“He’s a powerful earth witch,” answered Mira with a shrug of a slim shoulder. “From an entire line of powerful earth witches, from what I’ve heard. His parents were a nightmare, and his childhood was pretty violent. Then there was that whole deal with the Duskoff when he was a teenager. He’s bit different because of all that darkness.”

Claire took a sip of her drink and then said, “Adam and I were surprised you chose to stay with Theo, actually. He’s a wonderful man and one of the best people to have your back in a fight, but he’s so sullen all of the time. He’s so hard to communicate with.”

Mira shook her head. “I adore Theo, but I don’t understand him.”

Isabelle dragged her finger through some of the condensation left on the glass-top table and played with the water droplets, letting them whirl out into the air and dissipate. Show-off. “With certain people you have to keep your expectations low. Take what they’re offering and try not to demand too much more from them. Men had to keep their expectations low where I was concerned for a long time.” She looked at Sarafina and smiled. “Then I met the right man.”

Sarafina returned her smile. “It’s not like I want marriage and children from Theo, but I do have to live with him for now. He’s a good man and all, I just . . . I don’t know. He intrigues me, I guess.”

There was no way she was going to tell them about the kiss she’d shared with Theo. That had just been a one-off, anyway. He showed no interest in ever kissing her again, only interest in dictating her behavior and decisions. That didn’t fly with her.

Claire laughed. “You and half the other women in the Coven.”

“Oh, really?” Sarafina answered. “I didn’t know.” She shrugged and laughed. “I shouldn’t be surprised, though, he’s hot.”

“And selective,” Claire answered. “According to Adam, Theo could pretty much have his pick of women, but he’s only taken one lover ever as far as Adam knows.”

And Sarafina knew who it was. “Ingrid.”

Mira nodded. “She was abrasive, but a good person in her heart. It was a blow to the Coven when she was killed.”

“She was one of Thomas’s seconds, along with Jack,” Isabelle added. “It was a real loss.”

Sarafina nodded. “Once he told me that all the women he was ever involved with turned up dead somehow.”

Mira frowned. “That’s interesting. I only know about Ingrid, but Theo gives reserved a new meaning. He’s not exactly an easy guy to get to know.”

“Yeah, that’s for sure.”

“So what was Alex like?” Isabelle asked.

“Alex? He was . . . nice.”

“Oh. Nice.” Isabelle grinned. “I’m sorry.”