Page 8 of Mending Mayhem

Ash cast her spell on the entry hall, but the only magic clinging to the walls was the residue of decades of our own work. I drew my sword, holding it down at my side as I crept inside. The library stood in its normal state of disarray, but Ash’s desk, always neat and organized, held a messy stack of books and one half-open drawer. She would never leave it in that state.

“Did one of you use the desk?” I asked.

The guys shook their heads, and Ash frowned, pacing toward it and restacking the books.

“I was the last one to use it.” She opened the drawer fully and rummaged through it. “Nothing is missing.” She closed it and shrugged. “But I left my studio a mess this morning, so it’s possible I did this. I haven’t had time to keep things organized lately.”

“Or someone was looking for something.” I stepped into the studio. Everything seemed as we left it, but the storage cabinet had one door ajar. “Ash? Is anything missing from here?”

She joined me, opening the doors and examining the shelves. “It looks like everything is here.” She moved a few items, tidying up the space.

I peeked into the darkened storefront. The layer of dust on the counter said no one had been inside for weeks, yet a sinking sensation formed in my gut. Nothing was missing so far, but something felt wrong. Very wrong. “Shade, Miles, check the basement storage and meet us upstairs.”

“On it,” Miles said.

“Do you sense any beasties in our midst?” I headed for the stairs, pausing on the first step.

Chaos inhaled, stilling as he sent out his demonic feelers. “Nothing of my kind. I don’t sense anything from across the veil.”

My heart joined my sinking stomach, roiling into a tangled mess of dread. “Boston. Mayhem. They tried to find his skull before.” I darted up the stairs.

I’d left the skull on my nightstand for anyone brave enough to break in to steal. With Higgins on my back to hurry up and bust his “ghost,” I hadn’t bothered with a ward or even a hiding place.

If someone had stolen my demon, we’d be screwed.

I ignored the partially open drawers in the kitchen and barreled through the living room. Stopping in my doorway, I gasped at the sight, my roiling innards twisting and tumbling, taking the blood from my head with them as they threatened to splatter on the floor.

“Mayhem.” My voice barely registered in my ears as I dropped to my knees. “I’m so sorry.”

His skull lay in pieces on the hardwood. Someone had smashed him to bits and left the fragments for me to find as a big ol’ eff you.

Pressure built in the back of my eyes, my throat thickening as I cradled the biggest piece in my hands, hoping for the not-unpleasant pinprick sensation to dance across my skin. I felt nothing but cool bone.

“Oh my goddess.” Ash grabbed an empty shoe box from my closet and helped me gather the pieces. “What happened?”

“I don’t know.” I counted twenty-three fragments as we added them to the box.

“Someone does not want my brother to reform.” Chaos went to my dresser and rummaged through the open drawers, pushing my clothes aside. “The amulet isn’t here. Did you move it?”

I opened the nightstand drawer and held up the container. “It’s here.”

Chaos pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes in confusion. “Did the fae hit you in the head?”

Ash’s expression matched his. “That’s your vibrator, Em.”

“No, this is my vibrator.” I held up the device in question. “This is an amulet with a cloaking spell.” I returned them both to the drawer and closed it.

My sister nodded her approval. “Smart. Nobody would mess with that.”

Chaos raised his brow. “I suppose not.”

I picked up the box o’ bones and sat on my bed, holding it in my lap. My lower lip started to tremble for some goddess-knew-why reason, so I bit it. My mind reeled. Who could have known the skull was here? The only people I’d told were the ones who’d been with me all morning.

I took a piece of skull from the box, running my finger over the jagged edge. “Can he still reform? We have to bring him back. We can’t do this without him.”

And I suddenly missed the big beast. Sure, he drove me batty and needled me every chance he got, but I wouldn’t wish an eternity in the dark prison on anyone.

If I were honest, I’d admit I kinda liked our banter.

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