Page 32 of Hex You

“I must help my mother, but I will not abandon you. I am here for you, and will remain here until the demon that plagues your town is vanquished.”

Mercy wanted to lose herself in his eyes, but she forced herself to shake her head. “It’s not really fair. You should go back and get your mom out of hell.”

His smile was gentle. “And I willafterI aid the witches who pulled me out of hell.”

Her lips tilted up. “Even if one of those witches pretty much got you stuck in hell?”

Khenti shook his head. “My banishment was not your fault. My father is responsible for that, and much more. When I return I will make him pay for his crimes.”

“But not right away?” Mercy asked.

“Not right away,” he said, touching her cheek. “Remember, my mother is safe again. Now that we are no longer with her, Hathor can hide her and care for her as she did before we arrived in Duat.”

“I’m so glad she’s safe. And thank you for being here for me—for us. Thank you for being willing to stay and kill whatever monster is here.” She stepped into his embrace again. This time she wrapped her arms around him and rested her cheek against his chest. She could hear the strong beat of his heart, which seemed in sync with her own pulse.

Holding her close, Khenti asked, “What do we do now, my Mighty Green Witch?”

Mercy snuggled closer to him and sighed. “Well, we get dinner and then hope like hell Hunter will tell us the Japanese tree is fixed and whole, and that she can cast the spell that healed it on this tree—like, right away.”

“And we have to discover what killer escaped and track it down,” added Khenti.

“Again.”

Khenti’s arms tightened around her. “We will do it. All of us—you, Hunter, Emily, Jax, Xena, and me.” He smiled. “That is almost an army.”

She grinned against his chest. “An army of six?”

“It isn’t the size of the army that is important. It is the weapons and their disposal and how much courage they have that is important, and we have a magnificent Green Witch, a powerful Cosmic Witch, a spectacular feline familiar, and two loyal friends.Allare courageous.”

“And a demi-god who is a monster killer,” added Mercy as she finally stepped back to smile up at him.

“And a demi-god who is definitely a monster killer.” Khenti bent and kissed her.

In her pocket, Mercy’s phone bleeped with a text message. She pulled it out and read:KITTEN I AM QUITE FAMISHED!!!!!!!!!.

“Is it a problem?” Khenti asked.

“Well, yes and no. Xena is hungry, so we’d better get that pizza and get home. Plus, Hunter and Jax should be there soon, too.”

“Excellent.” Khenti draped his arm around her shoulder again as they headed back to Emily’s car. “I believe I am what Xena would callhangry.”

“Did you just sayhangry?” Mercy looked up at him, laughter in her eyes.

“Did I use the word correctly?”

“You definitely did,” said Mercy.

“Xena is quite an education,” said Khenti.

“Well, Xena’s quitesomething,that’s for sure.” They laughed together at Emily’s car, but as Mercy moved the seat forward so Khenti could climb in, she felt a prickle along the back of her neck and down her spine. She turned and stared at the tree, expecting to see someone watching her.

No one was there.

She glanced at the cornfield that separated the tree from the campus of the high school. No one was there, either. Or she was unable to see anyone within the thick shadows of the tall corn.

“What is it?” Emily asked as she peered up at Mercy.

“Nothing,” she said automatically and then silently added,or at least nothing I want to face out here without my magical sister at my side,and got hastily into the car.