Free WitchLove by Emma Mills Page A

but then…’ Luke paused, shrugging his shoulders and grinning. ‘Ley lines across the Atlantic are exhausting and I’ve never flown business class.’
    ‘How much did he give you?’ I said, realising my voice was beginning to squeak.
    ‘A grand,’ Luke said grinning. ‘He said to take you out and treat you before I came back. I thought about not telling you, but I knew you’d wonder where the cash had come from.’
    ‘Yeah, you’re always broke,’ I said laughing. I couldn’t believe Daniel had done as I asked and not only apologised to Luke, but even give him money, making it easier for him to come and visit me. ‘So you blew most of it on a business class ticket? We could have gone shopping,’ I said.
    ‘Like I said, I’ve never flown business class. It was lurrrvley! Anyway I deserved it. I’m going to be stuck in York all autumn, freezing my butt off and chasing the damned hunters.’
    ‘Hunters?’ I queried.
    ‘Don’t ask. They’re just this weird, sanctimonious gang who dress up in black and hunt supernaturals like us,’ he said. ‘They’ve been causing trouble in York again.’
    ‘Will you be safe?’ I asked.
    ‘Of course. You’re looking at the best angelic warrior there is,’ he said, his grin returning.
    ‘Yeah, I remember how you blasted those dark witches back to the recesses of hell last spring,’ I said with a frown, remembering how Susannah had paralysed him.
    ‘Look, I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I was a little out of practice then. I think you should go and wake Brittany up, as she needs to eat and whatever your aunt’s cooked, it smells divine,’ he said as we reached the garden and were assaulted by the scent of home cooking. My nose wrinkled involuntarily and I decided to halt the breathing process, nodding at Luke as we crossed the lawn.
    My aunt wasn’t in the kitchen when we entered the house, but Saffy was. She leant on the work surface and flicked her hair when we walked in.
    ‘Did you spell Jess?’ Luke asked, looking her straight in the eye.
    ‘ Did you spell Jess ,’ Saffy mimicked, looking like she had a plum stuffed in her mouth. ‘Don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve only just arrived,’ she added.
    ‘Luke, it doesn’t matter. I’m new, she’s threatened. It’s no biggy,’ I said, shrugging her off and walking straight through to the hallway, with Luke on my heels.
    ‘Threatened? I don’t think so,’ she said following us out of the room. ‘Anyway, you’re not allowed boyfriends in your room. Ask Mom.’
    ‘I’m eighteen, and Luke is not my boyfriend,’ I said, turning back to face Saffy.
    ‘It doesn’t matter. I’m eighteen too and I suspect I won’t be allowed boyfriends in my room even when I’m twenty-five… but then you’ll never reach twenty-five will you?’ she said, giving me a little smile and sauntering away. ‘So Luke, if you’re not her boyfriend, then why don’t you keep me company while I get you some food. You must be starving, coming all that way. My mom’s stews are legendary,’ she added, flicking her shiny hair again and smiling prettily at Luke.
    I ignored her and started up the stairs, leaving Luke to decide his own fate. It didn’t take long though before I felt a light thump on my shoulder and his words whispered in my ear.
    ‘Thanks for that. Can’t we at least pretend we’re dating while I’m here? She’s going to take my eye out if she keeps flicking her hair like that.’
    ‘Nope, I’m done with men. Let’s get Brit. She can conjure great protection bubbles.’

Chapter Seven
    Over the weekend we’d been left to fend for ourselves, as my aunt had been helping Saffy move vast quantities of stuff into her new accommodation at Harvard. We’d explored the local towns and small lakes, which amusingly the locals called ponds , although they were nothing like the duck ponds we had in our parks back home – all with Luke’s hire car. The one thing my aunt had instructed us, was