Page 27 of Sugar, Spice, and Magical Midlife

“Have her close early.” He nibbled my ear, his deep purr stirring the embers of desire. How could I be horny again so soon?

I rested the back of my head against the cool tile when he feasted on my neck. “And do what with all the pastries?”

“I’ll buy them,” he rasped while trailing kisses down my neck.

I dragged my hands across his scalp. This cat sure knew how to kiss.

“All of them?” I asked on a rush of air, then I sucked in a gasp when he grabbed my breast, his thumb flicking across my nipple.

“Every last one.” He cupped my face and kissed me so thoroughly, so completely, I melted in his arms while my sex swelled to the point of pain.

So mesmerized was I by his intoxicating kiss, that I almost didn’t hear the banging outside the shower. I groaned in protest when he broke the kiss.

A low growl erupted from his chest, making my lady parts thump, thump, thump. He looked up at the ceiling with a scowl. “Not now, Bob.”

“Who’s Bob?” I asked.

“Hang on.” He squeezed my arms, and in one fluid movement, slid out of me and had me on my feet. “Someone’s here.”

That fire in my veins turned to lead at the look of panic in his eyes. “Who?”

He opened the glass shower door and snatched two robes from the rack, handing me one and slipping into the other. “Stay hidden.”

My heart took off at a race and my knees weakened as I cinched the belt on my robe. “W-what?”

A loud bang, a flash of light, an agonized roar, and suddenly I was on my back, too stunned to move other than to inhale shallow breaths as water pelted my chest. I heard voices, though I couldn’t make out anything through the steam that fogged the shower. What was happening? Had the succubus found me? Goddess, no! I couldn’t die like this! Who would take care of Des?

Another feline roar, this one ending on a whimper. Had the succubus killed Ric? A blade tore through my heart at the thought. Footsteps filled the bathroom, and I was still paralyzed, which I now realized wasn’t from shock, but a stunning spell.

Holy troll turds!

Someone came into the shower. I caught sight of dark pants stepping over me and heard the water turn off. The steam cleared and I blinked up at none other than Gus the troll.

We were so hexed.

IF STRIGA HAD A KRYPTONITE, it would be Sirenum coral, found only among the Sirenum Scopuli Islands near Capri, Italy. The islands were spellcast, so that they were not only naked to the human eye, but humans unknowingly steered around them.Striga also steered clear of them, and not just because of the man-eating sirens, but because the islands were infested with coral that had the power to defuse a witch’s magic. Centuries ago, some brave and foolish striga had managed to escape the islands with a whole shipload of the coral. Ever since then, striga have been using it against each other to neutralize their magic. It only took a sliver of the stone, and the spark in our veins went out like a bucket of water to flame.

That coral was now in the bindings wrapped around my wrists. I was sure of it, for after Gus had tied me up, the most miserable, hollow feeling came over me, as if not only had all magic been sucked from my veins, but all happiness, too. And because the stun spell was still in effect, I couldn’t beg Gus to remove the bindings. Gus’s goons, two beefy Anubis, enchanted with glamour so that they appeared human to husks, dragged me outside the shower, propping me against the bathroom wall beside Ric.

Drool dripped down my chin as I stared at the mythical canines’ pointy ears that nearly scraped the top of the ceiling, How had they found Ric? Most striga who were worth a salt had wards on their homes so that other striga couldn’t find them unless they were invited. The wards would literally disorient uninvited witches who tried to find the home, causing them to wander in circles. I imagine Ric being an outlaw, he would’ve had several wards protecting his house. Yet, the stupid slug of a striga, Gus, had found him. Maybe the pygmy troll wasn’t as dumb as I’d believed. Nah. There had to be another reason.

“What are you doing?” Ric ground out, sounding like he had swallowed a mouthful of gravel.

Gus stood over us, crossing his stubby arms. “Ricardo Romero, you’re under arrest.”

Under arrest! No! One little toe began to move, and then one pinky finger. The stun spell was wearing off! If I could just getmy tongue to work, I’d give Gus a piece of my mind, and then I’d plead with him to show us mercy.

“What for?” Ric slurred.

“Let’s see.” Gus held up his hand, counting down on his fingers. “For failing to register with the Tribunal, for the brutal killing of a husk in 1945, oh, and for the murder of Lenny Ledbetter.”

My mind raced. He’d killed a husk? No, two husks, one being the human who’d eaten Ric’s cinnamon roll. Even though I hardly knew Ric, I knew he wouldn’t kill the annoying little husk over that. Would he?

Ric let out a groan. “Lenny’s dead?”

“Wow.” Gus clucked his tongue. “Your shock is almost convincing.”

Ric let out a snarl that sounded too human, and that’s when I remembered Sirenum coral prevented shifting, too. “I didn’t do it.”

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