Page 100 of The Misfit Mage and His Darling Demon

“Anyone who pledges fealty, of course. Besides, I’ve made a lot of friends over the centuries and I’m tired of keeping to the shadows when I play with them.” Mora sauntered toward the navigation system. “I know plenty of people who’d kill for the privacy I’m offering. Hell, I know plenty who’ve killed simply to maintain their privacy.”

“How would this work, exactly?” I asked.

Bez scowled at me, offended I’d even consider it when our magical house was apparently at stake. Truthfully, I planned to shoot down whatever Mora and Kell proposed, but it was best I understood the ins and outs of the plan before I disassembled Kell’s tinkering. There were still Diabolics locked away in the engine room, trapped and fueling the magical cloaking.

“So glad you asked.” Kell strutted, showmanship clearly important. “I’ll be taking the magic that cuts through dimensions, weaves around realities, creates its own pathways, and altering it into a specific transfixed location. That’ll expand and explode around the wilderness, careful not to disturb anything thanks to trans-dimensional frequencies.”

“Yes, I know how pocket portals work,” I said. “I did work at the Magus Estate and have clearance to the Dimensional Atrium there.”

“Exactly,” Mora said. “Who didn’t have access? This will be unlike those Fae gifts. It’ll be undetectable to anyone whatsoever thanks to the—”

“Diabolic essence,” I finished. “What will happen to that once you create your cloaked kingdom?”

“That’s the drawback.” Mora gestured to Kell.

“It’s sort of a one-shot. Which I’ll have to get exactly right on the first go,” she explained. “Releasing the energy to create a pocket realm will completely eradicate the Diabolic essence we currently have, cementing a perfect veil which will hide all forms of tracking and detection. Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out how to keep the essence intact. It apparently requires a more delicate, patient process or whatever. With the Diabolic essence obliterated, it’ll prevent the traveling functions in the villa or the city, which I really wanted to keep.”

“No. It’s perfect.” I smiled, grateful the locked away Diabolics would find the same peace in oblivion as Agares when the final pieces of their essence were destroyed along with the villa.

“Perfect?” Bez pulled me aside, talking in a hush. “This house is perfect. Perfect for us. We can see the world and no one can see us. All the resources you could ever ask for are connected by all the various layers of dimensional weaving throughout this home. You realize by stripping the villa of all its magic, all those divided sections will collide, completely crashing into each other and destroying this home. There’ll be nothing left.”

“I’m fine with that. I don’t need this place. We can get our own place. Assuming there will be homes available.”

“I’ve got the best architects and construction team money can buy,” Mora said. “Besides, the two Diabolics ruling this kingdom will require very special manors, exuding our glory, not something as pedestrian as what the pretentious, former baron built.”

“If it’s something you want, I can try,” Bez said to me, gruff and unenthused.

“Come on, Bezzy. You know I always get what I want.” Mora stepped in close, raking her fingernails down his blazer and dress shirt. “And what I want is a kingdom for us: the Demon and her Wicked Witch, alongside the Devil and his Misfit Mage.”

“I’m no longer a devil.”

“Something I would really like to revisit because I feel late to the party and like the invitation I got said casual, then everyone showed up chic.”

“Yes, yes, dearest.” Mora waved her hand. “You can yell at me later.”

“Oh, there will be more than yelling. We’re talking spankings. Lots of reprimands about honesty.”

I scrunched my face at Kell’s comment and Mora’s delighted smirk.

“Bezzy, nothing has to change. No one has to know.”

“Fine. Whatever. You all do what you want.” Bez zipped away.

“I’m gonna go talk to him.” I nodded toward his fading blur. “You two do whatever you two have planned. Just promise not to destroy the place while we’re all still inside it. Especially with Tony and Weather.”

Tony clacked his claws and Sunny yapped.

“I’d never do something so reckless.” Kell winked. “You should know me better than that by now.”

I chased after Bez, reaching the bedroom where he sat and sulked.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“It’s something.” I sat close to Bez, my thigh pressed against his.

“It’s a lot to consider, all changing so quickly.” He furrowed his brow. “And I knew she was up to something, which I should’ve paid attention to. Instead, I was distracted.”

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