Page 68 of Sugar, Spice, and Magical Midlife

I arched a brow. “And?”

Her shoulders fell. “And they were killed in a car crash. The explosion incinerated their bodies.”

I swallowed, my stomach churning when I remembered passing the burned-out shell of a car on the freeway. “Oh. I’m sorry.”

“We sent our best agents in search of you,” she continued. “They said they almost had you, but you used a concealment spell.”

“I thought they were succubi.” The least they could’ve done was identify themselves before following us. Then again, I would’ve probably hidden from them, anyway.

“And our text messages to Ethyl didn’t go through,” she said. “The succubi put hexes on your phones.”

I gasped.

“Don’t worry,” she continued. “Our agents removed the hexes when you were at the hostel.”

What? I didn’t remember agents coming into our room. “Your agents?”

She crooked a smile. “Their methods are a little unorthodox, but they get the job done.”

And then it hit me. “The gnomes!”

She nodded. “We told them to debug all the electronics. Sorry about that other thing they kept.” There was no mistaking the gleam in her eyes or the humor in her voice. “I can have them return it.”

Ugh. I wished I had Ethyl’s ability to miniaturize, so I could flutter between the couch cushions and never come out. “No, thanks.”

“We’re just glad you’re safe now.” She nodded toward my son, who was still playing his wizarding game. “Once Des helps us find the nest, we can finally destroy the succubi.”

I balled up my fists. “Absolutely not!”

“Luciella,” she pleaded, “we can’t find it without him. Their nest is heavily warded with disorientation and concealment spells.” She cast another look in Des’s direction. “Not even the most powerful witches among us can break through their wards, but a phoenix should be able to get through.”

“No.” I slipped my hand into my pocket, grabbing hold of my wand. “My son is not getting involved in this, and that’s final.”

Her gaze traveled to my hand in my pocket, and an understanding passed between us. She knew I was prepared to fight for my son by any means necessary.

Her features fell, her voice dropping to a somber whisper. “Then they will keep hunting you until they kill you and take your son.”

“There has to be another way to find them.”

She threw up her hands with a groan. “You think we haven’t been trying for years?”

“Why don’t you just follow my grandmother’s advisor,” I said, unable to keep the rattle from my voice. No way in nine hells were they using my son. “She lives at the succubi house. She might even be the queen of the succubi.”

“Yes, we know aboutSignoraOscura, and she is the succubi queen. What part of disorientation spells don’t you understand?” She rolled her eyes to the darkened ceiling. “My agents get disoriented when they get within a few feet of her.”

Merlin’s balls! “So you’ve known that a succubus is controlling your mother?”

“For a while now. It’s why the Tribunal can’t be trusted and why the Insurgi were forced to go underground.SignoraOscura became your grandmother’s advisor after your grandfather died. I tried to warn her, but she refused to listen. She’s weaved a powerful spell over not just my mother’s mind, but over all the Tribunal.”

“How?” I asked.

She shook her head. “As a queen, her magic is far stronger than the average succubus, but all succubi have advanced over the years and have gotten better at hiding their demons.”

“Crud.” I wondered if that was why I hadn’t seen red in Antonio’s eyes and how he had so easily disoriented me.

“Another reason we need Des to help us find the nest,” she continued.

No. No. No!I shuddered while remembering those hooded figures armed with wands. He wasn’t going anywhere near the succubi ever again. “Why can’t I help you find it? I’ve found it before. I’m sure I can retrace my steps.” I’d gladly volunteer to go in my son’s place. I’d walk through fire to keep him safe.

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