Page 91 of A Witch-ish Guide to Protectors and Pendulums

“Can I let you in on a little secret?” I asked. Karro leaned way in from his seat kitty-corner from me on the sofa.

“I love secrets. The saucier, the better.”

“I don’t know that it’s saucy, but it will explain a lot about your life,” I replied. He stared at me puzzlingly. “You’re not a witch.”

“I know. I told you that.”

“You’re a Lilium. We’re cousins. I’m cousins with all Lilium.”

“I’m sorry?” Karro pressed the back of his hand against my forehead. “Are you feverish?”

I shoved his hand away. “I’m not feverish and I didn’t hit my head. Lilith—theLilith, first witch, first wife of Adam, Garden of Eden Lilith is my grandmother. She time-jumped with me and my twin brother on the day we were born because Adam attacked. He killed my parents. I didn’t know any of this until I connected with my mate. He’s a hellhound.”

Karro’s eyes flared. “A hellhound? Are you trying to make me jealous? I’ve heard stories. A hellhound even slightly in the mood would make Jackhammer Boy feel like he was working with a floppy, dead fish.”

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been with Connor while onlyslightlyin the mood. He tends to go all in all the time.”

Karro clutched the pearls knotted at his chest, fanning himself with his other hand. “You don’t think he’d mind if we shared?”

My heart pounded in my chest. My nostrils flared. I cracked my knuckles.

Karro registered my response and I knew this by the way all the color drained from his face. “You know, just once.”

“You did hear her say they were mated, correct?” Shafira asked indignantly. “Do you want to die?”

“Sorry… Sorry… I spoke without thinking.”

Calm yourself, Simone. He was kidding. Probably.I willed my heart rate to slow by taking in long, slow breaths through my nose until I felt calm enough to continue speaking without ripping him to shreds like… like… didn’t Tasmanian Devils do that or was that just inLooney Tunes?

“My apologies,” I said. “Connor isn’t just my mate. He’s my protector mate. Our bond is…strong. I can’t help my reaction. What do I need to do to get them to help me?”

He shot me an incredulous look. “Can you prove you’re Lilith’s granddaughter? That’d help.”

“Can you gather them into the town square? I can summon her and?—”

“‘Summon her’? As in Lilith?” Shafira asked.

“Yes. She’s my grandmother and my guide. I can manifest for the whole coven to see and hear her. Will that work?”

“Yeah, I think that would do it,” Karro replied. His voice squeaked on the ‘yeah.’

I chuckled, pushing up from the softness of the chair, and clapped my hands together. “Then let’s get to work. There’s not much time.”

We walked outside his cozy home to the town center where we stood when we’d first cleared the wards. As I looked around, I realized that Mr. Pooches had left us again. He’d led us into the town and that was the last I remember seeing him. The cat had to know I’d worry about him. Great. One more thing to add to the list.

Karro cupped his hands around his mouth. “Ladies.Atención. Simone here needs our help. We really need to help her.”

Slowly, I scanned the homes, watching eyes appearing in window after window. He’d gotten their attention, at least. The door of a bungalow at the far side of the town square opened and an older woman with flowing gray, black, and silver hair entered the square with us. The waves of her hair rippled. Her gown, similar to something the movies portrayed the Bride of Frankenstein wearing, rippled around her feet. There wasn’t any wind. She made the ripples, trying to look intimidating. It probably worked on most people. Buthello—granddaughter of Lilith. Not much in the way of witches scared me now.

“Calm your tits, Adi,” Karro said, smirking. “Simone here is good people.”

The now-known Adi tore her glare from me, throwing daggers at Karro. He continued to smile that ‘I know a juicy secret’ smile.

“I am Adalaide,” she boomed in an echoing voice with a thick Australian accent, which, to be honest, took away from the intimidating factor because that Australian accent always sounded so friendly to me. “Leader of the Western Coven.”

“I’m Simone Lamia and this is my friend Shafira. Thank you for meeting us.”

“Despite his eccentricities, Karro has good instincts. If he says you need our help, I’ll give you five minutes to explain your situation.”

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