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He tucked me into his side. There, in the arms of my demon lover, I slept. And I didn’t once dream of Mother coming through the mirrors.
I woke up in Eamon’s arms the next morning. Above us were the ceiling and walls of the blanket fort that lust built. The dark blue sheets with the tiny yellow stars on them were a little messed up from our ardor but still standing. This was one well-built blanket fort.
“Morning, gorgeous.”
“Would you look at that?” I said with a yawn. “I’ve been upgraded from ‘woman’ to ’gorgeous’ overnight.”
After a quick visit to the bathroom, which was windowless and had its one and only mirror turned around already, I returned to find Eamon putting the furniture back the way it was. I silently bid farewell to the magical structure. I’d probably remember it and everything that happened in it fondly for a long time.
A quick mending spell had my bra and panties wearable again, though I didn’t know how long they’d last. I let Nugget fly around the small cabin while I packed up our stuff and refilled her water and food. Then we made our way back to the main house with Nugget perched on my head.
Iris met us at the door and handed me a tiny, green, stoppered bottle on a thin leather cord. Before I could ask what it was, she said, “Next time that bitch shows up on any reflective surfaces, splash some of this—no, pour all of this on her. Then call me and let me know how it went.” She looked as if she were trying to hold back a laugh.
“Thank you.” I looked at the bottle with new eyes.
Now, I kind of wanted Mother to try spying on me again. I put the mini bottle around my neck, and it hung just below the warded charm. I was collecting an arsenal.
Shelby and Grayson joined us. Iris hugged everyone goodbye, Alex shoved paper bags full of cookies and sandwiches into our hands, and we were on our way.
Chapter 16
Tansy
“Finally!”Sybilthrewherhands up into the air. “Some peace and quiet!”
We lounged on the comfy patio furniture out on the roof. It was another cloudless day, and I was glad for the large canopy that shielded us from the blazing sun. The plants Iris had given me the other day were settling into the raised bed off to the side, happily soaking up the rays.
Eamon had gotten called in by the Secret Enforcement Agency this morning, leaving me at the penthouse. I didn’t mind. The place was safe, and they had plenty of resources available for my research; Redrock had access to magical databases and online reference materials I’d have never gotten to on my own.
I hadn’t realized the demon worked with the EA at all. Didn’t that make him some sort of cop for monsters? I wondered if he wore a uniform.
My day of research and practice was cut short when Sybil announced she was coming over. Shelby had insisted I join them on the patio, noting that I’d been practicing and researching for days without a break.
The saltwater pool tempted me for a swim, as did the hot tub, but I didn’t have a swimsuit, and the extra one Shelby had was too big for me. She’d suggested I just go skinny dipping. Maybe later when the sun wasn’t glaring down at us. I was still pasty from the lack of a base tan and would burn in minutes.
“Is the naga next door still making all that noise?” I asked.
“I confronted him the other day. He claims his washer’s malfunctioning.” Sybil grabbed a corkscrew from the counter of the Tiki hut and settled down next to me on the couch, a bottle of chilled white wine in hand. “I don’t believe him. He was trying to hide something.”
“Didn’t you inherit your great granny’s place?” Shelby asked, as she put three wine glasses on the low table before us. “Can’t you hide out there until he gets it fixed?”
“Yeah, but it’s not exactly livable yet. Sylvana was a collector of all things eclectic. She recharged through her magical collection, but over the years, it started to remind me of an episode ofHoarders. I need to move all the crap out before I can live in it. I like my objects of power too, but that much clutter gums up my energy.“ She looked around the table. “Do you have a jug? I have the makings of a white wine sangria in my bag.”
“Ooooh, sangria!” Shelby ran inside the penthouse, returning with a jug and a small tub of ice cubes.
“Thanks.” Sybil reached into her tiny purse and brought out a Tupperware of sliced lemons and limes, a bottle of ginger ale, a bottle of brandy, another plastic container of sugar, and a large wooden muddler.
I gawked. How the hell did she fit all that in there? There was clearly magic involved.
She noticed me gaping and said, “It’s a magic purse.”
She opened the purse, and inside, there were only her pair of sunglasses, her phone, and a Chapstick. She closed the bag and opened it again. This time, it showed the inside of a cupboard.
“It leads to the inside of a cupboard at home,” she explained. “I put all the things I needed in there before I left home.”
My mouth dropped. “I want a magic purse.”
“Me too!” Shelby exclaimed.
