Page 89 of All's Fair in Love and Magic

The rune took hours,but when I finally collapsed against the couch cushions in relief, I felt incredible.

The resort was safe again.

And I was completely and utterly exhausted.

Liam lifted me onto his lap, and I rested all of my weight against him.

“Can you have someone check to see if it works?” I mumbled. “It should stop people from leaving from our side, too.”

“Of course.”

He made a quick call to Harvey.

I dozed against Liam’s chest while Harv and Bailey made their way to the edge of my bubble spell.

I woke up when Liam lifted me off the couch as he stood.

“Is the spell working?” I asked.

“It’s perfect. They couldn’t get through. I had Harv ram it a couple times, just to see if he could affect it, and it didn’t budge.”

More relief had me sighing. “Good.”

And I promptly fell back asleep.

eighteen

SAGE

The next fewweeks were a blur.

Liam and I focused on the runes that made up the resort’s main wards. It was a hell of a lot of work, but I enjoyed it.

I decided I’d make a few secondary groups as well, for extra protection. But it would be months, if not years, before I got to that.

Ultimately, the resort was already safe enough that I didn’t need to spend all of my time working on the magic.

Just most of it.

The Villin brothers and their mates stayed on the island as guests, since there was no longer any need for a security team. We hadn’t heard a peep from the witches after Liam and the demons threatened them.

I spent every morning chatting with my mom over sugary caffeine in Coffee & Toffee & Potions. And every evening on the porch with Liam, watching the sun set over the ocean. Usually,with fruity drinks. I was developing an affinity for them, and Liam was happy to join me in it.

I knew he liked sugar more than he had realized.

Everyone did.

Not the healthiest of addictions, but it could’ve been worse. Thereweresome dangerous drugs that affected supernaturals, after all.

Weeks turned to months,and I finally finished the main set of runes.

“How’s your mom?” Liam asked as he dragged me down the sidewalk and toward the beach.

“She’s thriving, as you know.”

He made a noise of agreement.

My mom had admitted to me a few weeks ago that she had a lot more fun living at the resort with other kinds of supernaturals than with the coven. I had been worried about her giving up her life, so I was relieved to hear that.

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