I ransacked my carved, redwood bookcase beside my altar table for anything that might help. Most of the books were bedtime reads on herbs, spellcraft, and demon types. None explained how to banish cursed bracelets or the wizards they unleashed—if that’s what he really was.
The wizard’s presence seeped into the room behind me.
“I thought I told you to stay put,” I said, whirling to face him. Goddesses, he was stunningly handsome. Perhaps it was a spell.
“There’s nothing else to do in there. I already reorganized your herb cabinet.” He smirked.
Internally, I screamed,You reorganized my cabinet?But I calmed myself. No reason to upset the potentially dangerous wizard-thing. “There’s nothing for you to do in here until I figure out exactly what you are.”And how dangerous you are. I didn’t say that out loud, either. I backed up a step. He hadn’t attacked me, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t.
“I told you, I’m Ahknim.”
“Exactly. That tells me nothing.” I’d cross-checked all the spirit and demon directories. What I really needed was some scholarly expertise—and some backup. I grabbed the emergency burner phone out of its lead box and went to the window. I’d have to put a hole in the wards to get a text out. Electronics had air signatures that I couldn’t risk messing with my wards. Anything modern with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi wouldn’t work in my bedroom.
“What are you doing?” Ranth asked, walking toward me with a fluidity that reminded me how muscled he was.
“Stop. Sit there and don’t move.” I pointed to the clothing-covered amethyst velvet chair in the far corner and set the phone on the windowsill. Satisfied he’d changed direction, I closed my eyes, reaching out for the cut I’d placed in the ward. Delicately, I severed the stitches on the wraps of power until the slit gaped wide enough for my hand. Then I opened my eyes and grabbed the phone. The ward was designed to self-heal, so I only had a minute or two. I typed in the passcode and then a quick SOS to Ori.
Be careful coming in. Portal in backyard, phone in kitchen, strange wizard in bedroom. I’m safe—I think.
I glanced at Ranth who was standing beside the bed, interacting with my stuff like a human.
Terrifying.
I swallowed, considering my options. Keeping control was my number one goal.
“So how does whatever that is work? Is it a spell?” he asked, waving at the window. His eyes were bottomless pools of darkness, now.
“No, it’s tech not a spell, but it’s still sort of magical in a way. My friend, Juke, is a tech genius. She figured out how I could make a hole in the ward for an emergency, but this is the first time I’ve had to use it. She’ll be lit that it worked.”
“Interesting. I don’t quite understand, but perhaps you’ll explain when you’re not so busy.” He grinned and picked up myLanguage of Herbsbook. His towel slipped, giving me a healthy view of gorgeous and tantalizing hip bones.
“Put that down,” I snapped, then texted Ori.
Sorrel:
If you can, bring clothes for an adult male: pants, shirt, socks. I glanced at his feet. Shoes or sandals. Big ones. Like 13 or 14.
Ori:
I’ll make a detour and be there in 15
I didn’t bother asking how she’d find clothes and still make it here that fast. The ward opening was almost closed. I got a couple more searches in before the cell service died, but the internet had nothing for Ankh-nim, S-fers, D-rellers, or pesky cursed wizards. With a sigh and silent hope that Ori would have some great ideas, I closed the window.
Ranth was holding my purple fluorite gemstone D20. “What are the numbers for? It looks lovely outside. Are we going to stay inside all day?” he asked, flopping down on my violet duvet embroidered with my natal astrological chart.
“Don’t you dare get cozy on my bed. Get up and put that down. It’s a die, for RPGs.” I yanked the matching purple silk pillow out from behind him.
“What’s an RPG?” He rolled the die between his fingers.
“Role-playing games, and I asked nicely.” I pointed for him to replace the die on the shelf, then returned the cell to its box.
He got up and adjusted the towel again before setting the die back in its tray. “This is an elegant spell. Did you cast it yourself?” He waved at the room.
Dazed, I leaned on the wall. “How in the hellebore can you see my ward?”
His nose wrinkled like I’d yelled at him, making the little scar stand out. “Because I’m a wizard like you.” His eyes met mine.
Endless wells of walnut shell ink. Intense and deep enough to drown in.
