I looked up. “Okay, I’m set. Since you’re a wizard, I assume you can do something of use if we encounter another portal?”
“Of course.” A smirk curved his lips.
Tethered to the pesky, smug wizard with the substantial cock. Great luck I was having. “Okay, well then, what do you need in case we encounter a demon?”
He pulled his hands out of his pockets and held them, palms out, at me.
“I mean like herbs or spell ingredients?”
He shook his head. “Ahknim have no need of artifice. Like your fluffy energy balls, which were impressive by the way, my innate energy is enough.”
“Finally, a compliment. Thank you.” My cheeks heated, and it was ridiculous. “While we’re talking about spells, what spell did you cast on me when I grabbed your wrist to get my book back?
“Spell?”
“You cast some kind of glamor or something, to confuse me?”
“I did nothing.” He rubbed his jaw.
“You’re lying. You affected me somehow.” His finger ran along his lower lip, and I could not look away.
He smiled as if noticing. “Perhaps it is because we are bound together. Our proximity blurs. I expect when you touch me that it has some effect, but maybe it is enhanced by your natural abilities.”
“So, you felt nothing? No golden glowiness?”
“Golden? No. Nothing like that. Your touch was not unpleasant.” He grinned.
“Thanks.” The light from the window caught the silver of his scar. I wanted to ask how he’d gotten it, but it wasn’t the right time.
He studied me. “I want to be honest with you, as I think you’re now stuck with me for a while. This is not a bad thing for me, but it might be for you. I’m sorry about that. Truly. I’m interested in what else you’re able to do because you may be my only hope at returning to the Garden.”
I laughed at him. “That’s a famous movie line: ‘You’re my only hope.’”
His brows pulled together. “Well, you might be.”
I settled my messenger over my shoulder. “Whatever it takes to get rid of you. I assure you I’m up for that. Come on, let’s get to Rose’s before she takes her afternoon nap.”
“This Rose is a flower seller?”
“Yeah, she sells flowers, herbs, crystals, candles, and a bunch of other essentials. But she’s way, way more than a seller. She’s a friend, and she might have an idea of how to deal with you.”
“You mean how to send me back to the Garden?”
I nodded and opened the bedroom door, but as the bracelet slid down my wrist, the only thing I was thinking about was the gentle brush of his fingers against my cheek.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Rose’s Apothecary—Sage, Flame, & Crystal—was a forty-five-minute bus and light rail adventure. With me constantly looking around for demon portal traces, Ranth’s occasional bizarre questions earned him some sharp glares from other passengers. His outfit was apparently a conversation starter. Who knew vampire kitties were so popular? I breathed a sigh of relief as Muni dumped us on Rose’s block.
If you didn’t know it was there, it would be easy to walk past the fuchsia painted building sandwiched between Haight and Cole.
It was hard to find a San Francisco residential street without trees or flowers, and I loved the city’s positive naturalenergy. Rose’s shop was through an arch and at the back of the square garden-like courtyard draped with star jasmine and bougainvillea.
Raspy Khaki bells chimed our arrival as the door swung inward. The bells were supposed to be imbued with power to ward off demons. Ranth studied them, giving them an extra tinkle as he walked underneath. My resistance to believe what he’d told me was starting to concern even me. Still, something about him irked me into being unreasonable.
I inhaled. If you blended a sun-warmed herb garden with an artisan oil perfumery and added a dash of soy wax and woodsmoke, you’d pretty well nail the scent of Rose’s place. Hand-dipped candles and bundles of dried herbs hung from the ceiling, and essential spell craft elements lined the reclaimed wooden shelves. My boots sank into the vintage rugs covering the shop’s floor as I motioned Ranth to follow me.
Mom had always warned me against practitioners who pushed to the fringes. Rose was on the cusp of the “you can’t come back from it” line. Maybe she’d already crossed it. My mother likely wouldn’t have approved of Rose, but who I trusted came from my heart. Rose had all my trust.
