Page 20 of Hers to Claim

Rio and Willow frequently had breakfast together, their heads bent to look at Willow’s notes as they discussed some plan for the club or the coming party. Willow had an extraordinary head for logistics and organization, and that all made so much more sense once Mari discovered that they were a sphinx. There was nothing a sphinx loved more than data. Spreadsheets and lists were positively catnip to them.

Pricilla and Dante were new additions who both seemed to fit into the evolving dynamic seamlessly, becoming friendly with the house witches and guards almost at once. Giselle alreadygave Dante an extra serving of dessert every night, and she didn’t do that for anyone.

Nerves nearly overwhelmed Mari every time she thought too much about how her relationship with Dante was going to progress. It had seemed so simple when she asked Dante to come work for them as a submissive, but every time he sent one of his panty-melting smiles her way she wanted to run into a different room. What exactly was she supposed to do to kick things off?

Cisco strolled into the dining room with a tablet in his hand. He glanced up at Mari and grinned when he saw her expression. “Dante, be ready tonight at eight. I’ll send Rio for you. Don’t bother wearing a shirt.”

Dante blinked up at him, and then his lips curled in a slow smile. “Sounds like a good time.”

Mari was still blushing when Pricilla came in a while later, looking at all of them like she was trying to figure out what had everyone on edge.

The conversation around the table centered on the renovations. Their designer, Clovis, was working overtime, collecting requirements and hiring workers to do the jobs. He and Willow had disappeared into the grand ballroom and spent an entire day there before closing off the area and telling anyone who inquired that it was a surprise.

As far as Mari was concerned, they could tear those rooms down to the studs, especially the room her father had held hisprivateparties in. Willow had assured that when they were done it would be unrecognizable, and that they were having someone come in and scrub every bit of magical residue that might be lingering, and that was good enough for Mari.

“How soon will we be doing the first party?” Mari asked when Willow came to her office for a meeting after breakfast wrapped up.

“Clovis says he can have the modifications to the ballroom done in two more weeks, so I’m planning on the last Thursday of the month. Is that okay?”

Mari raised an eyebrow. Just in time for Halloween. She didn’t know if that was perfect or ominous. “Do I even want to know the price tag on getting that done so quickly?”

“Cisco cleared it already, but I can pull up the numbers if you want to see them.” Willow turned their binder to a page with a bright blue tab. “He and I have been working on the timing for the renovations to make sure everything with high priority gets done first.”

Mari waved her hand. “No, that’s okay, as long as Cisco is on it I don’t need to know the details.” Honestly, all those numbers just made her head spin if she started thinking about them, especially when she started thinking about things that wouldn’t happen for months.

“So, the last Thursday of the month. How is the caterer that Giselle suggested?”

“Perfect. I just did a tasting yesterday and I’m working with them on the menu. We’ll have samples for the three of you to try probably next week.”

“Great. And you’re working with Bren for the entertainment list. I know Rio has opinions on the DJ. What else have we got to talk about?”

Willow cleared their throat. “Are you going to want to do an orgy?”

Mari laughed. “Of all the questions I never thought I’d get asked. No, this isn’t going to be an event to gather magic the way it was for my father.”

Willow nodded. “I just wanted to make sure. Some sex witches enjoy them. Others are more private.”

“I don’t mind a little voyeurism, but I really don’t want to plan it as part of the entertainment if that makes sense. Could we setit up like the first floor of the club? Where people can partake if they want or they can retire to private areas if that’s what they prefer.”

“Yeah, that’s doable.” Willow made a few notes. They looked at their watch. “Okay, that’s all I’ve got. I’m on my way to a meeting with Clovis.”

“Tell him I said hi.”

“Will do.” Willow reached the door just as Rio was coming in with Mari’s second cup of coffee. They shared a smile and a brief word before going their separate ways.

Rio put her coffee on the desk. “Do you want me to stay for the training or would you rather I leave the two of you alone?”

Mari thanked him with a nod as she lifted her cup for a sip. As always, it was perfect. The deep and complex aroma calmed her a little. “I think stay? I’m not sure. I have no idea how terrible I’m going to be at this. Maybe I’ll be too embarrassed for you to watch me fail.”

“I don’t think that’s likely,” Pricilla said as she entered, pausing to close the door behind her. “Today is mostly going to be for me to figure out where you are.”

Mari let out a sigh. “I’m mostly nowhere.”

“I don’t believe that for a second. I’ve felt the wards and your ambient magic.” She tilted her head graciously toward Rio as he brought a chair around for her so she could sit beside Mari.

After taking her seat, she crossed her ankles. “Okay, let’s start with something simple just to get the jitters out. Can you make a privacy shield?”

“No, he never wanted me to learn any kind of shielding.”

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