Page 15 of Signed in Incubus

Yay for epiphanies! Still didn’t solve the problem of where to film, though.

The door to Griselda’s apartment opened, and she stepped in. I looked at the clock. Wow! It was late afternoon already.

“Did you get everything done?” She waved her hand, and her makeup vanished from her face.

“Yeah. What I could, anyway.”

“Great! So, about your sexy incubus suitor…”

I’d given her a TLDR rundown of the situation before she’d gone back downstairs earlier. “He’s not mine.”

“The bindings on his arms say otherwise.”

“I told you, it was an accident. I thought the spell was just going to help me meet the guy in question, not have an incubus bound by magic appear in my living room.”

“I offered to see if I could remove the bindings—”

“Oh, good! Because I don’t know how. None of my books had anything on it. You know, considering it’s illegal to have anyone bound in the first place and all.”

“He didn’t want them removed.”

That took me aback. “He didn’t?”

“Nope. Which makes me wonder if maybe they aren’t what we think they are.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure yet. Just got a gut feeling.” She plopped down on the dark red velvet couch next to me. “But thereisone thing I’m sure of.”

“Which is?”

“Prax isn’t working for your dad. He does odd jobs for Desmon.”

“As in the Dragon of Darlington?”

“Yup. But apparently, his contract is coming up. It’s safe for you to let him know about your little side gig, is what I’m saying.”

I relaxed. “Great! That’s one thing I can stop worrying about. Oh, and you know how you asked me yesterday if I’m staying here in town? I’ve decided. I am.”

“That’s amazeballs! About time, too. You should’ve come to Darlington with me and Lily after graduation.”

She was right, I should have. But instead, I’d moved back home for another decade, hoping that our little dysfunctional family would become more functional with time.

I’d learned over the years that well-to-do didn’t necessarily mean happy. It only meant we could hide our problems underneath nice things. Problems like Dad cheating with his secretary and then having to pay her a ton of hush money when she threatened to go to the press after Dad refused to leave Mom for her.

Instead of divorcing his cheating ass like she should have, Mom pretended it didn’t happen and focused on our family image instead, making sure we looked so perfect that no one would suspect a thing.

I was done playing that stupid game.

“Well, better late than never. It’s my life, and I’m officially taking charge. Right now.” Saying the words out loud felt good.

“Atta girl! Tonight, we celebrate your newfound freedom.”

“We still on for 9 PM?”

“Yup. You, me, and Lily.”

“Aww, just like old times.” I was already feeling better about my situation. Maybe everything did happen for a reason. “Thanks again for letting me hide out in your space today. I was being overly cautious, I guess.”

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