A wave and a smile for the fine proprietor, then I’m off.
Or… not.
“Um, excuse you?” Violet stares at me, hand on her hip like I’m about to get a scolding, which I’d gladly submit to under different circumstances, but since we’re both wearing too many clothes for that, I merely scowl at her.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” she says.
“Am I? Oh! Wait! You’re right. Thank you.” Shuffling the bourbon bottles over to one arm, I grab a handful of nips from the counter—mixed bag, mostly cheap vodka and flavored whiskeys, but one can never be too prepared for a good time. “Clearly, my head isn’t screwed on straight tonight. All set now. Shall we?”
I nod toward the door for her to exit ahead of me, but she doesn’t move. She and her demon pal are just standing about gaping at me, brows furrowed, eyes wide.
After a long, awkward stare-off, it finally occurs to me that these two are not actually constipated. They’re… expecting me to pay for these spirits.
Fuck.I haven’t had to do my own shopping in decades. My staff always handles these things, cashing in one favor or another. I wasn’t lying to the witch about my lack of legal tender.
Well. Olivy warned me not to use my influence to help save the shop. Purloining alcohol is not saving the shop. Ergo…
“Maleek,” I say hypnotically, gazing into his eyes. “You—”
“Holy shit,” he gasps, recognition dawning before I’ve even had the chance to put the whammy on him. “It’s you.”
“Holy shit indeed.” I grin, basking in his starry-eyed wonderment.
“I… I can’t believe you’re here,” he stammers. “In Wayward Bay. With Violet. This is just… Wow. Well, anything you need, sir. Help yourself.”
“Youknowhim?” Violet asks the man.
“He’s a demon, Mushroom,” I explain. “Of course he knows me.”
“Yeah, but—oh, goddess. You’re his boss.”
“In a manner of speaking, yes, but I prefer more of an informal, hands-off approach. You know what they say—an empowered demon is an effective demon. Especially when he knowsexactlywhat his boss most needs.”
“A calming blend of lavender, chamomile, and lemon balm,” the witch says, going a bit starry-eyed herself, though not over me, which is off-putting. “With a fine dusting of cane sugar and a spritz of rose quartz essence. I call it my STFU and CTFD Tea. Works wonders for anger issues.”
“Just hearing you talk about it as if it’s your long-lost soulmate isgivingme anger issues, so I’ll go ahead and take a pass on that. Maleek, thank you for your service, the spirits areexactlywhat I need.”
Maleek nods, some of his earlier bewilderment fading. “How do you two know each other again?”
I feel Violet tense beside me, and when I glance over and catch her eye, she gives me a nearly imperceptible shake of the head.
Right. She doesn’t want anyone else to know about her financial woes. A thing that shouldnotconcern me, and yet…
“I’m helping Violet with some marketing plans for her shop,” I say, keeping the summoning snafu to myself for some unnamed reason I don’t care to explore while sober.
“Oh, right!” Maleek says. “I heard you’re kind of a big deal on social media these days.”
“The biggest.”
“Seriously?” Violet asks, that happy twinkle returning to her eyes. “The Devil is on MySpace? What will they think of next?”
“MySpace?” Maleek laughs. “Oh my word, aren’t youadorable? Babe, come out front!” he calls toward the back of the store. “You have to meet this time-traveling witch! She just got here all the way from 2007!”
“Very funny, Maleek.” Violet turns to smile at a fae male exiting the back storeroom. “Jovahn’s here tonight too?”
“He’s helping me with inventory—we’re finalizing the liquor order for the Haunted Halloween Ball. Mayor Singh has been checking in twice a day to make sure we’ve got it covered.”
“Don’t tell me Fiona ran out of rum already!” The fae—Jovan—gathers Violet into a hug, which sets my teeth on edge—again, completely baffling. Again, won’t be examining until I’m thoroughly inebriated.
