Page 65 of Magic and Muffins

Then, suddenly, that extreme need started to fade.

Shepard came inside of me again with a groan, then rolled us to our sides without pulling out. I was glad he didn’t. I was pretty sure I wouldn’t survive. Everything was aching in a combined pleasant and unpleasant way.

“I’m not sure if I should hate her or thank her,” he murmured as he wrapped me tenderly in his arms.

“Both,” I breathed, unable to open my eyes. “I’m so thirsty. What time is it?”

I felt him move and hissed out a breath when he withdrew.

“Are you all right? Was I too rough?”

“No. Just a little too thorough. How many times was that?”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t stop. It looks like she left with the sex relic. Stay here, and I’ll grab our clothes.”

I couldn’t have moved even if I’d wanted to.

When I heard him curse, though, I lifted my head. He was sifting through our trail of clothes and looking around at the floor.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“My ring is gone.”

I struggled to sit up, and he hurried over to help me. In seconds, he had us both dressed.

“Hang tight, sweetheart.” He went to the door, yelling for Effora. He didn’t leave me, only poked his head into the hallway. Then he came back, his strides long and hurried.

“What’s going on, Shepard?” I asked as he handed me his phone and picked me up.

“That’s what I’d like to know. I think she took my necklace and ran.”

The seriousness of what had happened hit home. Effora had used the sex relic and Shepard’s need to mark me as a distraction to steal the ring.

“Call Cross,” Shepard said as we left the room.

As soon as I opened his phone, I saw several unread messages from Cross.

Cross: What’s happening? Why is Everly bleeding?

Shepard: Something to do with connecting to the relic. A small amount of blood. She’s fine. I’m not. This is going to take hours.

Cross: Keep me posted.

Cross: Don’t forget about the meetup.

Cross: If I don’t hear from you soon, I’ll find you.

“She messaged him,” I said.

Shepard glanced down at the messages. “He sensed when I marked you, and she used my phone to keep him from coming here. I bet his last message is why she finally took the relic and ran.”

Shepard growled. “I hope Cross lets me kill her before he kills me.”

I dialed Cross’ number on speaker.

“Everly is fine. We’re on our way back,” Shepard said as soon as Cross answered.

“Vena’s waiting impatiently,” Cross said.

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