Page 69 of Touch of Evil

I make a grab for the phone. Emme squirms away from me. For a little thing, she’s really slippery.

“A lot happened last night, Taran. More than I expected considering I was only going on a date.”

“No kidding,” Taran replies. “Look, I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. All of us are. Celia felt so bad, she and Aric are en route home.”

Taran’s attention shifts. “Emme’s fine. She’s at Bren’s. You can go back to whatever messed up nursery rhyme you’re doing…What…Koda, calm down…Don’t you growl at me…We tell each other everything. Why does this shock you…Just, look, don’t wear that Little Bo Peep outfit around me…It’s disturbing…I don’t care what you do in your bedroom, I only care what I do in mine….okay, Jack and Jill then. Sorry, the dress threw me off…”

Taran returns to the call. “Damn, Koda is so sensitive. Hopefully, Shayna will sheer his ass or carry his bucket, whatever turns him on, so he’ll be less cranky. I haven’t slept much, but I’m pretty wired. I can come get you if you want.”

“No, thank you,” Emme replies. “I’m still worn out. Bren can just take me home later.”

“Okay, sweetie,” Taran says. “Whatever you want.”

“Taran, one more thing,” Emme says.

I shake my head.Don’t do it. Don’t tell her. I wanna live.

Emme pats my shoulder, speaking lightly into the phone. “Do you know what happened to the Lessers?”

“The fish and the ferret who invoked Mirror?” Taran asks.

“I believe Merche was a guinea pig,” Emme clarifies. “I spoke with Genevieve about giving them a chance, but I can’t be certain she will.”

“Well, Emme, let’s just say Genevieve did you a favor by not killing them. Had it been me pulling that crap, you know she would have come at me, wand and broomstick waving. From what Shayna said, Vieve changed the Lessers back to full humans. Vieve is returning them home for the local covens to deal with. It’s a smart move. It absolves Vieve of any guilt and forces the other head witches to apologize and make amends.”

“And amplifies Genevieve’s reputation as a just and strong leader,” Emme adds.

“Once more the great and powerful Genevieve comes out on top,” I say, chuckling.

Emme drums her fingers against my thigh. “Do you think the other head witches will kill Merche and Farrah?”

“I don’t think they can,” Taran says. “It will only make them look worse and Vieve better. My guess is they’ll have to work off their penance as servants for the next decade or so. It’ll suck, but it beats dying.”

Emme adjusts her position beside me. “I suppose. As much as they helped me, they do have a lot to account for.”

“Well, you hang with bitches, you’re going to get fleas. Hey, put Bren back on, will you?”

“He’s still here,” Emme says, her tender smile lifting.

“Bren, thanks for taking care of Emme,” Taran says. “We knew you wouldn’t let anything happen to our girl.”

I rub my face.I took care of her, all right.

“Yeah, dude,” Shayna chimes into the phone. “You’re the best.”

From the way Emme was screaming, I sure was.

“No problem,” I mutter.

Emme returns the phone to the base and looks up at me. Her hair is wild and her smile seductive. As the sheet tents on my lap, I grab her and pull her on top of me.

The moment my mouth touches hers and my hands get to wandering, she moans.

Screw it. I’m already in trouble. Might as well make the best of it.

Chapter Nineteen

Bren

---