The Windhaven Witches Omnibus Edition : Complete Paranormal Suspense Series, Books 1-4 by Carissa Andrews (graded readers txt) 📕

He runs his left hand across my upper back, making my skin tingle. “Maybe it was hard for her to talk about him? They separated after what happened to you. There’s gotta be a lot of mixed-up feelings in there.”

“Yeah, I suppose,” I say, nodding. “I’ll try her again in a couple of hours. Let her get up and moving for the day before I call. It’s Saturday and she likes to sleep in, if she can.”

“Plus, she must be a little floored by the daily check-ins,” Wade chuckles.

“True,” I say, laughing under my breath.

It’s not that I didn’t want to connect more with her. It’s just that… it’s been hard. Moving out to Windhaven has consumed all of my time. The mysteries and life-or-death situations have captured my attention and held onto it with a viselike grip.

Luckily, she hasn’t taken any of that to heart. She’s just as independent as I am that way. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

“What about the others?” Wade asks, laying his hand flat against my arm.

I sigh. “I talked to Cat last night. She said that Colton’s back to his full strength, but even Diana was surprised at how long it took. But other than that, things are still going well with their training. Diana and Blake have been really good for them, I think.”

“That’s good. I mean, on all fronts.”

I tip my chin upward, looking him in the eye. “Even the part about Colton? Are you getting soft in your old age, Mr. Hoffman?”

Wade chuckles. “I don’t have time for grudges. Besides, the guy might have saved my life. Before he did”—his eyes narrow—“whatever he did that day…things were so foggy. Garbled, you know?”

“Yeah, I get it,” I whisper, dropping my gaze.

For a while there, I had thought I’d lost Wade, and I don’t overly want to relive those moments.

“It was probably just a concussion, but who knows? It coulda been way worse, too. So, I gotta have gratitude. You know?” Wade says.

I nod, chewing on the side of my lip.

“All right, enough moping. Come on,” he says, twisting out of my embrace and sitting up on the bed. The blankets slide down around his waist, but he pulls his shirt on before I even get the chance to admire his form.

I groan, lying back down in bed. “But I was comfortable.”

Wade laughs, chucking his pillow at me as he stands up. “Get up, Dru. We’ve got some things to do today.”

“We do?” I say, peeking out from under the pillow.

A dazzling grin spreads across his gorgeous features, melting my resolve. “All right,” I mutter, begrudgingly getting out of bed. I may have been the first one awake, but it doesn’t mean I wanted to be up and moving around.

After a quick breakfast of Pop-Tarts and Red Bull, we’re in Wade’s car, traveling to goodness knows where. All I know is it’s been over an hour, with no end in sight.

“Why won’t you tell me where we’re going?” I ask, quirking an eyebrow.

Wade’s cheeks mound as he shakes his head. “Woman, you’ll know soon enough. Just enjoy the drive, would you?”

I flit my gaze to the snow-covered landscape. We got our first blanket of the white stuff two nights ago. Despite being only a couple of weeks away from Christmas, not even the more festive landscape has been able to lighten my mood. It hasn’t even gotten me into the spirit of the holiday. By now, I’d be chomping at the bit to get up holiday decorations and listen to Christmas music.

But after everything that happened with my dad, I can’t seem to find my joy.

Wade reaches over, taking my hand in his and bringing it to his mouth. He kisses the top of my hand and rests it, still interlocked with his, on the center console.

“If it makes you feel any better, we’re nearly there,” Wade says, shooting me a sideways glance.

I narrow my gaze.

“Don’t give me that look, Ms. Blackwood. It doesn’t suit your pretty face,” he says, smirking.

“Hmph.” I lean back in the seat, staring straight ahead. “Aren’t we getting kinda close to Mistwood Point? We’re not going to see Mom, are we?”

Wade laughs. “No, but now that you mention it, we could swing by later, if you want.”

I scratch the side of my temple, trying to figure out where he’s taking me. It’s been so long since we went anywhere just for fun that the thought of decoding his actions literally makes my head hurt and my stomach uneasy.

Swallowing hard, I lean back in the seat and close my eyes.

When I open them again, Wade’s pulling into a parking lot the size of the entire city of Windhaven.

“Did I fall asleep? Where are we?” I ask, rubbing my eyes.

“We have just landed at the CambridgeSide Mall,” Wade says, his face lit with a mischievous glow.

I can’t stop my eyebrows from rising into my hairline. “You brought me to Cambridge? To go to a mall?”

Wade scoffs. “It’s not just a mall. It’s a journey to Christmasland.”

Snickering under my breath, I turn to face him. “Please tell me that’s not a reference to turning into a vampire in the back of a Rolls Royce Wraith.”

“Only if you want it to be,” he says, chuckling. “No, this is meant to be a good, old-fashioned Christmas-y outing to get you interacting with the world again. Besides, I need to get some hints on what you want as a present.” He shoots me a sly grin.

“Ah, so ulterior motives, then?”

“Always,” he laughs. “Now are you coming with me, or what?”

Wade kicks his door open, letting in a bluster of cold winter air. I shudder, but unbuckle my seat belt and follow him.

The moment we get inside the massive glass structure, we’re inundated by the sights and sounds of the holidays. Decorations of wreaths, trees, and fake snow adorn all of the walkways, and kiosk areas. Holiday music blares throughout the building,