Page 88 of Sugar, Spice, and Magical Midlife

“Shu has been locked in his lamp since 1986,” I said as a way of explaining. “It’s a long story, but he was being held captive by the succubi.”

Understanding dawned in Ric’s eyes as he held a hand out to Shu. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Shu looked ready to buckle under the weight of Ric’s handshake as he rasped, “Me, too.”

I pulled Ric away from Shu, motioning to the minotaur whose dildo horns nearly scraped the top of my bakery ceiling. “And this is Frederica.” I shot Ethyl a nervous look. Knowing she wasn’t the commitment type, I never knew what she wanted me to call her lovers. “Ethyl’s good friend. She helped us sneak into the Tribunal the first time.”

Her meaty paw eclipsed Ric’s hand as they shook. “Thank you for your help.”

She cast Ethyl a loving look. “I’ll do anything formeine blume.”

Ethyl’s cheeks colored as she handed Des a juice box before getting drinks for the rest of us. “Something to get the taste out.”

I ran my tongue over the roof of my gritty mouth before popping a straw in the box. “Thanks.” I frowned at the tear in her wing. She wouldn’t be able to fly until I mended it.

“What about our things?” Ethyl asked.

“I would love some new clothes,” Shu said, tossing his jacket onto the counter with a dramatic flare. “Just drop me off at the mall. We’ll hit Contempo Casuals and The Limited.”

“A mall?” Ethyl scrunched her brow. “Do we even have a mall?”

“Oh, Ethyl.” Shu laughed. “I adore you, but you’re such a dweeb.”

She wrinkled her nose. “A what?”

I grimaced while motioning for her to turn around. “We’ll have to get our things later. I’m not going back to Rome anytime soon.” I wasn’t about to transport back to the Insurgi headquarters, especially not after my aunt deceived me. I no longer trusted her. I had my phone and wallet, but most importantly, I had my family and friends. I sat Ethyl down and waved my wand over her wing until a scar healed over the tear.

Des took off his headphones, giving me an expectant look. “I want pizza.”

“Okay.” Ethyl jumped to her feet, her wings buzzing. “We have a few frozen ones I can warm up.”

Ric looked out the front window, squinting at the night sky. “We need to get out of here before they come looking for us.”

By they, I knew he could’ve meant the Tribunal, the Insurgi, or even the succubi. “Do you think it’s true, that the succubi’s children will come after us?” I asked him.

He grimaced. “They’re already hunting us.”

“He’s right,” Frederica said. “The queen hasn’t left Rome in years, which means another succubus framed Ric.”

I wrung my fingers together. “What do we do?”

“We hide at my place, and we prepare to fight them.” Ric looked far too sexy as he dragged his hands through his hair, his arms flexing with the movement.

“I’ll pack up the food,” Ethyl said with an excited squeal.

Hide at his place? So much for reopening my bakery. I could think of worse fates than unlimited use of the movie room, hot tub, and pool, though I did worry things would be awkward with all of us there. And then there was the issue of the sleepingarrangements. Oh, Goddess, my stomach churned. I supposed it beat being turned into goo by a succubus.

“You want all of us to go to your house?” I said, motioning to my motley crew.

“It’s big enough to accommodate all of us.” He shrugged, acting as if it was no big deal. Not every guy would agree to house his lover’s autistic son, retro fairy godfather, horny cousin, and her dildo-horned lover, plus a naughty crapping dragon. Talk about dating someone with baggage. I had a whole airline terminal of crazy carry-ons.

I took his hand in mine while looking into his big, golden-rimmed eyes. “Are you sure?”

He cupped my cheek, a low purr erupting from his throat. “Of course,mi amor.”

My knees weakened, and heat flooded my body as I fought the urge to swoon in his arms like the women in my mom’s favorite classic movies.

He flashed his fangs. “I’ll strengthen the wards when we get there.”

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