Page 120 of A Witch-ish Guide to Protectors and Pendulums

“Unfortunately,” Connor added.

Agatha appeared to collect herself and began brewing my healing tea. “It makes no sense. Why kill witches?” She handed me off a large mug of steaming liquid. I drank the herby concoction sweetened with honey. And this was why witches rarely had to see the doctor. I felt the healing begin immediately. I could see Big Pharma going after wi—hey, did Satan invest in Big Pharma? Could that be why? He certainly could control a lot of people that way. But still, bringing Cain forward didn’t fit into that equation.

“Okay, I’m feeling better. We need to get to the archives.” I held my hands out to Connor and Agatha. I must’ve been getting stronger because it took much less time for me to recover this time. Then I tried to stand, swaying infinitesimally, but still enough for quick-eyes Connor to see me struggle.

“Simone needs another cup,” he ordered Agatha. “Don’t argue,” he said to me.

I put my hands up. “Not arguing.”

Agatha quickly brewed me another large mug and I chugged it down without coming up for breath. I for sure knew I could get us there now. And with a witch by my side, it didn’t matter how much energy drained from my body, she could fix me up with one of her teas. Agatha was exactly what I’d been missing since parting ways with Shafira.

Right after closing my eyes, I pushed the thought of the three of us at the Knapp of Howar and as I opened them again, the crumbling stones greeted me. I felt rather proud of myself for accomplishing this every time, without fail, and turned my eyes to Connor. He flashed me a smoldering smile that screamed pride and…otherthings. If only.

When I turned to Agatha to ask if she was ready to go in, nothing short of awe shone on every bit of her face. I’d forgotten that she’d never been here before. “Ready?” I asked. Slowly, she nodded, her eyes roaming over every pebble, and reached her hand out to touch the remains of the Neolithic structure.

I spoke the words to open the archives and gestured for her to enter first. Smiling, she sighed and tentatively stepped inside the stairwell. Connor went next and then I ended the parade, making sure to lock the door behind me.

The archives came to life when we reached the bottom. Agatha gasped as the purple flames ignited in the hearth, crackling softly. Pots and kettles appeared along with plates and cups, as well as flatware. She ran her finger reverently along thetable closest to her. I recognized that feeling of awe, the same one I’d had the first time Connor and I found ourselves here.

A comfortable, cushioned chair pulled out by itself for Agatha to sit in. She looked at me, I nodded once to tell her it was okay, and she sat. “What now?” she asked.

“It looks like the archives are preparing to feed us. So we’ll eat and wait.”

“I have to say, knowing about the archives and being here are on opposite ends of the believability spectrum. I’ll need a minute to adjust.”

“I get it. But you’re a powerful witch. The archives will show you things that it won’t show the less capable magic holders. So if there are things you think will help, just ask the room. It will provide what you need.”

Slowly, she shook her head, then said, “I need information on Cain, Adam’s son.” Three different ancient texts pushed forward from the back shelves. Agatha walked over, plucking up the tomes, cradling them reverently in her arms as she walked back to the cushioned chair. “I’m going to start reading. I think we need to know about Cain. There’s a reason Satan brought him here.”

“You okay?” Connor asked.

“I hate waiting.”

He snickered. “Take the reprieve. You’ll be dreaming about it soon enough.”

Too true. “Sit with me?” I asked. It hardly took any convincing. A cushy, two-person loveseat appeared against the wall opposite the hearth and we walked over, Connor holding my hand. He dropped on the loveseat first, pulling me down to rest half on him.

“I feel like I should be doing something, but I’m not sure what that is right now.”

“Simone, baby—swear to Hades,” Connor said in his irritated, ‘Simone is being a pain in myass again’ way that I’ve grown to love. “you have to take the downtime when it comes your way. Company’ll start showing soon enough.”

“I feel like I need to be active,” I replied on a yawn and felt my eyes droop. Now? I couldn’t help feel like Lilith had something to do with this. What did she have in store for me now? Because I didn’t sleep. I floated above my body, watching as Connor bent in to kiss the top of my head. The door appeared again, opening, allowing me to move through it. On the other side, I found Luc, Shafira, and Karro. A beautiful bronze-skinned man in a linen suit sat at a table—more like lounged, half-slumped with his arm over the back of the chair. As I took him in, I noticed his stunningly deep-brown eyes and hair so brown, it could almost pass as black, feathered back from his face. New guy had that cocky-hot vibe going on. That popular jock guy who knew all the girls were hot for him—yeah, that. In truth, it made him less attractive. But the more I took him in, I realized he wasn’t a man. He was a demon. A powerful one. I felt his power radiating off him in waves—and I found it interesting that Luc stood between him and Shafira.

Karro practically drooled. Who was this guy?

“So you’re with us?” Luc asked. Withus? Which us? The ‘take over the world’ us or the ‘save the world’ us? What were you trying to pull? If you picked the first option and had the mind to bring my friends down with you, Lilith as my witness, I’d cut off your balls.

“Listen, I don’t know what’s going on out there, but I’m a lover, not a fighter. When people die or are forced into servitude, I can’t partake in my favorite pastime. You know me, Luc. I’m a total grump when I don’t get my fill.”

“I’ll help you get your fill,” Karro offered and the man turned a twinkling smile at my cousin. He eyed him and blew a kiss.I swore Karro started drifting over to the man until Shafira quickly reached out to grab his wrist, yanking him back by her.

“Aren’t you in love?” she asked him.

“Am now,” he replied dreamily.

The gorgeous man chuckled. “Love.” He sighed as if bored. “The bane of my existence.”

“I’m not in love,” Shafira said, but Luc held tight.

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