Page 109 of Married to the Devil

“What if the child you have isn’t a gargoyle?” she asks, and I silently choke. What does she know about Ben? There are tears in her eyes, but she ruthlessly wipes them away. “What if what happened to me happens to you? Will your husband be thrilled to raise a witch?”

I breathe and try not to show the relief on my face. I’m not ashamed of Ben being in our bed, but if even my mother knew, we’d have trouble.

“I trust Stoneheart,” I say. There’s no telling if an heir is even possible at this point. A fact that makes me itchy.

Her worry dries and anger flashes. “Trusting men has never gotten us very far.”

I shake my head, and even though each issue she raises pokes at my own insecurities, I don’t regret what I’ve done. Even if it has hurt her.

“I’m sorry, Mom.”

She continues as if I haven’t spoken because my apology doesn’t make a difference. “And the shifters! They only respond to hierarchy. Do you think they will accept your presence over Frank?”

Frank Leonid. Brother to a man who sold his own people to pay gambling debts. Ally to whatever fae lord is buying said people, and all-around shitty person.

She thinks that I can’t be a better leader than him?

Now I’m angry.

“How could you—” she starts, but I cut in. If she’s not willing to listen, this conversation isn’t going to do anything other than dig the divide between us deeper.

“This is my territory, and they are my people,” I say. “I get it. I hurt you by keeping you in the dark about this because I knew you’d never agree.”

Mom purses her lips and a little part of me dies to be losing the approval of my biggest champion.

I soldier on, “And this might be too much for you to take right now, but I can do this.”

I need to do this.

And no naysayers, not even my mother, are going to stop me.

35

BEN

The shop isan oddity in this modern age. It doesn’t try to hide itself as anything other than what it is—a place of magic and growing things. The air is humid and what shelves don’t house labeled bottles of every shape and size, carry plants. The scent is an unlikely mix of green, sharp citrus, and rot.

The ambiance is more similar to what lore would dictate of a witch’s hut in the woods than a shop just a block off main street, but perhaps there are spells in place to keep humans out.

Or maybe the proprietress doesn’t mind regular people getting a taste of magic. After all, no one would believe the potions for sale actually work.

Many who are in the know about magic wouldn’t suspect that this potion master is the most ingenious I’ve ever known. She wouldn’t want the word to get out. Zena McFee cares little for having accolades or being in demand—that would leave less time for her research.

“We aren’t open today.” The woman’s voice that calls from the back lacks any hospitality that someone who runs a store should have. She’s much too prickly for that.

“It’s me,” I call back, locking the shop door for privacy.

Zena leans into sight from the backroom, her frown clearing when she sees me. “Oh, I didn’t expect you so soon.”

“You said you could have it ready.” I’d made my way here as soon as I could, leaving Stella to her workshop with Connors. Her mood had been dark and snappy after the meeting with her mother. She refuses to talk about it.

I don’t know how to fix the family issue she’s having, but I can put my skill of finding solutions to work in the meantime. I’d messaged Stoneheart a warning about Stella’s state and a hint about my errand.

“It’s ready.” Zena waves me to the back. “I just didn’t anticipate your urgency. If you were anyone else, I wouldn’t hand something over like this so easily.”

“Not even for how much you’re charging?” I try and tease, entering the back of the shop. The clutter here is immense. It would be one thing if it were only supplies, but I see at least three different experiments going under glass. The piece of crusty bread dipped in green is the least offensive, and what looks to be teeth floating in amber the most.

Zena only brings experiments to the shop that need constant attention. The cottage she has in the woods is packed with her full collection. I’d only been there once on an errand for Kalos and have no wish to repeat the experience.

---