by Layla Frost
As I drove, Nate texted Lula to let her know her car hadn’t been stolen. When he finished, he swiped through my screens as I walked him through how to do certain things.
“We’ll get you one when we’re done at Juno’s,” I said as I stopped at a red light.
“I don’t need one. You’re the only person I care to talk to.”
“Yeah, and this will make it easier to reach each other.”
His expression warmed, but there was something about it I couldn’t decipher.
The light turned green, and I began driving again. “Am I human or immortal? If I got shot, would my body press the bullet out like yours did?”
“You were born. You’re human… ish.”
“Why, though? Why not just make me like they did you?”
“I don’t know, other than they must’ve had a reason. I’m not sure what would happen if you were shot, and I’m not eager to test it.”
“Neither am I. Will I age? Because we’ll look ridiculous if you stay how you are and I’m a wrinkled old lady like Mrs. O’Leary.”
“You’d still be stuck with me,” he said, gripping my thigh.
“It’s the control top hoses and sensible shoes that’ll get you, isn’t it? And the fact I’ll always have hard candy.”
“It’s everything about you, no matter what. But I don’t think you’ll age past a certain point. The gods wouldn’t connect The Four’s souls only to rip them apart a short lifetime later.”
“Now I really need a skincare routine.”
If I was going to be around for a thousand or so years, my skin was going to show the damage that came from eating and grooming like a swamp demon.
“Maybe we’ll age together then come back, like some sort of reincarnation.” He scowled, and his animosity and stubbornness filled the car. “But we won’t come back as babies. I refuse to be without you for any amount of time.”
I soothingly patted his thigh. “I don’t think they’d bring us back as babies. We wouldn’t even be able to hold our heads up, much less save the world.” The visual made me laugh softly until I thought about something else. “So no kids?”
“No, my love, I’m sorry. Are you disappointed?”
I wasn’t sure. Since I hadn’t been able to get past the coffee date with most guys, reproducing with them certainly hadn’t been at the forefront of my mind.
Having babies had just seemed like… an inevitability.
Date, get married, have babies.
Instead, I got amazing sex, a literal soulmate, and saving the world.
It was a good tradeoff.
“Maybe a little,” I admitted honestly. “But it makes sense. I don’t think evil will take time off for my maternity leave.”
I didn’t have to ask Nate how he felt. His disappointment was obvious as he zoned out, his gaze aimed at my stomach.
“So, I’m really Hades,” I stated, moving us on to better topics. “But not an evil one or the sassy blue cartoon version. I’m more of a…”
“Denny, law enforcement.”
“I’m more like law enforcement?” I asked, my brows lowering. “Huh?”
“Actually, that’s close. But no, there’s law enforcement up ahead.”
“Oh.” I slowed, yet that didn’t seem to appease Nate. “What’s wrong?”
“They’re on the next street. I saw them between the buildings.”
“Juno’s?”
“I think.”
“Shit.” Rather than dealing with the developing traffic of Saturday shoppers and nosy rubberneckers, I parked in the first curb spot I saw.
Hurrying from the car, we cut between buildings, coming out on the other side less than a block away from Novel Idea.
Four cop cars lined the curb in front of her store, a few officers standing and talking. Police tape was hung to block off the sidewalk.
We approached the yellow barrier but were stopped by an officer.
“This area is closed, folks,” he said.
“Hi,” I greeted. “We know the owner.”
The officer snorted, mumbling, “Small town gossips.”
“What?”
“Someone’s already tried that one. If you do know her, she’ll be in touch later.”
Looking back at Nate, I whispered, “Do you think you can use your talent?”
He nodded and opened his mouth, but the storefront door opened and an infuriated Juno stormed out.
“Thank the mothertruckin’ gods you’re here,” Juno shouted, stomping over to us. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, and a fitted hoodie and tiny yoga shorts made me wonder if she’d come straight from the airport, bed, or gym. It was freezing, but she didn’t so much as shiver. When she got closer and saw the tape blocking us off, she lied without hesitation. “They’re co-owners.”
The officer we’d been speaking to didn’t appear to believe her, but he lifted the tape anyway.
Nate and I ducked under and stepped onto the sidewalk. As soon as we got a view of the storefronts, my heart broke for Juno.
And for the books
And the candy.
Plus, the comics, the mystery figures, and the games.
They were destroyed. Every last thing.
“What happened?” I asked as we walked inside.
I hadn’t thought it possible, but it was even worse than it’d looked from the sidewalk.
Boxes, little baggies, and collectable figures were strewn around the three stores. Coffee beans, sugar, and cream were dumped in the coffee shop. Through the opened doorway on the other side, stacks of candies and shattered jars were visible.
I couldn’t even stand to look at the torn apart books. When I’d lost my grandma’s books, my only attachment had been sentimental.
But these were Juno’s livelihood.
Juno didn’t look as despondent as I felt. Seething, she scowled at everything.
I felt bad for whoever was going to be on the receiving end of her vengeance, because I had no doubt she’d make them pay.
“This clusterfuck was what I came home to. I close the shop for one week a year.” She lifted her hand, holding up a finger, though I got the impression it wasn’t the one she actually wanted to give. “That’s it. One. And this is what I get.”
“Where were Lea and Beth? Are they okay?” I asked.
“Beth went to see her family in New York. Since Beth’s mom is Lea’s great-granddaughter, Lea tags along for the first half before catching up with some ghosty pals. They aren’t due back for another week.”
“You’re going to have to call them,” Nate said, carefully choosing his path through the destruction.
“I already have,” Juno said, glancing at him before doing a double take. “Your eyes. Something is different.” She looked between the two of us. “With both of you. And I’m not talking about the sex.” Grimacing briefly, her face scrunched up, her brows furrowing. “Why do I feel nauseous?”
As a few people came in to take photographs and inspect the place, Juno fell silent. Her gaze darted around, but she kept her face toward the floor, avoiding all eye contact.
Did she do this herself?
Leaning into Nate, I tilted my head up. His focus was on Juno, too, his eyes narrowed. When he looked down at me, I tried to convey my suspicion.
He shook his head but still appeared confused when she once again turned away from a passing cop.
When everyone else was out of earshot, I whispered, “Juno, what’s going on?”
“I’ve got a problem,” she squeaked, covering her mouth when a small giggle burst through.
I flung my arm out over the heaps of torn pages. “Yeah, I got that.”
“No, not that. I mean, it is an issue. Especially since this place was protected with a security system and some pretty fucking powerful wards.”
“Wards?” I twisted around, not even sure what I was looking for.
“They cut the line to the camera and the security company. I let that salesman sucker me into the delu
xe setup, and according to the cops, disconnecting it so it wouldn’t alert the company was as easy as snipping two wires. Two! There probably wasn’t even a back and forth about whether to cut the red or blue one.”
“What about the wards?” I asked, still lost.
“That’s a mystery. Before I left, I cast a spell that would block entry to anyone. But even if I messed that up somehow, the place is always warded with the same one I put on your house, so—”
“Wait, my house is warded?”
“Yeah.” She jerked her head toward Nate. “Didn’t he tell you?”
He shook his head. “Sorry, my love, with all the chaos, I forgot.”
“It’s okay,” I reassured him, “I’m just surprised. What does it do?”
“A protection spell based on people’s motives. It’s why no one can rob me—well, why they couldn’t before. If someone tries to harm you, they’ll pass out.”
“That explains last night,” Nate said.
Juno opened her mouth, but I asked, “Will they die?”
“No!” Realizing she’d grabbed the attention of several cops, she lowered her voice. “Dude, I’m all about them learning a little lesson, but not the permanent kind. Why?”
It was my turn to cagily scan the room before quickly filling her in on the night before and Absolve.
“I guess that’s why I was able to make them leave,” I muttered, surprisingly disappointed.
I really liked being the one who kicked ass.
I’ve never thought of myself as a violent person, yet here we are.
Juno shook her head. “If someone tries to physically or mentally harm you, the ward will make them pass out so you could do whatever you needed. Call the cops, strip them naked and dump them on a street corner with a sharpie penis on their forehead… whatever the situation called for. Anything that happened beyond that last night was all you.”
“I told you, you’re not what you think you are.” Nate rubbed his bearded jaw. “You’re more of a… the mullet canine who chases the criminals?”
“A bounty hunter?”
He wrapped an arm around me, his hand giving my ass a good squeeze. “That’s it.”
“I’m Boba Fett?” I grinned. “That’s badass.”
“I’ll be Lando,” Juno shouted, giggling loudly before covering her mouth.
“Seriously, what’s going on with you?” I hissed. “Did you have a part in this?”
Anger and hurt replaced the bubbling joy in her expression. “No! These stores are my babies.”
“Miss,” an officer called from near the counter, “we need to check the office. Did you find the key?”
Her panicked eyes hit Nate’s, only relaxing when he gave a nearly imperceptible nod. We followed her back, none of us speaking as the cop’s steps fell in with ours.
Juno gave Nate one last glance before pulling a set of keys from her hoodie pocket. When she swung the door open, I saw her entire setup of witch supplies. I turned toward the cop, but he merely craned his neck to scan the room.
“I take it you don’t use the office much,” he said.
“No,” Juno said. “Paperwork is bad enough already. Doing it on the couch with Netflix in the background makes it bearable.”
“Wish my captain had that same opinion.” He walked away, meeting another cop near a knocked over bookcase. “The office was just a desk and chair. With as determined as they were, they must have assumed that’s where she kept the safe.”
Juno closed the door, and I saw what he’d been referring to. The door and frame were clawed to pieces. It looked as though someone had tried to pry it open with a crowbar. When that failed, the holes and splintered wood showed they’d busted out the big guns…
Literally.
But they hadn’t gotten in.
They’d tossed the place as though they were looking for something, yet they’d left valuable comics and kitchen equipment.
They had all that to easily steal, but instead they’d relentlessly attacked a room with no guaranteed payoff.
Even if her safe was in there, filled to bursting, they could’ve just taken what was readily available out front.
Unless they knew what the room truly held.
Unless I’d brought them there, practically handing them a treasure map.
“My planner. Absolve. Hale,” I spit, the name tasting foul. “I thought my planner was in my purse at Lula’s, but I remember it being on my desk. And then it was gone. He must have taken it last night.” I clutched at Nate’s shirt, as if he could save me from drowning in guilt. “He never went after us. Not once did he take a threatening step toward either of us. He must’ve known the ward was in place. His lackeys were just a distraction while he snooped for information.”
“Fuck,” Nate cursed through his clenched jaw.
“With the wards in place, I don’t know how he stole it…” I closed my eyes. “I did my pyrotechnics thing. Maybe he was holding it when I forced them out.”
Damn me and my badass skills.
“My entire life is in that planner, so it was just process of elimination until he found who had cast such a powerful spell.” Turning to Juno, unexpected tears burned in my eyes.. “I’m so sorry, this is all my fault. I’ll pay as much as I can to replace everything, and then keep going in installments until it’s paid off.” I examined the carnage again before adding, “In three hundred or so years.”
“If they’re hunting magic, they’d have found me anyway,” she reassured, giving my arm a gentle squeeze. “It’s the curse of being the best.”
“But if I hadn’t—”
“No, even then. In the magicks community, I’m a household name. And any one of those jealous and greedy wand wigglers would blow a load in their pants for the chance to take me down. If Absolve offered them even a fraction of my power in return, it’d be the ultimate happy ending with a prostate tickler. If anything, I owe you for speeding it up. At least this way it happened when Lea and Beth were gone. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened had they been here.”
That eased my guilt some. Had Hale discovered a prematurely expired woman, who knows what he would’ve done to her.
“Anyways, I have a bigger problem to deal with,” she whispered, her eyes darting over my shoulder.
When I tried to turn to see what she was looking at, she grabbed my hand and hauled me closer.
“Don’t,” she hissed.
“What’s going on?”
“There is a crazy hot detective over there. He said he needed to speak to me, but then he got pulled away.”
“Okay,” I drawled. I wouldn’t have guessed Juno got flustered around attractive guys.
Her voice lowered, and her eyes practically bugged out of her head. “I’m high as shit right now.”
“What?” Nate and I both asked at once.
Juno wagged her finger at us. “Hey, don’t judge me.”
“No judging,” I said, raising my hands into a defensive position. “I just wasn’t expecting it.”
“Haven’t you seen the frying pan with your brain?” Nate asked, looking surprisingly outraged.
Juno rolled her eyes, and I was struck by something about the interaction.
I wasn’t sure what it was, but it niggled at the back of my mind, like a melody I couldn’t place.
“Flying freaks me out, so I may have gone overboard with the weed gummy bears. They were red ones, and those are my favorite. And now I’ve got the giggles.” Her focus drifted back over my shoulder, a dreamy look mixing with panic.
“Weed is legal here,” I reminded her.
“Not this strand. Whoa boy, definitely not this one. And, legal or not, I don’t want to be giggling and talking about tacos with a cop. What if he doesn’t take the case seriously because he thinks I’m a stoner.” She bobbed her head back and forth. “Which I am, but that’s beside the point.”
“He’s not going to care.”
“Alternate possibility,” she said, lifting her finger
and tilting her head, “he does care, assumes this was a dealer shakedown, and there goes my insurance claim. Or worse, he thinks I’m a dealer in some The Wire style rivalry, and he hauls my hot ass off to jail.” She threw her arms up. “I look awful in orange.”
“You’re not going to jail,” I tried to reassure her, but when I subtly peeked over my shoulder, the attractive but stern detective in question looked like the kind who’d give his own grandmother a jaywalking ticket.
“If I do, write me. Smuggle in cakes.” She solemnly shook her head. “Don’t try to put a file in it or anything, I just really like cakes.”
“Deal.” With that settled, and Juno calmed, I started planning.
My guilt may have been lessened, but two other emotions took its place.
Anger.
And determination.
Nate
Something didn’t add up.
Absolve was behind the attack on the store, that much was certain.
It was the timing that didn’t make sense.
Denny believed her initial phone call to Hale and missing planner had brought this on. Her shoulders were heavy with guilt. It radiated off her.
But it wasn’t her fault.
Something else was in play, I just didn’t know what.
Juno had been right when she’d said she was powerful. She had the kind of power Absolve hunted relentlessly for. They should’ve found her years before, but they hadn’t.
Or maybe they had, but they’d waited to strike until I found her, too.
The only thing I knew was Absolve’s resurgence coinciding with my return wasn’t a coincidence.
“Tell me more about my talents,” Denny ordered when Juno went to talk with her insurance agent.
“I don’t know, my little hellion,” I said honestly. The gods, angels, and Levi were vague in the specifics, focusing instead on the big picture. “Only you can answer that.”
“Aren’t I your assistant or something?”
My chuckle turned into a deep laugh as I realized she was serious. “No, my love. If anything, I’m yours. I reap them, but you can locate the souls and guide them much easier than I ever could.”
While it was true that I could do all three steps while Denny could only do two, it was a tedious process when I lacked the skills to locate and guide. Levi had smirked when he’d told me that, thanks to him, Denny could do both better than I ever could.
