Page 37 of Found Objects

“Yes.”

“And that’s because that was your intention when you drew it.”

“Correct.”

“Okay.” He nodded, grinning, clearly pleased that I told him the truth. “So you can draw a boundary but your magic is rudimentary at best?”

“You sound like you don’t believe me.”

“No, I believe you, but it seems to me a boundary that powerful would need to be made by someone very powerful themselves.”

“It’s actually a very basic warding spell,” I told him. “A lot of people draw circles all the time to keep things out and keep them safe.”

“Like on TV shows where they make salt circles.”

“Exactly.”

“But because you’re magic, it has a bit more bite.”

I chuckled. “Because I’m a creature of punishment, it has more bite.”

“What kind of punishment?”

He leered and accompanied it with an eyebrow waggle, and I heard his suggestive tone clear as day. I scowled at him.

“What?” He was defensive.

“This is not supposed to be a pervy conversation.”

“You’re the one who brought up punishment.”

“Wow.”

“Whatever. Judge me later, just know that if you want to punish me, for anything, you go right ahead. I’m ready.”

I tried really hard not to smile at him. This was not at all how I’d seen this conversation ever going. I’d expected fear or disbelief, not him taking it all in stride. “Come over here and sit down at the table.”

He moved quickly to the kitchen, joining me at my large butcher block table, taking a seat on one of the high stools across from me.

I passed him his food and utensils and asked him what he wanted to drink.

“Do you have orange juice?”

I shot him a look.

“Sorry, some people don’t,” he said, looking down at the open container.

“What people?”

He was laughing as I brought him a glass, set it down beside him and waited.

“What?”

“Try the omelet.”

He had a pained expression on his face.

“I promise you that fake ham will not kill you.”