Page 76 of The Misfit Mage and His Devilish Desires

“If the rumors are true, you found your way into my private studies on more than one occasion.”

“Idle gossip.” Mora ignored us all, staring at her reflection.

“Much like the rumors you were, in fact, a demon.”

Mora popped her lips a few times. “I swear, the things people will lie about. It’s criminal.”

“Mora, did you steal Abe’s research?” I asked.

“What part of idle gossip did you not understand? I can’t be responsible for every rumor.”

I sighed. “Those books might have the intel we need to repair the Diabolic orbs.”

“Oh. Why didn’t you say that?” Mora kicked her legs off the counter and strutted around to the back. “Pretty sure they’re in Kell’s Spring Fling hat.”

Mora rifled through the box of witches’ hats and grabbed one covered bright pastels.

“Why exactly were you stealing Abe’s research to begin with?” I asked.

“I told you, Bezzy,” Mora said, rummaging through the hat and throwing Kell’s trinkets onto the floor. “I always keep tabs on those studying Diabolics.”

“Yes, those wild rumors claimed she even tried to break into my archives once or twice.”

“Might’ve been curious to see behind the curtain.”

“Certainly. It was first how Morax…sorry, Mora landed on my radar. Learning the witch Mayfaire fancied a certain Diabolic artifact in my possession,” Abe said, so smug and arrogant. “Not that she ever came close to it.”

Mora’s eyes flitted emerald green momentarily, proving Abe had even weaseled his way under her skin, so much so her demon essence glowed beneath her flesh. Once the aggravation passed and the green of her veins disappeared, she resumed her search for the stolen books.

I simply smiled. Mora cared. Even if she pretended otherwise. At this point, it didn’t matter what Abe said or did. He was dead and gone and would be forgotten as quickly as he’d arrived.

“Have fun dealing with Abraham.” I used my tails to lead Weather out. “Gonna take the dog for a run. He’s been stuck pint-sized for far too long and needs to properly stretch his muscles.”

“Something you can’t do because you’re dead,” Mora quickly spat at Abe as if she needed recompense for his cutting comments.

“Oh, Beelzebub. I didn’t hurt your feelings, did I?”

“Have a fun rest of your afterlife, Abe. May your spirit shuffle off quickly so I can enjoy my eternity.” I waved goodbye to Wally and headed out the door.

“I’ll come find you when we have answers.” Wally squeezed the gem. “If we get answers.”

“The confidence. It looks good on you, Wally. Shame you never found it when it mattered, when you had career prospects,” Abe taunted—taunted because he was dead, and all he could do now was gloat.

I could strike his spirit, send him off to nothingness, return his soul to whatever peaceful slumber he received despite being an utter cunt, but impulsivity would only harm Wally, myself, and the rest of the mortal world.

I flew alongside Weather for the evening, hurling fireballs for him to catch until the giant slobbering beast panted with each step. We managed a few laps from one end of the Diabolic Oasis to the other before I wore the hound out, so we casually strolled back to the Well of Wonders. Not that I had any intention of returning until they were done with Abe’s intel. But if I didn’t get Weather somewhere to rest soon, I’d be stuck carrying him over my shoulder all the way home. Not a hiking trip I intended on repeating for myself.

Cloudy lowered his huge head, whimpering and attempting to rub his head against mine.

“Don’t even think about it.” I pointed. “Size.”

Weather bapped his collar, enacting the sigils that Wally had placed. It shrank the Cerberus to his pup size, making it easier to give Cloudy the pets he wanted. Wally had created incantationsto augment Weather’s size for any and all occasions. And honestly, as fun as it was having a big train of a beast to terrorize locals, I did not approve of his kisses. The big slobbery beast always demanded kisses. Well, two of his three heads. Stormy was the only semi-decent one among them.

“Good boy.” I summoned a fireball, which Sunny immediately went to snatch up. “You’re not getting anything yet.”

Weather bounced on each of his feet, moving in place with excitement as all six of his fiery eyes locked onto the fireball between my palms.

I twisted the black flames with a mix of rocks I grabbed. “Heel.”

---