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Wiley hummed, rubbing his face against Baer’s chest for a moment as if he were scenting him. “Well, I’m done with comic book work for the day. I was trying to decide whether to push through the current spell books I’m digging through or start a new one. Apparently, the one I started on is mostly water spells, which really doesn’t help you right now.” Wiley paused, bit his lower lip, and wagged his eyebrows again. “You got a better suggestion for how I could spend my afternoon?”
Baer had a lot of really good suggestions for what they could be doing. But as he was about to say they should move their brainstorming up to their room, heavy footsteps thundered through the house, rushing toward his location. He tightened his grip on Wiley, preparing to jump into action, shielding the smaller man with his body if necessary.
Clay appeared in the doorway from the living room leading into the kitchen. He was supposed to be “napping” with Dane, but it was clear something was very wrong.
“Pestilents!” Clay shouted.
“What?” Baer eased Wiley back just enough to allow him to drop to his feet. Clay wasn’t making any sense.
“I can feel them. Pestilents are approaching the plantation. A lot of them. And they’re close.”
“But the plantation is protected. They can’t come here, right?” Wiley countered.
It was exactly what Baer had been thinking. The aunts had been very clear that they were safe at the plantation. No pestilent could get through the barrier. They’d discovered the hard way that other problems could get through, but at least the pestilents couldn’t.
Had the bastards figured out a way around the spell?
“I don’t know, but we need to meet them before they do whatever they’re planning,” Clay growled.
Baer couldn’t agree more.
“Where are Grey and Lucien?” Clay demanded as he strode the rest of the way into the kitchen.
“Grey went to his apartment to work,” Wiley replied.
“Don’t know where Lucien is,” Baer finished.
“Wiley, go tell Grey about the pestilents, and then I want you to stay in his apartment. Lock the doors.” Clay turned his attention to Baer and frowned. His voice was a little softer when he spoke again but still firm. “We need to lock Ruby up…just in case.”
Cold fear gripped Baer’s heart, squeezing it so damn tight. His sweet girl. He couldn’t let anything happen to her.
As if she sensed something big was going down, Ruby rose from where she’d been stretched in a patch of sun in front of one of the patio doors. She watched Baer with wide, trusting eyes.
Running time?
Her thought came to him as clear as day.
Nap time, he sent back to her with warm feelings of love.
“We can put her in my room. She’ll be comfortable there,” Clay offered, and Baer nodded.
“Queenie! What about my cat?” Wiley asked. He gripped Baer’s arm, fingers digging in.
“Where is she?” The cat was less likely to rip anyone’s throat out if she was possessed by this damn witch, but she could still take someone’s eyes out with her claws. Baer would feel better if she was locked up as well.
“Probably stretched out on our bed.”
Baer didn’t have a chance to bask in the warmth that came with Wiley saying “our bed.” He needed to stay focused and moved fast. “I’ll check on my way up to see if Lucien is in his room. I’ll just close the door if she’s in there. She’ll be safe. I promise.” God, he prayed the witch didn’t turn him into a liar.
“Okay. Thank you!” Wiley threw his arms around Baer’s neck, gripping him tightly in a hug. The kiss was far too quick, but it was probably for the best. Baer didn’t want to let him go, but Wiley released him and was off like a shot through the door.
“If you or Grey find Lucien, tell them to go to the armory. Dane is grabbing weapons,” Clay called after Wiley.
Baer met his friend’s dark gaze and nodded. There was nothing they could say. They would prepare as best as they could, but the goal was to get the pestilents away from the plantation as quickly as possible. Lucien was making steady progress with his powers, but he tended to become exhausted quickly.
Clay called Ruby to his side, stopping at the counter long enough to grab a couple of dog treats to keep her happy for a short time. Ruby had been Baer’s best friend for so many years. There was no way he was going to let this witch bitch do anything to her.
As soon as Clay disappeared with the dog, Baer charged up the back stairs off the butler’s pantry to the second floor. He’d just reached the top when he nearly ran straight into Lucien.
“What’s up?” the Fire Weaver asked. “I heard a commotion—”
“Pestilents,” Baer barked. He pressed his hands into Lucien’s chest, backing him up. There wasn’t enough room for both of them on the narrow stairs, and the grand staircase would put him closer to the dining room turned armory.
