I reach for the spectacles on the nightstand. Place them upon my face, if only so I may glare at her more intently. “We’vebeen over this. You can’t give up your magic—your legacy—just to save us. And even if I were comfortable with such a thing, it would mean sacrificing the integrity of the portal as well. Theonlybarrier keeping an army of chaos demons behind the gates—and that’s not guaranteed forever, either. Sooner or later, we’re going to have to deal with that. I’m sorry, Elizabeth. The final answer is no. The reunification spell comes at far too great a cost.”
“You’re right,” she says plainly. “Totally agree.”
“I’m… wow. That was very well the easiest argument we’ve ever had. Thank you for the victory. Allow me to bask in the Six-of-Wands-ness of it all.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble, champ. But I drew the Queen of Swords today, and we’re just getting started.”
I close my eyes and sigh, because ofcoursewe are.
“First of all,” she says, “this ismymagic we’re talking about. If I want to give it up, that’s absolutely my choice.”
“Yes, I agree, but?—”
“I don’t want to give it up, though. That’s the thing. I love being a witch. I want to help train my sisters, and nurture all of our innate powers together, and remake our grimoire, and figure out how to fix the portal for good and stop the demons from busting through and smushing us all like bugs. I’m also looking forward to frying the rest of the hunters, and Matthias and Ozikai, and anyone else who tries to fuck with us. So yeah. Big plans, Merrick. Big magical plans.”
“I’m both relieved and slightly terrified to hear that. But?—”
“But… for me, being a witch, embracing my magic, saving the world… it’s all tied up in you. I know I’m not the best witch—I never claimed to be, and maybe I never will be. But Iama good witch. I know that now. And it’s because of you. Not just what you taught me, but because of how you encouraged me, and you believed in me, and you never gave up on me, no matter howmany times I showed up late or stoned, no matter how many things I screwed up along the way. Now, we find out a spell exists that can free you and the guys from Hell—something you’ve been seeking for a billion years—and you think I’mnotgoing to give it serious consideration?”
My throat is tight with emotion. Pride. Love for her, despite her stubbornness. Maybe even because of it.
Alas.
“I appreciate your valor, Elizabeth. Admire it, even. And underanyother circumstance, I would be your most ardent supporter, cheering you every step of the way. But for this spell, this one bloodyimpossiblespell, the cost is just too great.”
She shrugs, as if this is no small thing. “Then we find a way to lower the cost.”
“I’ve been over it a thousand times. There’s no way to do it without giving up your magic. Period, end of story, curtains.”
“Really? Who’s the witch here?” She sits up and straddles me, a small grin rising like the sun, slowly spreading until her entire face is glowing with it.
My cock stiffens at once. Clearly, I’m at a disadvantage. Clearly, I’m going to lose this battle.
“Say it,” she says.
I glide my palms up her ribcage, grazing her nipples with my fingertips. She sighs and shifts, ever so slightly, just enough to brush over my cock, a tempting preview of what’s to come.
Fuck, that’s good. It’s… perfect. It’s…
“Say it, Professor.”
“Youare, my darling. You are the witch here. The most fearsome, powerful, all-knowing, indefatigable?—”
She leans forward and cuts me off with a kiss. Then, drawing back, she brushes her thumb across my lips and whispers, “I love you, Dr. Merrick Sutherland. Awkward nerdy professor, shadowy underworld demon, flawed human, eternally damnedsoul, sexy glasses-wearing hero, all of it. I’m in this with you, no matter what. I’m not giving up. Together, even if it takes ten years, you and I are going to find a way to rework that spell until it does what we need it to do at a cost we’rebothwilling to pay. Andthatis a promise.”
My heart warms, a new lightness swirling through my chest.
“I’m so in love with you I’m mad with it,” I whisper, kissing her thumb. And then, with a wry grin, “And I ammostglad to hear of this new plan, Elizabeth. Most glad indeed. But, to clarify one small point, if I may?”
“God! If you insist.” She rolls her pretty green eyes. “Butpleasegive me the TL;DR version. You have a tendency to ramble, and I’d rather get back to more important matters. Such as…” She slides her hands down my chest and shifts again, taking me in fully, the devious little harlot, rolling her hips in a way that nearly drives every last thought from my mind.
“Oh, that’s just… not… appropriate during a—ohh,fuck me.”
“I’m trying, Merrick, but you insist on talking.”
“Mmm… About what? I can’t even recall.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Something about a clarification, some pointless argument you feel the need to interject into the middle of a perfectly good?—”
