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Priscilla isn’t going to like Blaire. She hates strong women and beautiful women, and Darcy’s mate is both.
So is Casey.
“Let’s go,” I say, suddenly needing to ensure my protective amulets reach the Wondefullys sooner rather than later. “You can fill Colin in on what we learned; I’ll get Annie and Casey their charms and fetch my flying monkey costume from the attic.”
Darcy’s lips twitch. “I can’t believe we still have that old thing. We haven’t put on that play since Darius moved to Belgium in the 1960s.”
“It’s a little moth-eaten. But it adds to the charm. I have no doubt my little witch will love it.”
“I wonder if Amy will have magic someday,” Darcy muses as we cross to the clock. “With the horns, she appears to be taking after her father, but witch power doesn’t develop until after puberty so there’s still a chance.” He watches the clockface stretch with a far-away look. “That would be a potent combination. One that could be very useful to our clan and the town at large.”
I grunt. “Mention that the next time you hear our less-enlightened brothers or sisters complaining that a half demon has no place in Nightfall.”
“I will,” he assures me. “Starting tonight. If Priscilla dares to speak against that little girl, I’ll be the first to warn her that the child is one of our own and under Blackmore protection.”
I start to protest, but Darcy silences me with a raised hand.
“No,” he says. “Let me do it. You’re going to be in enough trouble for falling in love with not one, but two beautiful girls. Let me take point with Prissy.”
We step through the portal into Sultan’s apartment, which seems so much darker after the glaring florescent light and white tile of the secret room, but I barely see it. In my mind, I see only the faces of my girls, little Amy and her irresistible mother.
Her mother, who I can’t seem to find anywhere…
Amy is still in their room with the babysitter, but Casey is out on an errand the maid, Sherry, can’t name. I ask after Casey as I deliver the other charm, but Annie insists she hasn’t seen her. A call to Blaire yields the same answer, so I make my way back through the mansion, but no matter how many times I retrace my steps, I can’t find Casey or anyone who’s seen her in the past hour.
I reach out to Charles, but he’s on an early dinner break and the woman monitoring the cameras in his place informs me there’s no sign of my fiancée anywhere on the property.
“What do you mean, there’s no sign of her?” I ask. “I know she didn’t leave. She promised me she wouldn’t.”
“I’m sorry, sir, I’ll keep looking,” she says. “Maybe she’s in the bathroom or something and that’s why I can’t see her. The kitchen has been serving a lot of spicy stuff. It isn’t agreeing with all of us if you know what I mean.”
Biting back a smartass comment about the likelihood of Casey needing a bathroom for an hour straight—especially considering I know the woman can devour a jalapeno-stuffed burrito with extra salsa without breaking a sweat—I end the call with an order to have Charles contact me as soon as he returns.
I’ve been through the entire mansion twice—as well as the auxiliary buildings—and am considering sending out an alert to the security team when I turn the corner to see Amy standing outside her room dressed in her witch costume, complete with a miniature broom and pointy hat that’s adorable on her tiny head.
I’m about to ask why she’s in the hall alone when Casey steps out behind her, dressed in a slinky gold dress, her hair loose around her shoulders with two tiny horns peeking from the strands above her forehead.
I trip over nothing and have to catch myself with a hand on the wall, letting out an umph that draws Amy’s attention.
When she sees me, she squeals with excitement and runs for me with her arms outstretched. “Ed-ed! I’m dressed as Mommy, and Mommy’s dressed like me!”
“I saw!” I grin, swooping her up in my arms and returning her fierce hug. “You both look beautiful.”
Amy pulls back, pointing a stern finger at my face. “And scary. Don’t forget scary. You get to be scary on Halloween as long as you’re not mean.”
“Wise words,” I say, kissing her chubby cheek before shifting my gaze to the drop-dead gorgeous woman walking to meet us. Now I can see that the dress has a plunging neckline as well as a slit up the thigh and that Casey’s lips are painted a deep, confrontational red.
I arch a brow.
She smiles as she lifts a bare shoulder. “I figured she’s going to hate me anyway. Might as well really throw down the gauntlet.”
“Or wave the red lipstick flag in front of a charging bull,” I agree, reaching into my pocket and pulling out the final charm. “But you should be safe from bodily harm if you keep this against your skin. Priscilla will still be able to use her powers, if she chooses, but not much chance of that at a party. Even she’s more discreet than that.”
Casey takes the delicate bracelet, made of silver thread with a strand of the mummy’s hair woven into it along with protective essential oils. “Well, it doesn’t match my outfit, but I can make it work.” She lifts her leg, propping her foot against the wall.
The movement causes the slit to ride even higher on her thigh. I curse beneath my breath as she leans over to tie the charm around her ankle, fighting to keep my gaze off the tempting flash of skin.
“Uh-oh,” Amy whispers as she presses a hand to my mouth. “You can’t say that word, Ed-Ed, or you’ll have to go sit in the ‘Think About It’ chair.”
