Page 26 of Dewitched

“Obviously,” Zolan drawled, “we have to find a key.” While a fierce fighter, the guy could be a bit too literal at times.

“Why? What key? What door?”

That was Breaker. Owen didn’t know if it was his real name, surname, or just a nickname, but it suited him. With a shorn head, numerous tattoos, and a permanent snarl on his mouth, he was easily the most brutal looking of the bunch.

While everyone argued about the meaning of the clue, Owen took the opportunity to look for his mate. He found him seated in a squat armchair, flipping through one of the dusty books. Which would have been fine if he had been enjoying it. Instead, the poor guy looked bored out of his fucking mind.

Sidling up behind him, he wound his arms around his mate’s neck and kissed the top of his head. “What are you reading?”

Fenix sighed and closed the cover. “No idea. It’s all in Latin.”

He chuckled and squeezed him a little tighter. “I know you hate this, but if you help, we might get out of here faster.”

With another deep sigh, Fenix reached over his head to ruffle Owen’s hair. “I’m sorry,talei.I shouldn’t ruin this for you.”

“You’re not ruining anything,” he assured him. “You might like it if you give it a chance, though. Besides, you’re the smartest person in the room. How are we supposed to do this without you?”

That finally got a laugh, and Fenix tilted his head back for a chaste kiss. “You’re a manipulative little shit.”

“Did it work?”

“Absolutely.”

The group were still bickering amongst themselves when they rejoined them, though Seneca kept trying to take control. Too bad she didn’t appear to be getting anywhere.

“We’re not looking for a key,” Fenix told them, his tone calm but forceful. “We’re looking for a book.”

“No,” Zolan argued. “The clue said to find the key and unlock the door.”

Owen couldn’t help but chuckle. “Guys, just find a copy ofThe Raven.Trust me.”

“Nice job,”Fenix praised.“When did you figure it out?”

“The first time I read it.”But giving it away wouldn’t have been much fun for everyone else.“I mean, come on. ‘Night’s Plutonian shore,’ and ‘distant Aidenn.’ It was an easy one.”Realizing how patronizing that probably sounded, he added,“I read a lot, and Poe is one of my favorites.”

“Same.”

A thrill went through him at finding something else they had in common, but before he could act on it, someone shouted from the other side of the room.

“Found it!” Corbin called from the top of the rickety ladder. “Catch.”

Zolan caught the book, but rather than opening it, he handed it to Iliana. “Princess.”

With a sweet giggle, she snatched the tome and placed it down on the desk. Instead of the key they had been promised, though, they found another slip of parchment, which eventually led them to the fireplace. And from there, to a treasure box on the coffee table.

With Fenix taking the lead and everyone working together, they moved quickly and smoothly through the clues, proving why the Guard made such a great team. Owen, however, hadn’t been much help, though not for a lack of trying.

As the sands of the hourglass counted the passing time, he found it harder to focus and often needed to reread the clues multiple times. The tingle he’d felt across his skin after first taking the elixir was now more of a low-level vibration, and he’d often bust out laughing at the most innocuous things.

His head swam, leaving him a little off-balance, and warmth crept up his neck and into his cheeks. His mouth had turned desert dry and felt like it had been stuffed with cotton, and for some reason, he had the strongest desire to drag his mate to the sofa for a cuddle session.

If he didn’t know better, he would think he was drunk.

“Yes!” Seneca yelled, her hand still perched atop the bust of some creepy dude with a huge mustache.

Owen didn’t even remember what the clue had been, but clearly, someone had riddled it out. As soon as Seneca had turned the statue’s head, a loud groan echoed through the room as two of the bookshelves parted to reveal the exit.

And with only a few grains of sand remaining in the hourglass, they had completed the mission just in time.

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