Page 37 of Signed in Incubus

“They’d better not. And I’ll pay for any damages. If I don’t get carried away by that troll at the end of all this.”

“If we could get enough energy together, we could form a portal and get out of here. But I’m too exhausted.”

So was I. Portals were notoriously energy-intensive. They were one of the hardest spells I knew, and I’d exhausted myself earlier today using one to move my stuff.

My phone rang from on top of my suitcase, and I went to pick it up.

“Prax!”

Relief flooded me. He could help! At this point, I was willing to accept him as #theperfectman if it meant everyone else in the parking lot just went away for good, especially the troll. I didn’t mean to be species-ist, but I could swear I could smell him from here.

I explained to Prax what was happening just as the first punch was thrown outside the window: the fight was on.

“Griselda,” Prax said, “do you think you can relax your wards for a moment to let me in?”

“Maybe. Give me a second.”

She went to the couch, grabbed a hand-crocheted afghan that had been tossed over the back, and wrapped it around her body. Then she disappeared into her bedroom and came back with not one but an armful of stuffed animals as well as Triscuit, her parrot, who now sat perched on her head. Finally, she collected a stack of books and crystals and other things scattered around her home, sat in the middle of her couch, and piled everything on top of herself.

This might have looked weird to the average person, but I knew what she was doing. Griselda recharged with magical things and artifacts. These things didn’t look special, but they were brimming with magic, some because she loved them so much that they had been infused with her own magic over the years, and others because they were inherently charged. And Triscuit, of course, was her familiar and helped her channel her energy when needed.

She gave me the thumbs up.

“Okay. Ready, Prax?” I asked.

“Ready.”

I did a countdown to minimize the time her wards would be weak. “Three. Two. One.”

At first, nothing happened. Then, a long second later, Prax popped into the room.

“You’re here!” I squealed. I leaped at him and threw my arms around his neck.

Chapter 18

Penny

Whatever panic I hadbeen feeling just seconds ago disappeared the moment I was in Prax’s arms. As cliché as it sounded, I knew everything would be all right now. I wasn’t sure if it was the love-finder spell’s doing or because I knew he’d do all he could to help me, but I didn’t care right now.

He seemed just as happy to see me, enveloping me in his arms. But when I stepped away and he got a good look at my face, his smile turned to a frown.

“You’ve overexerted yourself,” he growled sharply. “I’ve seen witches do this before. It’s dangerous. Never do it again.”

For a second, I felt a flash of anger that he was telling me what to do, but then I realized his words stemmed from worry and not the desire to control me. Gigi and Lily were right: Prax did care about me.

“I feel fine.” I gave his hand a small squeeze. “Tired, but fine. Gigi’s the one who’s over-extended.” I looked at my friend, who was on the couch surrounded by her possessions and with a bird on her head.

Prax looked over at my friend. “Hey, Triscuit!”

Triscuit bobbed up and down and replied, “Triscuit wanna biscuit!”

That had Prax grinning. He turned to my friend. “You look exhausted too.”

“I’ll be fine,” Gigi insisted. “I just need a shit ton of food, some time with all my things, and quality sleep.”

“But you’re still maintaining the wards,” I said.

“Yes, but the wizard isn’t trying to get in anymore.”

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