AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yup. You’ll have to wash your hands first though, to get the parrot smell off you.”
I eyed the large enclosure. Was I ready to meet a big snake? “How about tomorrow?” When Nugget was safe in another room.
Seth chuckled. “Tomorrow. Ball pythons are very friendly, I promise. Get some rest tonight. We’ll get started in the morning when you’re fresh.”
Chapter 28
Eamon
Iknockedonherdoor again, but there was no response. I hadn’t seen Tansy all day, and it was well past noon now. She must be hungry. I’d made her a full English breakfast to make up for being a jerk yesterday. One night without her was enough.
I was pretty proud of myself for not phasing into her room to check up on her all night, but now I was tempted to. Especially when no sound came from the locked room. Fuck it. She was already pissed off at me as it was; I’d make up for it with a grilled steak later.
I dematerialized and poked my head through the door. The room was empty. The barely-there scent of magic lingered in the air. Wizard magic.
Red filled my vision. The asshole had snuck in and stolen my female. How had he done it? Surely Sybil’s ward prevented such a thing from happening. She was one of the best in the world, the most recent in a long line of ward builders. It couldn’t have failed unless—
I called Sybil. The witch picked up after several rings.
“What do you want, Eamon?”
“You’re alive!” I blurted.
“Um, yeah? Last I checked, I’m still breathing.”
“Something got through your ward last night.”
“No, he didn’t.” She sighed loudly. “My wards protect the inhabitant against unwanted magical intrusions from those with mischievous or malicious intent. Seth’s portal was wanted and cast with good intent. Three out of the six entities in your home knew about it and allowed it. Technically only one is needed. Is that all?”
Is that all? IS THAT ALL?
“I’m glad it’s nothing else. Bye!” The bitch hung up on me.
I’d had the entire night to think about it, and I’d decided it would be okay for us to visit the wizard together to see what he had to say. Instead, he’d taken my female from right under my nose, and while she was upset with me too. It was the worst-case scenario.
Gunnar walked in from his suite, and I whirled on him. “Tansy’s gone.”
He looked back at me like I was stupid. “Yeah, we know.”
“What do you mean,we know?“ I demanded belligerently.
“Desmon called and settled her bill this morning. We gave him the usual daily fee for the days she’s been here.” Gunnar drank the last sip of his soda and crushed the can in his hands.
“Why didn’t he call me?”
“He did. Your phone’s off,” he said, tossing the crumpled can at the recycle bin from across the room. It landed perfectly.
Fuck. It was. I’d never turned it back on.
When I just glared at him, he said, “You did your part, Eamon. You kept her safe. This next part she has to do on her own.”
“But the weapon. She can’t wield it.” It sounded stupid even to me. “And it’s right—” I looked to where the sword had been yesterday. It was gone too.
“I’m sure there are plenty of people who’d be happy to do it for her. She’s not without friends now. Thanks to you.” Gunnar’s face softened. “Let it be, Eamon. We know you don’t like the wizard, but it’s what needs to be done.”
I went back into her room, using the door this time, and looked for a note, anything. There was nothing. Nothing to prove that she’d even been here to begin with. The bed was neatly made. All of her stuff was gone. All except for the faintest scent of her.
Nugget’s large cage was still in the main room, but all her food, toys, and bowls were gone. There was no annoying parrot flying in my face declaring that she was a cutie. The penthouse felt suddenly too large and empty.
