Page 139 of The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium

A question niggled at Talula’s brain. “Kiki, I tried to conjure your ring, but Dahlia came along with it. Do you know why that happened?”

“The ring is made of the same metal as Damien’s cuffs,” Kiki explained. “They can only be removed by the wearer’s own volition. When you conjured the ring, it couldn’t be parted from its wearer. So the wearer came, too.”

A tiny gleam of hope sparked in Talula’s chest. “Could I do that with the hunters’ cuffs?”

Kiki squinted, as if staring at a problem set in their head. A wicked smile uncurled. “Conjuring isn’t technically harmful magic. But I made enough for his whole evil army, Talula.”

“All the hunters wear them, all the time?”

“Every single one of them. They have to.” Kiki nodded. “It’s something Damien insists on. Vehemently.”

“There was a loophole in the map; is there a loophole in the cuffs? A weakness?” Dahlia asked.

Kiki shook their head. “I made those before I learned of his hunts. The cuffs are as impervious as I could make them. They can only be broken by the same thing that will eventually break us all—” Kiki clasped their hands over their mouth. They turned to stare excitedly at Talula. “Time.”

The plan arranged itself in Talula’s head, ingredients assembling to form a daunting recipe. Terrified, Talula managed a weak smile. “I have an idea.”

She shared it. Simon called it ludicrous but helped adjust the magical parameters. Dahlia, with her plotting brain, tweaked it. Kiki offered insight into Damien and his likely countermoves. Twenty minutes before noon, their plan was ready.

“This is big, tricky magic,” Simon said worriedly. “You will almost certainly die.”

“I’ll try really hard not to,” Talula promised.

Dahlia leaned her lips to Talula’s temple. “Please, please keep yourself safe.”

Talula tilted her head to catch Dahlia’s mouth in a soft, slow kiss they knew they didn’t have time for. When they broke apart, Dahlia stood, and Simon followed her lead.

“Guard her with your life, Simon,” Kiki demanded. “She’s my favorite human.”

“Mine, too,” Talula whispered.

Simon gave Talula a long, serious look. “You be careful, my dear.”

Then, Simon and Dahlia left.

Talula counted her breaths, in and out. “Are you ready, Kiki?”

The jinn tightened their headscarf and popped their hat back on with all the grim militance of a soldier donning their uniform before battle. “Whenever you are, sweetheart.”

Talula took a moment. Centered herself. Reminded herself of her strength. Pictured Dahlia’s sleepy face as morning light gilded her cheekbones. Then, as always, Talula put on her apron.

“Let’s do it.”

At noon on the dot, Talula opened the café door to Damien and a few of his men. “I have what you’re looking for. Call off the attack.”

“When I see where you’ve got the latest additions to our hunting menu, I’ll tell my guys to stand down.”

“Fine.” She moved out of the way so Damien and the other hunters could enter the café. She locked the door and flipped the Open sign to Closed. “Follow me.”

The men followed Talula through the Employees Only door and down the basement stairs. When they rounded the corner, Talula heard their shocked gasps. The Volta was particularly active that day, rippling blue through its new protective archway.

“What is this?” Damien eyed the Volta with interest.

“It’s a small branch of an ancient well of power. The branch has been channeled into a portal.” Talula placed herself in front of the blue whirl of magic. “We use Samhain as a cover so magical beings can visit their loved ones safely. A few have already gone through, but they’ll be back here before midnight. More will come.”

“And we’ll be stocked up on prey for the next hundred hunts.” A dark hunger contorted Damien’s handsome face as he took in the Volta. “You’ve given us a very pretty barrel to shoot in, Talula.”

“Then call off the kill order.” Talula tilted her chin so she could meet his hollow eyes.