Page 41 of Curse of Ancients

“Why are you working with the Black Lotus?”

“They kidnapped me. Is Bayu okay?”

“Bayu’s fine.” Nekoma studied the woman. Either she was the real Gemi, or something about her counteracted the potion he’d given her.

The woman’s shoulders relaxed. “I need to get to him. I know how to undo the curse.”

Chapter 15

Although Bayu had been focused on Harlow cloning his phone, he did notice the fae slip out the back door. “He went outside.” Bayu gestured in the direction Nekoma went.

“He’s gone. I heard the whoosh of a portal.” Carleigh turned the laptop around. “And I’d lay odds he’s going to the compound. I need to text Barrett and let him know to be on the lookout.”

“What if that’s not really Gemi?” Harlow asked.

“How would that be possible?” Bayu asked.

“Magic. Elle and Nekoma can alter their appearance, so why couldn’t the mages?” Harlow said.

“Me go fwim now?” Juni asked.

Kat stood from the table. “If it’s okay with Bayu, Juniper and I will take you.”

Bayu had been so engrossed in everything else that he’d not been paying attention to the little one. “Is it warm enough outside?”

“The pool is heated, so he’ll be fine,” Carleigh assured him.

Bayu crossed to where Juni was seated. “Did you eat all your breakfast?”

“Uh huh. Yummy.” Juni patted his stomach, grinning.

Bayu brushed his hand over Juni’s hair while telling Katherine, “If you and Juniper do not mind, that would be helpful.”

Kat helped Juni down from his booster seat. “Don’t mind at all.” To Juni, she said, “Let’s go upstairs and get your swimsuit on.”

“’Kay!” Juni took off running, and Kat hurried after him. Juniper began clearing the table, so Bayu jumped in to help her. It was the least he could do.

Julian followed behind to top off his coffee. “I’ll help June with the dishes if you want to watch the monitor with the girls. You’re more familiar with your aunt, and you might recognize whether it’s really her or not.”

Bayu inclined his head. “Thank you.” He returned to the center island, and Carleigh reached for his hand.

“I think we should take this to the office where we can watch on the big screen.”

“You do that, and I’ll wait on Bayu’s phone to—” A beep sounded, and Harlow reached for the device. “Never mind. It’s finished.” She unplugged it and handed it to him. Then she tapped the cloned one and read the message aloud. “I’m at the address you gave me, but no one is here. Where are you? Are you okay?”

“What if she really did show up? Are Dominic and his friends still at the safehouse?” Bayu asked.

“No, but we can check the cameras.” Carleigh led Bayu to the office with Harlow right behind, and she pulled up the camera feed and rewound it. “I don’t see anyone. That was probably the Black Lotus trying to get you to respond.” She then split the screen where it showed both the safehouse and the thermal drone footage at the compound. Bayu kept most of his focus on the safehouse if by some miracle Gemi was there.

Carleigh’s phone rang, and she put it on speaker. “Go ahead, Barrett.”

“Nekoma and Warren just portaled to the compound. Nekoma is going to cause a distraction, and if the woman comes outside, he’s going to take her to the safehouse. Please call Major and have him on standby in case we need him to voice her. Also, I’m sending the drone up so you can watch.”

“Got it. Thank you.” Carleigh disconnected, and it wasn’t long until they witnessed the distraction Nekoma instigated. A multitude of black birds flew around the house. Soon the door opened, and the Black Lotus members ran outside. The woman who looked like Gemi followed, and when several birds swooped down on her, she fled down the steps. Bayu wouldn’t have believed what happened next if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes. The woman was lifted off her feet, a swirling vortex opened behind her, and she disappeared. One of the Black Lotus men thrust his arms in the direction of the portal just as it snapped shut.

Carleigh tapped the keyboard, and the view outside the safehouse filled the screen. Nekoma, Warren, and the woman had been knocked to the ground. The males got to their feet, and Warren helped the woman to stand. Nekoma pulled a bottle from his satchel, removed the stopper, and poured the contents onto his hand. He then blew it in the woman’s face. They couldn’t hear the conversation as only the cameras inside the house had audio. Whatever the woman said caused Nekoma’s eyes to widen. Warren, with one hand holding onto the woman, pulled his phone out of his back pocket with the other. A few seconds later, Carleigh’s phone rang.

“Hey, Warren. Is that Gemi?”