Page 36 of Signed in Incubus

“Eee! They must be fuming!” Lily looked positively giddy. “But I need to get going. I haven’t done groceries, and there’s nothing but sad, forgotten vegetables in my fridge.”

I promised to keep her updated on the situation, and she left. Gigi went downstairs to help her Sunday staff, and I sat down with Triscuit and my laptop to start my search for a new apartment.

I had simple criteria: decent neighborhood, affordable, and available right now. I didn’t plan to stay there long, just until I figured my life out. I found several possibilities and called them to arrange viewings. My first one was for tomorrow morning.

With that out of the way, I went onto my website to check for any new orders. A few had come in, but definitely not enough income to live on. I’d need to film and put out more tutorials soon.

I knew that, realistically, my side gig wouldn’t be enough to keep me going indefinitely, and I needed to find a new full-time job, with or without a reference from my old company. But that would have to wait until after I figured out the spell thing and my housing situation.

Gigi’s apartment door opened, and she poked her head in, her eyes wide, and she looked frazzled. Panicked was a look I rarely saw from her. She was usually the calm and collected one. Panicking was me and Lily’s job.

Sensing her distress, Triscuit, who had stayed out to keep me company today, flew over to her.

“What happened?”

“We need to go. Now. I don’t think I can hold them off for much longer.” She went to the windows and peeked out.

I followed her and did the same.

Shit.

There, outside her coffee shop, was a giant, humanoid…something. His bulging muscles rippled under brownish-green skin. Long, tangled hair hung down untidily from his head. His thick fingers ended in sharp, claw-like, dirt-caked nails. His yellow eyes gleamed with malice, and he held an axe in his hands, the handle wrapped in brown leather. He stomped hisenormous feet hard, and the very concrete of the parking lot cracked under his weight.

“Is that the troll from the dumpster behind the club?” I whispered.

“Yup, that’s him.”

The troll hadn’t come alone. Behind him was the shifter from the other day, who had brought a few of his wolf buddies with him. Grabby McGrabberson the Wizard was there, too, with a bunch of goblin friends. There were about a half dozen more groups besides, each one clearly led by some male I didn’t recognize.

“Fuck! I guess Prax claiming me didn’t work.”

“Unless he’s doing it wrong.”

“Oh, trust me, he does it right.”

Gigi rolled her eyes. “No. I mean, he claimed you verbally, and you guys did the deed, but what if the spell wants more?”

“Like what? Getting married?” I balked when I realized that might just be it. “No way. I’m not going to marry an incubus I just met.”

“Maybeyouhave to claimhim?”

“But what if that doesn’t work either? I really need to figure this shit out. I’m in way over my head.” I looked out the window again nervously. “Where are your employees?” I would never forgive myself if they got hurt because of me.

“Nick and Tiff just went home, so they’re safe. And I managed to close up the shop and pull down the shutters. My wards are up, but I’m tired from earlier, and that wizard is working on knocking them down.”

“I can try to help, but I’m low on firepower too.”

“No, save your energy. You might need it if shit hits the fan.”

“You don’t considerthisto beshit hitting the fan?” I asked a little more shrilly than I wanted.

I peeked out the curtain again. “I don’t think the rest of them are trying to break into the building. It looks more like they’re about to face off against each other.”

“Ya. They look like they’re about to fight. Maybe it’s some weird ritual where they think they must fight for your attention?”

“That’s so fucked up.”

“You’re going to go down in history as the witch who inspired an interdimensional war, and the battle is going to happen in my parking lot! Maybe some bard will write a saga about you.”

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