Page 40 of Expose Me

I released the breath I was holding and sagged with relief. When had the party even ended? I was so wrapped up in Zey and his wandering hands that I’d completely let my guard down. Stupid!

“Coming!” I crawled off him and the bed, summoning myself some clothes and getting dressed quickly.

* * *

“That was the most stressful party of my entire existence,” Mark groaned. Next to him, Mitch was slumped in his chair, looking like he was in full agreement.

“I feel like I’m hungover and also still drunk.” Mitch dragged a hand down his face.

We were seated around their dining table, the mess of a massive party surrounding us. Zey had cleared half the table of bottles and trash while I cooked up a big pile of bacon and eggs. The least I could do after they saved my ass was use their food to cook myself (and them) a meal. Although Mitch looked like he was more likely to throw up, his plate untouched.

“We’ll be out of your hair really soon,” I said, scraping my plate, then gesturing to Mitch’s. “You gonna eat that?”

He slid the plate towards me. Healing from a massive wound and infection really worked up a girl’s appetite.

I wolfed it down quickly, acutely aware of the fact we were rapidly outstaying our welcome.

“OK, hand it over.” I held my hand out. Zey pulled the Onuei out of his pants pocket. Mitch was a similar build and had given him some clothing he was planning to get rid of anyway. So now we sat at the table, accidentally wearing matching outfits. The black pants and sweater hugged his solid frame perfectly, and the boots completed the look.

He placed the hand crank in my palm.

“What the hell is that?” Mark sounded like he wasn’t sure if we were crazy or he was.

“It’s better if you don’t know,” I said before Zey could glare them both to death.

Healed, fed, and rested, it was much easier to focus on what my ability was showing me. The ribbons were definitely reaching towards Brazil, and I could now see a more specific area.

Opening my eyes, I sighed and handed the hand crank back to Zey.

“Hey, do you guys know any witches who could open a portal?” I asked, trying my best to sound casual and failing.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Mark huffed.

“Mark, I would not be sitting here nursing this hangover if it wasn’t for Sky,” Mitch reminded him without even lifting his head.

Unable to deny the love of his life, Mark huffed again, got to his feet, and pointed a finger at me. “Fine, but this makes us even.”

“Absolutely.” I nodded, and he left without another word.

“There’s a witch a few floors down. She’s high most of the time, so her magic can be unpredictable, but she’s usually at her best in the mornings,” Mitch explained, lifting his head.

“Thank you,” I said, genuine gratitude in my voice and my eyes.

He reached across the table and took my hand. “Mark can be an asshole, but we both know that we’ll never be even for what you did for us, Sky.”

I squeezed his hand back while Zey watched us with a thoughtful look on his face.

Mark returned quickly with an elderly witch in tow. She was wearing faded polka-dot pajamas and a cardigan with a rip near the pocket, her gray hair all over the place.

“This better be worth my while, bloodsucker,” the old witch croaked, glaring at everyone in the room.

“I’ll make it worth your while,” I said, getting to my feet.

“What do you want?” she grunted.

“A portal to Macapá, Brazil. How much?”

“You sure it’s a good idea to portal into a House’s territory when you’re ... in your current predicament?” Mark cautioned.

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