“Can’t I just run my cafe in peace!?” I scream into the endless void.
Literally,The Void.
The Void is the center of the fault that runs through the alley behind my shop. It’s a giant cavern between worlds that currently shimmers with black and purple energy as I slam my staff into the ground, muttering a curse—this time the magical kind—as magic runes swirl, sealing the damn fault back up so no more skaddlers can get through.
At least, sealing it up for a little while, anyway.
It’ll open again.
It’s just a matter of time.
And I’d better be here to shut it. Can’t get any damn peace, but this is what I get for being a Gatekeeper.
Not that I ever had a choice in the matter.
I was born into this role.
A Gatekeeper is like a sorceress on steroids, but it’s a magical role you either inherit or you don’t. I’m one of the so-called lucky ones.
And that’s why I hired June the moment she turned in her resume.
I could sense her magic a mile away, sealed and untapped as it was.
I hired her when she appeared in my cafe looking for a job, knowing nothing about magic. It’s part of my role—keep an eye on the balance of the world. Try to keep people out of trouble. Yada, yada.
Sorceresses like her, if they don’t ever unravel their magic, if they don’t discover it, they can go on living happy little lives—providing no oneelseunravels it for them.
I figured I’d watch over June and keep her safe. And then,bam, one day she shows up with a demigod in tow, and a magical connection to boot.
Never know what to do with that girl.
I shake my head, hands on my hips.
That’s why I gave her the sword. I figured she might need it, and it seems I was right.
I sigh, dusting my hands on my apron.
Maybe I can train her to help me with these damn skaddlers.
Sy
My brother is a goddamn menace. He’s all over the damn news.
Not directly.
Nobody but me knows it’s him.
But it’s gotta be. Nobody else but a newly-freed demigod would cause this much destruction.
And it’s about time someone did something about it.
But…how to catch him? That’s the question.
52
The Hot Guy Gets Covered in Flour
You
