing at Holt just behind him, rolling his eyes and tugging on Miles’s arm, trying to convince him to leave me alone and quit dripping on me.

But Miles won’t have it, he’s got something to say and won’t stop ’til it’s done. Throwing a wet arm around my shoulder as he leans all over me and slurs, “I’m shlo shlerious, Ever. Before you came to this school—it was just me and Haven. But then—from the moment you shlowed up at our table—it became me and Haven and you.” He looks at me, head bobbing, struggling to focus, as he grips me tighter and fights to keep his balance.

“Wow—that’s really—deep.” I glance at Holt, the two of us stifling a laugh as we each wrap an arm around Miles and lead him into the kitchen for some coffee. Getting him settled at the breakfast bar just as Haven and her three immortal friends come in.

“You guys leaving?” I squint, seeing they’re back in their clothes, wet towels in their hands.

Haven nods. “Misa and Rafe have to work tomorrow, and Roman and I have an appointment.”

I look at Roman, holding his gaze. How can he be leaving when he hasn’t given me what I want? Hasn’t even begun to grovel, beg, and ask my forgiveness like I visualized?

How can he be leaving when it goes against my plan?

I follow them to the door, heart racing as I take in the tilt of his chin, the gleam in his gaze, and I know it’s not good. Something’s gone wrong. Terribly wrong. Even though I cast the spell exactly like the book said, from the look in his eyes, and the curl of his lips, it’s clear the goddess and queen have both failed me.