Page 7 of Spit

As a witch, my internal clock tended towards being a night owl, which fit in with most of our supernatural clientele. One thing New Orleans had in abundance was all manner of spooks, ghouls, and magic.

When I was a child, I hated my null magic. No one wanted to be around someone that made them feel powerless. Magic was like breath, and my null abilities had no qualms with stealing from anyone that got close enough. The parents of the coven had kept their children away from me.

Though my twin Rose shared my face, we had experienced two very different lives.

Rose was the only person that wasn’t affected by my abilities. In fact, hers were the opposite. My magic stole from others, but Rose could make someone more powerful by being around them. Her magic leaked out of her and into the world around her, making everything brighter. It was why she liked to grow plants—with her gifts, she could make even the most fragile plant grow in the dead of winter with snow on the ground.

As I headed for the second floor, my heeled boots clacked on the metal steps.

I took my messenger bag off my shoulder as I strode into our pokey office. The moment I opened the door to the office, EDM music greeted me, along with the sight of my business partner Kailee. She had decided to hold an impromptu rave at her desk. She held two ballpoint pens in her hands, shaking them like glow sticks.

I didn’t recognize the song, but I was more of a jazz woman than a rave bunny.

Kailee still had hair glitter glued to her middle parting, the turquoise stark against her raven black hair. Aside from the glitter and the proud display of Mardi-gras beads that she hung from her monitor, her outfit was the perfect amount of chic and business casual. Kailee turned down the music when she saw me.

“How many hours of sleep did you get last night?” I wondered as I took off my scarf and dumped it on my desk.

“Who says I slept?” Kailee grinned.

I snorted. “I wish I could function like you.”

“How was your exorcism?” Her stiletto nails clacked on the keyboard as she typed. “When you said you were going to be late, I thought you were going on a hot date for a hot second. The best way to get over a growly werewolf is to get under someone else.”

“Ha.” My laugh was without humor. “I don’t even want to open that can of worms. Dating is not on my agenda right now. I’m busy. Not to mention my pesky curse that would turn a casual fling intoJoe from You.”

“I love that show!” Kailee grinned. “Curse aside, how did the exorcism go? It was your neighbor, right?”

“Yessir.” I was aware of how southern I sounded, especially compared to Kailee, who had managed to dull down her Louisiana drawl until it was barely noticeable. “It was a poltergeist. Nasty, but easy to get rid of.” I continued.

“You had a call while you were out,” Kailee informed me.

I cocked my head to the side, my brows raised in question.

“Maverick called a few times.” Kailee shot me a sympathetic look. “Are you sure he isn’t cursed? He’s not getting the hint.”

“You’d know if he was cursed. Believe me.” I rolled my eyes. “We never did the deed, but I heard Mav has a micropenis anyway.” I lied.

“Your mama is rolling in her grave when you talk like that.” Kailee’s dark eyes twinkled.

“My mama ain’t dead.” I shook my head. “Besides, I shouldn’t date.”

“Because of your entrancing entrance?” Kailee bit back a smile.

I rolled my eyes but said nothing.

Kailee, determined to get me to crack a smile, continued. “A case of the olecompellingcunt?”

I let out a low groan. “That word of the day calendar was worth the money. I just never expected to have it turned against me.”

My pocket vibrated, and I pulled my phone out to check it. Somehow the device had managed to turn itself back on. I would have freaked out, but when dealing with demons, nothing surprised me anymore. The screen flashed with the words ‘unknown number’. I sent it to voicemail and put my cell back in my pocket.

“Mr. Bub,” I answered Kailee’s unspoken question.

Kailee’s eyes widened. “The demon king?”

Kailee Gordon didn’t have a drop of magical blood in her body, but she knew about my demonic troubles.

I nodded silently. “It’s that time of the month.”

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