After Larissa got her car from Brighton, she returned to her apartment and called her grandmother.

“Can I come by? I’m hoping we can talk.”

“Of course. Is something wrong?”

Her grandmother must have sensed the anxiety in Larissa’s tone.

“Not exactly, but—” No, she wouldn’t get into it on the phone. She hated it when people were vague. Her mind would rush to the worst scenarios. The least she could provide was an explanation. “I want you to meet someone. His name is Roman.” That was indeed one of the reasons. She’d save the complicated discussion for the visit.

Larissa showered and changed into a different pair of jeans and a comfortable, royal blue T-shirt. Then she drove over to Boston Common to pick up Roman. He’d wanted to check in with his sentries before he left the city for a few hours.

When she arrived and spotted the police tape and presence, her heart hammered. Her hands turned clammy. The reminders of the demon attack flooded her. So much carnage with the bodies on the ground...

Refocus.

Right. The demons were gone.

After she spotted Roman near a fence across from the Public Gardens, her breath hitched. God, he was impressive. With his long black hair and dark clothing, he had the presence of an ancient warrior brought to the modern era. His wide stance spoke strength and protection. He smiled, making his amber eyes crinkle.

She pulled up to him. “Everything okay?”

“Yes. I checked in with two of my sentries. All appears calm.”

Good. Perhaps she was too on edge over everything and needed to find a way to relax. Preferably alone with Roman. He had a way of working sensual magic throughout her entire body.

What was she doing thinking of sex when she was on her way to her grandmother’s? Bad idea.

She turned on the radio to distract herself and found a station with The Rolling Stones’ “Paint it Black.” That fit her mood better than the bright summer sun shining overhead.

“Thanks for coming with me today. There’s so much I don’t understand, and you might be able to explain things better.”

“I’ll do my best.” Roman glanced out the window. He scanned their surroundings on a regular basis, like he had a timed internal surveillance system. Always on watch.

Since it was late morning, traffic wasn’t too bad as she drove west. It lessened as they increased their distance from the city. Her grandmother lived with three cats in Maynard, a small town west of Concord. Larissa gripped the steering wheel so tightly that the tension traveled up her arm and into the back of her neck. As her anxiety rose, her leg twitched.

Roman put his hand on her quivering thigh and stroked it. “It’s going to be all right.”

His hand there was reassuring, but it didn’t remove her anxiety. At least, her leg stopped pulsing with those tiny spasms she was prone to when nervous. “I’m afraid of what I might learn about myself.”

“No matter what, you’ll still be Larissa,” he replied with assurance. “A good person and devoted friend. And lucky for me, also my mate.”

She shot a quick glance at him. He’d tried to explain the connections between mates, but it remained a foreign concept to her. He had no doubts they were meant to be together. Did she?

The night of the attack, she hadn’t. Somehow, she’s sensed they were destined. But, with her world unraveling, how could she be sure about anything? Sure, she was drawn to him. Yes, she wanted to be with him. But, still—he was a different species.

And she was a train close to veering off the tracks.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

“How much of a hot mess I am.”

Roman chuckled. “I don’t see you that way.”

She raised her brows. “How do you see me?”

“Extraordinary. Loyal. Caring. Kind. Stunning. And, I’m grateful that fate brought us together. Love can be found in the darkest of situations.”

“Love?” she repeated. “You’re not saying you already love me, are you? Despite everything, it has still only been a few days.”

The smile left his face. Ugh, did she have to open her mouth and ruin the moment?

Her practical side was coming through, poking for doubts into something that couldn’t possibly be this good. She’d found a good guy—a great guy, in fact—but, he wasn’t even human.

He let out an audible exhale. “Some things don’t need to be analyzed, Larissa. Despite all the questions, you just know.”

Larissa pursed her lips. He’d gone right to the heart of her doubts. “I can’t. Not right now, at least, with everything going on. I just want to get through the next hour with my grandmother without discovering some other catastrophic revelation.”

Roman squeezed her thigh. “I’ll be there with you, Larissa. We can handle whatever happens together.”

She smiled at him. His words warmed her. No, it was more than that. His absolute belief in them comforted her.

After she took the exit off Route 2, she drove through Concord and then into a neighborhood with several ranches of similar design, but different color. They had both front and back yards, and decent-sized ones at that, something that wasn’t found as often in the city.

She pulled up to a jade-green house with pink and purple floral borders along every edge. Multiple colorful witch balls hanging in the windows and from the magnolia tree out front. “We’re here.”

As they walked to the front door, the floral fragrance greeted her. It was much quieter out here in the suburbs. The sound of a lone car passing through the intersection ahead stood out, something that would have been drowned out in the city traffic. The only people visible were a few kids playing at the end of the road, and they were too far away to be heard.

Her grandmother answered the door with a smile that reached her dark blue eyes. Like Larissa’s eyes. And her mother’s. Her father had often told her she had her mother’s beautiful eyes.

Her grandmother’s long gray and white hair was pulled into her usual braid halfway down her back. She wore multiple colorful layers–a light blue dress with a purple shawl draped over it. After greeting Larissa with a kiss, she peered at Roman over her spectacles and nodded.

“Welcome,” she said to Roman with a hint of wonder in her voice. “It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone like you.”

What exactly did her grandmother mean by that? “Nana, this is Roman. He’s my–uh–boyfriend.”

God, that sounded so stupid coming out of her mouth. But, what else could she call him? He was more than a friend, and she wasn’t going to introduce someone as her lover to her grandmother. And, no way would she jump straight to Roman’s description of a mate.

Her grandmother pulled her gaze back to Larissa with a knowing smile. “How did you two meet?”

Larissa exchanged a glance with Roman before replying, “It’s a long story.”

“Come. I’ll make us some tea.” Her grandmother turned over her shoulder. “I haven’t seen a shifter like you for years.”

Larissa stared at the back of her grandmother. She knew. She recognized him for what he was. How had she sensed that? Larissa guessed the surprises had only just begun.

Three cats entered the living room and brushed up against Larissa and her grandmother’s legs. Larissa bent down and rubbed the tortoiseshell cat’s chin. Jade purred and turned her head to encourage more. The gray and black kitties remained near her grandmother, appraising Roman at a distance.

When her grandmother headed into the kitchen, the three cats followed. “Oh, you always know when I’m in the kitchen,” she addressed them.

“That’s Jade, Heka, and Claude,” Larissa told Roman.

After her grandmother gave the cats a few treats, they slipped out the pet door into the backyard.

Twenty minutes later, Larissa and Roman had given her grandmother a rundown of the events, ending with the most recent incident with Janie that morning. A plate of baked goods and cups of tea went untouched as they tried not to leave out any important details.

“The most pressing concern is Janie. Roman tried helping her this morning, but it didn’t work.”

Her grandmother turned to Roman, and furrowed her brows. “Can you describe what happened?”

He nodded. “I was trying to project my energy into her, but something stopped me. It felt solid, like a physical barrier, although I guessed that was impossible. As I searched for the source of the blockage, I detected dark magic. Demon magic. Somehow, the incubus left his mark on her. And I don’t know how to break through it.”

“Do you, Nana?” Larissa asked. “Please tell me we can help Janie.” Tears prickled her eyes. “I can’t lose her.”

Her grandmother’s gaze swept over Larissa and her expression softened. “I’ve never encountered demons nor their dark magic. But, I’m well-versed with our magic, and much of that derives from energy.”

Larissa furrowed her brows. “What does that mean?”

“It means, I’m not sure,” her grandmother replied. “I don’t want to lift your spirits only to crush them.”

Larissa nodded. “I understand that, Nana. I’ll do whatever it takes to help her. What do I need to do?”

Her grandmother sighed. “I’d always hoped that one day I would be able to teach you magic, but I never wanted it to be this way.”

Larissa took a steely breath. “I have so many questions about who I am. About our family.” After Roman gave her a reassuring squeeze, she said, “Is it true that you’re a witch?”

Her grandmother paused before replying. “Yes.”

“And my mom was as well?”

Her grandmother nodded. “She was.”

Larissa sighed. “And that means I have witch blood in me, too.”

Her grandmother gave her a sympathetic look. “It means you are also a witch.”

Even though she’d been expecting this, hearing her grandmother state those words hit Larissa with the impact of a bulldozer smashing it into her brain.

“How could you have kept this from me for so long?”

Roman stood and placed his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll give you some privacy.” He nodded at the glass door leading to the backyard. “I’ll be out there if you need me.”

Larissa’s gaze followed Roman as he walked away. A part of her wished he’d stayed, but he was right—this should be between Larissa and her grandmother.

When she pulled her focus back to her grandmother, she said, “I found out from him. This is something I should have known.”

Her grandmother wrung a tea cloth on her lap. “Did your father explain why?”

“He tried to,” Larissa said. “But, you know how he is. He revealed the bare minimum, and said I would get more info from you.”

“Larissa, you look terribly upset. Are you sure you want to talk about this now?”

She had to get it together. Not lash out like she had with her father. They had their reasons, even if Larissa didn’t yet understand them.

She raised her chin. “Yes, I am upset. My two closest family members have been lying to me all those years. I’ve been kept in the dark for long enough. It’s time I know the truth.”

Her grandmother nodded. “Yes. It’s time.” She flattened the tea cloth and stared at it, wringing it in her hands. “When your mother died it was a difficult time for all of us. You lost your mother. Your father lost his wife. I lost my daughter, my only child. We were all reeling from her sudden death and didn’t know what to do. What your father and I both agreed on was putting you first and doing whatever we had to do to help you get through it.”

When she tilted her head and smiled, Larissa saw how her grandmother’s eyes glistened. A motorcade of guilt slammed into Larissa. What the hell was wrong with her for making her grandmother relive her worst possible moment? She’d lost her child in a sudden car accident. Larissa had been in the car when it had happened but had come through unscathed.

Her grandmother continued, “You’d always been a special girl, with remarkable talents that your mother and I had recognized at an early age. It was something we would’ve loved to nurture. We loved to watch you play with your toys. You had such a fantastic imagination. You’d say your dolls could fly.”

Larissa blinked. How odd, since she’d recently discovered the magic of flight with her gargoyle lover.

“Yes. You were such a bright and happy child and the absolute light of your mother’s life. After she died, your father said we had to do our best to let you be a normal kid, and that meant not encouraging any sort of magic. I argued with him at first, but he was right. You needed a different kind of nurturing after losing your mother. S—s-security and a sense of normalcy. I eventually agreed. It was what was best for you.”

She had never seen her grandmother appear so emotional. It tore at Larissa’s insides. She was tormenting her grandmother by making her relive that awful anguish. God, she should stop this. Her mother’s death and funeral were only a faint memory, as Larissa had only been six. She remembered the sadness, and it echoed in the room now—that profound sense of loss. Only later, did she understand how unfair it had felt to have the universe tear a loved one from you.

“Are you all right, Nana? Is there something I can do?”

Her grandmother wiped her eyes and put on a brave face. “I’m fine. It’s you I’m worried about. It always has been.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I just wanted to know who I really am. But, now, I feel awful for asking. You don’t have to tell me anything else.”

Her grandmother lifted her teacup and took a sip of the tea. As she placed it back on the saucer, the cup clattered.

“No, it’s time you know who you are.” She leaned forward. “Yes, you are still human. Being a witch means you have something more in you. You are in tune with the magic of the universe, what lives in all of us, but witches have a special affinity for understanding and nurturing. Our magic has grown through the generations. You descend from a long bloodline of witches. We’ve traced it back to the 1600s in England and then here in Salem. Once the witch trials began, the family distanced themselves from the persecution and spread from there. We kept our abilities to ourselves for our safety.”

Larissa blinked. This was beyond what she ever thought her grandmother would admit. A strange twist of emotions churned through her.

“And I’m the last one on your side of the family?”

“Yes.”

She gulped. “So, if I don’t have children, the magic dies with me?”

“What’s more important to me is your happiness.” Her grandmother replied.

Whoa. In her early twenties, Larissa didn’t even know if she wanted kids. Since she started seeing someone who was a different species, it complicated the matter even more. She wasn’t going to let that weigh on her now, not with everything else she had going on.

Her grandmother leaned back and with a keen glance directed at Larissa added, “What abilities have you noticed before the night of the eclipse?”

Larissa grimaced. “I’ve sensed things before they happen. But, I’ve never been able to know exactly what’s going to happen nor when. It’s tormented me. Is that something I could learn? Is it something I would have already known if we nurtured my abilities from a young age?”

Her grandmother said, “Nobody can state for sure how things would have turned out otherwise. I sense your guilt about many things. There’s no need to heap more upon yourself, questioning if you could have prevented something. At some level, things are beyond our control, and who really knows who writes those stories for us? Or, if we write them ourselves.”

Larissa swallowed. That was true. Falling into a pit of what-ifs never helped anyone. Instead, she continued, summarizing the numerous times she’d gotten Janie out of a tough spot.

“I can’t help but feel protective of her now. I mean she’s had several close calls, and I don’t just mean fatal ones. These feelings have helped me get her out of difficult situations, like potential date rape and you know, other bad situations. It’s weird—but she thinks I am like her guardian angel. I don’t believe in that, but something is definitely going on.”

“Some of us are connected to others for reasons we don’t understand. You’re a witch, Larissa. You descend from a long line of witches. And we are known for helping others. That’s what our magic centers on. We want to bring more light into the world, rather than darkness.”

Larissa tapped her thigh. “Let me make sure I follow—this connection I have with Janie, you think it’s something to do with being a witch?”

Her grandmother nodded. “I do. In addition to your close friendship.” After a moment, she added, “I believe you can help many people, and not just by following in your father’s footsteps. You have a gift. You want to protect people and keep them away from harm. And that is one of your greatest strengths.”

Roman had told her that was one of the things that they had in common—gargoyles also protected others. Was it possible for her career in law enforcement to have a far more different origin?

“The night of the eclipse,” Larissa said, “I was able to project energy. What do you think that was?”

Her grandmother put her hand over her heart. “It all comes from the same place inside. If you want to, I believe you can strengthen that power you have within you. You have such wonderful innate talent, and although you’ve been suppressing that magic for so long, you have been nurturing it in another way. Because you’ve dedicated your life to protecting others and you’ve been taking care of Janie since you two were children. That all comes from that same place deep within you. It’s your light. Your magic. Be open to it, and let it shine. With time, you will discover how great this gift can be.”

“But, I’d never been able to do anything like that with my hands until that night.” Larissa raised her hands. “I don’t know if it was from stress or what. But it pushed the demons back. And Roman encouraged me to project my energy to him, which he’d used to knock the demons through the portal. I don’t understand any of this, though. It’s all too new, all too strange. What does it mean?”

Her grandmother’s eyes sparkled like a proud parent. “What it means is that you have much magical potential within you. What you do with your abilities is no longer up to your father or me. I will share my knowledge with you, but it’s up to you to decide what you want to do with it.”