Page 114 of Roses Are Dead
Then I went downstairs to put my own brand of security on the house. If Carl wanted to mess with us, he’d leave himself open to me.
I started with the besom over the door. The round broom was mostly symbolic. I studied it. It was dusty and brittle. A fakery sold for aesthetic value.
That had to change.
I searched the woods, gardens, and the banks of the river nearby for the right items. With luck I found two snail shells, some animal bones, dried hydrangea flowers, and a nasty wild rose briar with sharp thorns that demanded ten minims of my blood before yielding to my blade.
From the kitchen, I dug out rosemary and the bag of turnips I’d bought on the last grocery trip.
I worked at my altar, carving, pulling thorns, filling the snail shells and sealing them with wax, then binding the spell into the besom.
Bear came down some time in the midst of my work. He watched for a moment, but didn’t interrupt. Instead opting to make a late breakfast before dressing in his usual uniform of black Destroyers shirt, jeans, vest, and leather coat.
He kissed me before leaving. “Heading to the shop. You good?”
I nodded, still focused on my work. But then realized that he was about to leave.
“Wait.” I quickly tied a red string around his wrist. “There.” I smiled at him.
He glanced down at the bright color twisted over his usual black leather wristbands. “Cute. What’s it do?”
“Keeps you safe.”
“So… don’t take it off?”
I nodded again. “Not until it breaks. Then I’ll give you a new one.”
He slid a hand under my loose hair. “You’re something else, Roishin Black.” He pulled my face close for a dangerously hot kiss. I almost forgot everything as his tongue wound around mine. Except an underlying current of doubt that made me push against him.
“What do you mean, something else?”
He licked his lips. “I mean… I don’t think I’ll ever not be surprised by you. And that’s a good thing. I’m working until eight. Call Hammer if you have trouble. He should be next door on kiddie watch.”
I blinked; it wasn’t like him to forget the schedule like that. “Zoe’s at school. Jackson’s home.”
He scrunched his eyes, thinking. “Right. Make sure Hammer’s with you. I’ll confirm who’s tailing Mini Me after I get to the shop. Jackson and Kate should be home all day, but don’t bother them. They’ll probably be doing what we did last night. Anywhere in that goddamn house, so don’t peek through any windows, and ignore the screaming.”
I laughed and shoved him to the door. “You’re awful. Go.”
He eyed my altar with a little trepidation. “Don’t get in trouble.”
I motioned to the pile there. “All this? It’s meant to keep trouble away.”
Bear wasn’t convinced. “Well, Skinner or Hickey should stop by later to beef up security. Let them in and don’t… hex ’em or anything.”
“What if I put a seeing spell on them so they can find answers quicker?”
He winced. “Yeah…no. Skinner might shoot you. Play nice, please?”
I gave it a second or two of thought. “Maybe.”
He kissed me again, harder but shorter. When he broke free, he said one word before slipping out the door. “Witch.”
“Grumpy-ass Bear.” I said to the wall after he drove away. Why was he so infuriating and so damn cute while doing it?
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Bear
