Page 29 of Ancient Magic

Maya wasn’t bragging. The smoothie truly was world famous. It also explained the scent of blueberries and bananas and magic that perfumed the air. The smoothie could cure everything from hangovers to the flu.

Skye took a deep drink, sighing as the magic tingled through her, driving away the lingering fatigue.

“Yum. Just what I needed.” She smacked her lips before polishing off the last of the smoothie. “Thanks.”

Maya reached to take the empty glass, her gaze continuing to monitor Skye’s face with motherly concern.

“Did something happen last night?” She at last asked the question that had no doubt been nagging at her for hours.

“Nothing that we didn’t expect,” Skye said, keeping her answer vague. She wasn’t ready to discuss her father’s unwelcome arrival in New York City or her intense attraction toward Micha. “The vampires were polite, but most of the night they stood in opposite corners, glaring at each other. I don’t know if that’s typical leech behavior or if they were angry about something.”

Maya’s lips tightened. There was nothing that pissed her off more than the mention of vampires.

“And Peri?”

“Tense, but determined,” Skye assured her friend. “She’s not going to let the Cabal intimidate her.”

“Good.” Maya paused, narrowing her gaze. “And that’s all that happened?”

Skye shrugged. “What did you expect?”

“I’m not sure, but I do know you were so weary when you came home last night, you could barely climb the stairs.”

“I underestimated the intense emotions of dozens of royal demons jammed together in one room.” It was the truth, although not the full truth. “And it didn’t help that my shields were already weak.”

Instant regret softened the older woman’s features. “I shouldn’t have let you go alone.”

Skye reached out to touch Maya’s arm. “Trust me, you wouldn’t have wanted to be there. Plus, I’m fine. All I needed was a good night’s rest and some of your super-duper smoothie.”

Thankfully reassured, Maya rose to her feet. “Stay up here today and rest.”

Skye shook her head. “You need help in the shop.”

“Actually, I don’t. I brought in our part-time staff for the week. Both Erin and Joyce have been asking for more shifts to make extra money for their Christmas shopping,” Maya said, referring to the two older women who’d been working at the shop for years. They were humans who had no idea they were employed by mages. Or that they were selling stuff enhanced with dollops of magic. They just knew that everyone loved the pastries and coffee and that the tips were great. “I want you to concentrate on protecting Peri.”

Skye wrinkled her nose. “I’m not sure how much protection I can offer.”

Maya clicked her tongue. “You have more power than you realize, Skye Claremont, but your greatest gift will always be your heart.” She abruptly leaned down to brush a kiss over the new wound on Skye’s temple. A simple gesture that revealed her suspicion that there was a great deal her friend hadn’t told her about the events of last night. “And your greatest weakness,” she murmured before she straightened and headed for the door. “Rest up.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Waiting until she heard Maya’s footsteps on the stairs, Skye threw aside her covers and headed into her private bathroom. She’d been too tired last night to wash off the grime from the parking lot, not to mention her father’s corrosive touch. Now she felt an urgent need to scrub herself clean.

An hour later she pulled on a comfortable tunic dress that brushed the tops of her ankles. The plain beige linen was embroidered with tiger’s eye crystals along the vee neckline. Gathering her curls, she pulled them into a knot on top of her head and settled on the window seat to soak in the sunlight.

This was what she needed, she silently decided. A few hours of peace in the place that had become her home.

The thought barely had time to form when the buzz of her phone shattered her momentary sense of goodwill. Just for a second she considered ignoring the interruption. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with any potential problems. But then the knowledge it might be Peri seared away her reluctance.

With a sigh, she shoved herself upright and crossed to the desk, where she’d left her phone the night before. At least she’d had enough sense to plug it in before tumbling into the bed, she realized as she yanked off the charging cord and glanced at the screen.

Surprise replaced her vague annoyance at having her peace interrupted as she recognized the name that popped up. It was Clarissa’s private number. The older woman rarely called her. Only if it was an emergency.

She quickly connected the call, putting it on speaker.

“Hello? Clarissa?”

There was a muffled sound before a male voice floated through the air. “I’m afraid she’s tied up at the moment, my dear. Quite literally.”

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