Page 104 of A Witch-ish Guide to Protectors and Pendulums

“Shit tends to happen in the morning or at night. It’s the calm before the storm. You don’t like it, pick something else.”

“No. I’m good.” I looked to the rest of the group. “You all good with that?”

We got head bobs and “Yeah”s. With nothing for it, I grabbed Luc’s and Shafira’s hands, as they were the closest to me. Shafira grabbed Karro’s hand and I manifested us back to Luc’s safehouse.

This was it. I dropped their hands and hugged Luc. “Keep them safe,” I said into his ear. “You won’t be dead forever. They will.”

“With my life,” he replied.

Then I moved to Shafira. “Don’t let Luc’s fallen angel status or good looks intimidate you. You’re a powerful witch and I’m proud to call you an ally—but I’m more proud to call you my friend.”

She sucked in a sharp breath. “I am not crying. Badass witches do not cry.” Shafira wiped at her eyes when I released her to turn to Karro.

“Stay safe, okay? I want you coming over to the house for cookouts. You can even bring your demon lover boy.”

Karro’s face turned the cutest shade of pink. I thought that maybe it wasn’t just the man’s penis that Karro loved. I hugged him fiercely. “You have family now,” I whispered.

“Right,” Karro said, pushing me back. “Don’t you dare get yourself killed.”

“We won’t. Connor will be there to protect me. I’ll be there to protect Connor.” My time was up. I had to get back to the man, and so with one final wave, I manifested myself back to my mate.

Connor stood near the wards, taunting Kimaris. He turned the moment he sensed me and I rushed him. “I’m usually badass,” I mumbled through sniffles.

“They’ll be fine.”

“I know. It’s not them. I just want sex and we don’t have time.”

He chuckled. “Right, baby. It’s just the sex. Remind me, when was the last time horny made you cry?”

“Shut it,” I warned with my face pressed against his chest. “Or I’ll take the demon with me and leave your ass here.”

“That’s a great idea,” Kimaris said.

“Okay, I’m better,” I snapped.

“Not horny now?” my jerkface of a mate teased.

“You are so lucky that I can’t tease you about climbing Luc like a stripper pole thanks to this bond.”

Connor’s grip on my waist tightened. I pushed up on my toes kissing the underside of his jaw and then manifested us home.

What the hell happened here?

Chapter

Twenty-Five

“My house,” I cried in complete and utter shock. It’d been turned upside-down. Everything I’d worked so hard for lay in tatters on the ground. Stuffing pulled from furniture, glass shattered, tables upturned. My beautiful television smashed to pieces.

Suddenly, my head started to spin and I fell backward ass-first onto the edge of the sofa. I felt sick. Violated.

“It’s just stuff,” I mumbled, trying to rein in my emotions. “It’s just stuff…”

Connor dropped down next to me, pulling me onto his lap. “You’ve got magic and I’ve got money. We’ll get it all back somehow. I promise.”

I nodded, squaring my shoulders. “It was a shock, is all.”

“You don’t have to be strong around me, sweetheart.”

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