Page 61 of Magic and Muffins

He kissed me one more time and released me. “I’ll coordinate with Shepard.” He placed the dishes in the sink and headed to the study.

Not wanting to know details since I would overthink everything, I took care of the dishes, then baked until the apartment smelled like lemon tarts.

Vena appeared just before I was about to start lunch. Her hair was a tangled mess, and her shirt was inside out.

“Did you even bother to look in a mirror?” I asked.

“It smells like sunshine and summer in here.”

“It’s lemon.”

She breathed in and sighed. “The scent of energy. Need some of that.”

I slid her a plate with a tart on it. “Only one. Lunch will be soon.”

“What are you making? Whatever it is, I need two. And my man needs three. He worked hard. Still no launching of the pocket rocket, but we only have?—”

I held up my hand. “Don’t want to know.”

She pouted.

“And to answer your question, I’m making SOS,” I said.

She squealed and hugged me to her.

“I’m only making it because you love it so much.”

“What’s SOS?” Anchor asked, emerging from the bedroom in a neater state.

“Shit on a shingle,” Vena said happily. “I want more shit on my shingles.”

“I remember,” I said.

Cross and Shepard joined us at the table just as I started setting out plates. I sat between them and listened to Cross explain how they would handle the meetup tonight as we ate.

“You’ll have your phones so we can track you easily,” Cross said. “But if anything feels wrong, leave. We want to save lives, but not at the cost of yours. Do you understand?”

Vena and I both nodded.

“Since the meetup time is just before dark, we don’t expect any problems at the pick-up location. Most likely, it’ll be thralled or compelled humans.”

“Or humans who are on team suck-and-slave,” Vena said.

“That too,” Shepard said. “There might also be friends of vampires watching, which is why we’ll be close enough to see you, but we’ll stay out of sight.”

“Once we know the actual meeting location, we’ll come for you and start asking questions,” Cross said. “You’re not there to get the information yourselves. You’re only there to find the location. Understood?”

“I feel attacked. Why are you only looking at me?” Vena asked with false innocence.

Shepard’s phone rang before he could respond.

When he saw the name, he put it on the table and answered it on speaker.

“Lover, forgive me for missing your summons,” Effora crooned. “It was an oversight that I’ll immediately correct. Where and how would you like me?”

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

Venaand I shared a mutual cringe at Effora’s words.

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