Page 100 of A Witch-ish Guide to Protectors and Pendulums

That sobered him right up. “Demon wards? Where are you? Where’s Connor?”

“We’re hiding out, but we have to find out what Kimaris knows and so we need to box him in.”

“Kimaris?” he shouted. “Why in all of Hades would you be anywhere close to Kimaris? He works directly for Satan.”

“He captured Connor and tried to kill him with black salt. We rescued him, Shafira healed him with a powerful tea, and now Connor and Karro, a Lilium cousin of mine, are keeping him subdued until I get back with wards. Please, we don’t have time for this.”

Opposite his normally fun, sexy demeanor, Luc’s face hardened, turning very serious. “I’ll make the wards, but you have to take me with you.”

“Where are we?” Shafira asked.

“It’s one of my safehouses.” He tilted his head, smiling and revealed a dimple at the corner of his mouth, quickly shifting back to the flirty Luc I knew and loved. “Why? Do you like it?”

“It’s a little gaudy for my taste,” she answered and he scoffed.

“‘Gaudy’?” he asked indignantly.

I laughed. “Ouch. I think someone hurt his pride.”

He shot me a death glare. “I was going to do it for free for you and my boy Connor. Now, you want wards I get a date”—he pointed to Shafira—“with her.”

“You’re not dating my friend.” I couldn’t believe that with everything going on he’d let his pride get in the way of helping us.

“We are in a battle to save the world,” Shafira countered. She spoke with confidence, but the twinkle in her eyes had dimmed considerably.

“It won’t last forever. And when we win…” He let that trail off.

“Shafira, you don’t have to agree to anything. I’m calling his bluff.”

“Then I’m out.” He turned to leave.

“I’ll go out with you,” she called to his retreating back. He stopped, turned back to us, and smiled. I never wanted to kick a man in the shins so badly in my life.

Here was the thing about Luc—his smiles could be as lascivious as they were sexy. “Shake on it,” he said. Shake on it. Binding. She shook on it, she had to go through with it. This was the payment.

Shafira held her hand out. Luc grabbed it, brought it up to his mouth to kiss the underside of her wrist, and then they shook hands.

“Just so you know, I’d have still done it for free. Simone here knows me too well. I’m so glad you don’t.”

I saw the moment her stomach dropped.

“But you will,” he finished and I took it upon myself to use my electric fingers on the man, pressing them deep into the exposed skin of his neck for maximum contact and maximum effect. He dropped to his knees and I still found that so satisfying to witness.

“Stop—” Shafira shot her hand out in front of her. “You’re hurting him.” She was seriously too nice. But alas, I pulled my hand away.

He grumbled as he stood, rubbing his neck. “You can’t do that, can you?” he asked Shafira.

“No.”

“Good. Clearly, Simone here needs a round of slap and tickle with Connor. She’s only nice after a round of slap and tickle.”

“I’m only nice to Connor,” I warned.

“Right,” he said, shivering. He got me. “Let’s get you those wards.”

He started for the door again and as we followed him Shafira said, “I cannot believe you dropped the creator of hell. Who does that?”

I smiled. “Me. Being the granddaughter of Lilith has its perks.”

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