“A minor miracle,” Maya agreed. For over four decades she’d considered Tia her nemesis. The past few months had gone a long way to heal their old wounds, but their relationship was still a work in progress.
“I’ll admit that I’m impressed,” Peri murmured. “It’s impossible to determine where your magic joins with Tia’s. The weave is flawless.”
Maya took a moment to admire her work. Peri was right. It was flawless.
“You’re not the only mage with skills, although I’ll admit I don’t have your power.”
“Yes, well. I am blessed.” Peri batted her lashes before stepping through the weaves. “Still, the melding is beautiful.”
Maya snorted. “Did you come here to admire my shield?”
“One of many reasons,” Peri confessed, the amusement fading as she glanced around the shop that was now nothing more than an empty shell despite the residue of magic that lingered.
Hexx had spent over a century peddling black market spells and potions out of this store. Nothing short of burning it to the ground and salting the earth could get rid of the echoes of power.
Maya grimaced. She recognized that tone. “Oh no.”
Peri held up a slender hand. “First, I’m here to make sure you’re okay. Your text was pretty vague. What’s going on? And why are you hanging around this god-awful place?”
Maya shared what had happened from the moment her trap had been triggered by Tia until she’d ended up twiddling her thumbs in the empty pawnshop. Peri listened in silence, more resigned than surprised. Over the past couple of years they’d endured rogue magic, the end of the world, and the return of pure evil from the dead.
Of course they were going to be forced to battle against some weird glowing slime.
“And you don’t know where the stuff came from that’s attacking Joe?”
“Not a clue. Yet another mystery on a long list of mysteries.”
Peri wrinkled her nose. “That’s the second reason I’m here.”
Maya braced herself. “Has something happened?”
“I have a video I think you should see.”
“Okay.”
Peri pulled her phone out of her back pocket, moving to stand next to Maya so she could see the screen.
“I was sent this security footage from one of Valen’s guards. He was on patrol this evening in Lenox Hill when he sensed a disturbance at a local demon gallery. There’s been trouble there before, so he went to check it out.”
Maya was confused. She was called in to help when a mage was involved in a local disturbance, but never demons.
“And?”
“I’ll let you see for yourself.”
Peri pressed her finger against the screen to play the black-and-white security video. Leaning forward, Maya watched as a youngblond-haired woman strolled into the elegant shop, pausing in the center of the room as a large demon appeared from the back.
Maya sent Peri a puzzled frown. “Is she a human?”
Peri froze the video. “Look closely at her coat.”
Maya jerked in shock. She’d recognize that oversized winter coat with large silver buttons anywhere.
“The thief.”
“Yes.” Peri touched the screen to allow the video to resume.
“There’s no sound?” Maya demanded.
