Monster Baiter (An Obscure Magic Book 6) (10 page)

The woman who looked a lot like their friend Benny smiled. “You can’t beat the markup on coffee. Would you like a true reading?”

Sophy nodded. “Please.”

Jennifer raised her hand, and a server brought Sophy another cappuccino. “Cradle it in your hands and take a sip.”

Sophy didn’t really want one, but she did as she was told.

When she put the cup down, Jennifer took it and focused on the foam and coffee.

“I see a man in your future, pure and impure. His mark is the spiral horn, but he fights his nature each day. Interesting. Another man with glowing power also calls to you, but he is driven by selfish desires and an urge to collect.”

Jennifer blew softly across the surface, raising one hand above the coffee to hold the steam and read it. “You want but can’t have. Desire but are rebuffed, and will not chase what you truly seek. You need a partner in all things, but the horned man is fighting you every step of the way.”

Jennifer handed her cup back. “You are screwed.”

Sophy was startled into laughing. It sounded just like Benny.

Minerva’s coffee was in her hands a moment later, and Min’s grin faded.

“You are being hunted, and he will catch you. The gods will come at your call, but you will have to choose, sunlight or moonlight, love or family.”

Minerva blinked. “Right. Okay.”

“Oh, and he will be here in five minutes, so if you don’t want to deal with him, I would get going.” Jennifer winked.

Minerva was on her feet in a moment. She smiled at Sophy. “Sorry, but I don’t want to do this tonight.”

Sophy waved her off and gestured for Jennifer to take her place. “Have a seat and take a break.”

Jennifer sat with an air of relief. “Thanks. I need this. I swear, I had no idea what I was getting into when I went into partnership and decided to read fortunes as a hook to get butts in the seats.”

“You are doing well with your acquired skills. Most folks would have run to another city by now.”

Jennifer shrugged. “This is my home. My entire life was skewed by what happened, I am trying to start over, and familiar surroundings are definitely helping. The seer skills are a shock, but I am getting used to them.”

“You are doing exceptionally well. I have seen dozens, if not hundreds, of mages and a few seers. Coming into your power is always a struggle.”

Jennifer chuckled. “I am just lucky that Benny had such a strong grip on her magic. That path imprinted on my mind, and I am grateful for it.”

“I know she regrets what was done.”

“I know it, too. We have had a few long chats, and the court case settled it all. Postpartum depression is a bitch, and it can make mothers do weird things. This was just one of them.”

Jennifer looked over to Magnus. “I think he is my next stop. I have noticed him looking at you. Are you two an item?”

Sophy chuckled. “Just work acquaintances. Have at him.”

Jennifer pushed herself to her feet and walked over to Magnus. They spoke for a few moments before he picked up a cup, sipped and handed it over.

Sophy nursed her second monster cappuccino while they talked.

She smiled when she saw a familiar face enter the café. The rest of the patrons stopped and stared, but they had reason to. It wasn’t every day that the humanish form of a dragon wandered into a coffee shop.

She sipped at her coffee again and watched him approach; his nostrils flared.

He walked right up to Minerva’s chair. “How much did I miss her by?”

Sophy simply smiled and sipped at her coffee. “Have a seat, Zemuel.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Sophia DeMonstre? I haven’t seen you since you were a teen.”

“I know, but you make an impression.”

When he sat, the chair creaked. For beings that flew, dragons were not lightweights. He picked up the cup of coffee that Minerva had left behind. He flicked his tongue out a disturbing—or intriguing—degree and scowled. “I missed her by minutes.”

“You did. She was out of here like a scalded cat. So, why are you stalking her?”

He flicked his bat-like wings and smiled. “She’s mine. She’s perfect and she is mine.”

He was elegantly dressed, as always. Dragons had an innate fashion sense. His dark shirt set off his silver skin and dark-grey hair. He was a man made of stone and air. It was a strange combination, but it suited him.

“I know that you think so, but she is her own being first. Remember that when you deal with her. She is also powerful enough to take any appendages you have and turn them into innies.”

He smirked. “I will keep it in mind. How goes your hunt for a mate?”

“I have only started.”

“What about that mage?”

“Alaneus? He is after my pedigree. I need someone who can be a partner.”

“Ah, interesting. That is a tall order. Your family has grown more powerful with every generation.”

She smiled, “We aren’t up to dragon standard, but we do all right.”

She paused as she realized that it meant Minerva
was
powerful enough to attract a dragon. Well, it made sense. She was the most impressive mage that Sophy had ever met.

“I might start looking in the elves. They usually go after blondes with weirdly long lifespans and consistent youth.”

“Invite me to the nuptials. I would like to see what you consider to be a good match.”

She raised her bowl to him. “Keep me posted if you catch Minerva. She’s a quick one.”

He sighed. “I know. Her trail is gone now. She knew I was coming.”

“There’s a seer here. So, yeah, she knew.”

He grimaced, his fine silver features pulling for a moment before they smoothed into incorruptible planes again. He looked carved of silver and was very pretty to watch.

Jennifer and Magnus were still in detailed discussion about whatever Jennifer was seeing. When the cup shattered in her hands, she looked over to Sophy with wild eyes.

“I believe that is my cue to leave. I do apologize, Zemuel. All the ladies seem to be running out on you tonight.”

“My ego can take it. Have a good night, Sophia.” He reached out and kissed the back of her hand.

She blinked and smiled. “That never gets old.”

“Good to know. Nice to know I still have moves.” He winked and inclined his head.

She glanced to Magnus, but he was already on his feet. She left the café and headed for her car. He was right behind her.

They headed back to her house, and she said something before she could change her mind. “You can sleep in my bed until we find something else.”

He nodded. “That is very agreeable.”

She thought about what she would need to kit out the couch, but there was no way he would fit, so it had to be her.

Sophy was grinning when she woke up. Magnus had been pissed when he realized she wasn’t sharing the bed. Taking the couch was uncomfortable, but it was better than snuggling up to someone who had no interest in her.

She tiptoed through the bedroom and into her bathroom. She brushed her teeth and took a quick shower before she clued into her lack of clean clothing. Magic in her home was limited, so she crept back into the bedroom, wearing a towel and water.

“You can feel free to drop the towel. Your virtue is safe with me.”

She stiffened but flicked on the light from across the room. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“I wasn’t sleeping. I have spent centuries asleep. I was thinking about what you said.”

She collected her underwear and a tunic and leggings.

“You can tell me about that when I have changed.”

She slipped into the bathroom again and changed with as much speed as she could manage. She entered the bedroom again and wished she hadn’t.

Clothed, Magnus was impressive. Naked, he was the perfection of a statue come to life. Hairier but still perfect.

He stretched and she stared. Finally, she shook herself and left without saying a word. She made her own coffee and waited while the drips cascaded through the machine.

Delwin woke up and greeted her before pulling out a griddle that she didn’t know she had and starting pancakes.

Magnus came out wearing only the jeans from the day before. “I believe I am going to need to work on my wardrobe.”

She took at the hair on his chest, the muscles and the pattern of scars, and she nodded absently. “Yeah.”

Delwin smiled. “If I didn’t know you slept on the couch, I would say you have morning-after fascination, Sophia.”

With Magnus grinning at her fixation, she blushed and fixed her coffee. “Right. I will be back in one piece or blown to hell and back. ‘scuse me.”

“What about pancakes?” Delwin whined.

“Put them under the warmer, and I will be back in a moment. I just need to finish another phase of the process.”

She escaped. There was no other word for it. She sprinted to the workshop and locked the door behind her. With deliberate focus and a cup of coffee fuelling her, she set the solutions to distill and returned to the house.

The pancakes were ready, and she took a stack of three, pouring syrup on them before topping them with a cube of butter. Bacon would have been perfect, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

The boys were somewhere else. She ate in silence, got a second helping and ate that as well. After, she put her dishes in the washer and headed back to the workshop with a fresh cup of coffee.

She fiddled with the distillers and checked the level of final product. Another hour and it would be enough.

“How is it coming?” Magnus asked her from the doorway.

“Almost ready.”

“So, I would like to straighten out a few things from yesterday.”

She glanced at him. “It isn’t necessary.”

“Yes, it is. You do not have final say on this. I do find you attractive; I have just been working with you for a week and am interested in you achieving your goals. Your current goal is to remove that curse, and that is what I have been focusing on. I saw the problem; I didn’t see you. That was my mistake, and I apologize.”

She inclined her head. “I accept your apology, but I still have work to do.”

“And I am here to assist you, but afterward, I would like to pursue you.”

The phrasing was weird, but she smiled. “Fine. Let’s get through this, and then, we will see what is what.”

“Right. What can I do?”

She smiled. “Turn up that flame and watch for ten millilitres of liquid in the receptacle.”

He did as she asked, and together, they accelerated the condensation process until they had what was needed.

They shut down the flames, and she looked at the small quantities of blue and red liquid.

She set a third beaker down and got the book out of the secure cabinet.

She loaded everything on a tray and carried it into what she termed the
exercise room.
If anything was going to be blown up, this was the place to do it.

The worktable in the middle of the room was wood and bolted to the floor. She set the tray down and took a few deep breaths.

“Magnus, you might want to wait outside.”

He shook his head and closed the door, bolting it. “No, I need to be here for this.”

She thought he just wanted to observe. She placed her hands on the case and started to chant in harsh words that scraped her throat. The two liquids on either side of the book began to boil, and the case bucked.

Sophia felt the heat under her hands and let go of the book, grabbing the two liquids, dumping them into the empty third container and then grabbing it and doing a shot of scalding magical concentrate.

She focused and sprayed the case with a fine mist of the liquid. Across the magical plain, she could feel the layers of spell work crack until they broke apart.

She finished spraying the charmed liquid over the case and resumed her pressure to break the curse on the object.

Instead of losing power, the surge of energy knocked her backward. The backwash of power hurt every inch of her, and she screamed as she was pushed to the wall.

The power poured out for an eternity until it suddenly stopped.

Laughter rang through the room, and it wasn’t pleasant laughter.

She opened her eyes and saw the face from the book of demons.

“Arion.”

He smiled and stepped toward her, his rams horns curling wildly on his head. “Ah, the Cursed One. I have to admit that I didn’t think you would be able to do it, but you did. You pulled me from the demon zone and into the human world again. How delightful.”

He stepped toward her, grabbing her by the front of her tunic and pulling her up against the wall. “What a pretty little thing you are. I have my freedom and a pet, all in one.”

A low growl came from the side of the room. “Put her down, Father.”

Dazed, Sophia looked over toward Magnus.

He was standing tall, his dark hair flowing down his back, shoulders wide, and two long spiralling horns emerged from his forehead.

“You are one of mine? How delightful. Give me a moment while I break her in and you can have a turn.” Arion licked down her neck and over the front of her tunic.

Her senses were screaming so loudly she was deafened. This was a true monster, and she was acting as bait whether she intended to or not.

Magnus was a foot shorter than Arion, but he still managed to spin the demon around.

Sophia dropped to the floor, and she landed hard but got herself together. She couldn’t use defensive spells, but she could use protective spells for someone else. She concentrated on Magnus as he attacked with fists and horns.

The wounds that the demon inflicted were healed seconds later, and Magnus was goring and slashing at Arion with fury. He was getting stronger with every step.

She focused on him and pushed herself to dump as much power into Magnus as she could manage. His skin turned the same glossy pearl as his horns, and Arion’s attacks skidded off his skin.

The demon fell back and dropped to his knees. Finally, he began to beg for relief.

Magnus growled. “You should not have touched her.”

He reached up, cracked off one horn and ran it through Arion’s chest.

Sophia had never seen a demon die before. The light went from his eyes, and the power in his body flared outward in a cataclysmic explosion that flung her back once again.