Page 3 of Witches Be Damned

I clapped him on the shoulder and shook him. “You aren’t so bad, after all.”

“I’m getting soft in my old age.” He winked us out of there, transporting us to the same bathroom cubicle, scored by graffiti. “I blame the kids wrapping me around their fingers, getting Daddy to steal them cookies. That and my wife, Locke’s, Cupid powers.”

“Love’s powerful stuff.” I dropped the compass into his waiting palm.

“It worked its magick on me,” he chuckled, admiring the cubicle as if wary of touching any edge. “I hated that old, grumpy asshole, Hades. Now I kinda like him. We golf together now. Who would have thought?”

I barked out a laugh. A fucking laugh. Me, an equally sullen asshole. “Don’t get too soft.”

“Thanks for not wrecking the Gucci.” He tucked the compass into his breast pocket. “It’s my last one. The wife won’t let me steal any more.”

Perks of being the avatar of Hermes. No one could arrest him when he’d vanish without a trace and leave no evidence behind.

Mads’ eyes sparkled with a new idea. “When you get out of here, you’re not up for grabbing me some more shirts, are you? The wife can’t give me the silent treatment if they’re a gift from adoring thieves.”

I chuckled at his scheme to bypass his wife. “Not on your life. One prison sentence is enough.”

“Shame.” He grinned in a way that said it was worth a try.

I was surprised he didn’t use his magick to bewitch me into agreeing.

“Good luck.” Mads clapped me back, retreating as if preparing to leave. “Listen, watch out for that warden of yours, okay? Stay out of his way. Look into him. I’ll cover your tracks when you do.”

A rock settled in the pit of my stomach at Mads confirming our suspicions.

Green smoke fanned around him like he was a damn eighties rock star.

“Thanks again, Mads.” I lightened my tone, relieved he didn’t try to fuck me over like his god had a reputation of doing.

Relieved things went well, I got out of there, making my way back to the Watch Tower, finding Tor scanning the files on his computer and Ben reading his phone.

“There you are, handsome.” Tor thumped my back. “Have a good jerk-off?” The smart ass’ way of telling me I took longer than expected. The perfect cover.

“I thought about you going down on me.” I blew him a kiss, maintaining the charade. “The way you suck.”

“Fuck, guys, TMI.” Ben took his phone outside, taking a smoke break, leaning on the Plexiglass window.

“Nice work.” Tor grinned in a way that was too close to Mads’ wicked smile for my liking.

“What did you find?” I lowered my voice.

“The thief avatar came through.” Tor swiveled his screen to face me and showed me the location of Styx and Astra.

“Excellent.” I stabbed a hand through my hair. “Now, how the fuck are we going to convince Serena to request approval for this mission and get the warden’s approval?”

Tor stretched out his arms, lacing his fingers and cracking them. “While you did all the hard work, I came up with a plan.”

Why the fuck did the wordsTorandplanmake me nervous?

CHAPTER 2 - ASTRA

This was it, folks. Time to say goodbye. Adios, Astra. Say hello to my maker. Confess the gamut of sins throughout my life. Face judgement on whether I was worthy of the Pearly Gates.

Yes, I ate too many of the cookies my mom baked.

Yes, I cussed. A Lot.

Yes, I overstepped the lines of professionalism by checking out Raze’s cock. In my defense, he shifted back from being a Lycan and was naked, and the Almighty blessed him with spectacular junk.

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