Page 68 of Magic and Muffins

“I promise I felt nothing but pleasure. Honestly, I think I completely lost the sense of who I was. I only wanted…sex. And Shepard was the same. He growled at her when she touched him at first, but once he was inside of me, he didn’t notice her at all.”

Cross kissed my forehead and shut off the water.

“I can smell how nervous you are, Everly. As long as you liked what he did, I promise Shepard is safe from me.”

When he was done, he wrapped me in a fluffy towel and cuddled me on the bed. Shepard came in a moment later, looking at us. I patted the space beside me.

Once he lay on my other side, Cross said, “Tell me what happened.”

“It was a setup. She used the sex relic to distract me and take my ring.”

I could see Shepard’s fury and touched his cheek.

“It’s not your fault.”

He closed his eyes.

“Rather than blame yourself, you should ask yourself why Effora would risk your anger,” Cross said. “Do you think she’s working with Orphia?”

Shepard shook his head. “Effora might be speaking to Vivian, but I think that’s as far as her connection with Orphia goes. And I think the only reason she’s still dealing with Vivian is because of his hate for Orphia. But then again, she said she had a relic that would help us, which was obviously a lie. As far as I know, it wasn’t in the room she took us to. I’m not sure what to believe anymore.”

“I can’t see Effora working with Orphia,” Cross said. “We were there in the room to smell Effora’s distaste when Orphia came onto the video call. I don’t believe that was faked.”

“Why would Effora want the ring then?” I asked. “When you told her about the portal relic the Hunters were looking for, she sounded pretty mad about Orphia wanting to open the portal. The safest place for the rings is with the bearers so they’re not all together.”

“They aren’t all together. Not yet. Orphia has Curran’s stone,” Cross said. “That’s it. If Effora is working with her, that would mean she also has Effora’s stone and Shepard’s. Effora isn’t foolish enough to put that much power into Orphia’s hands. But, even if she were, I still have my ring and won’t surrender it easily.”

Shepard scoffed. “If Everly were taken, you would give it in a heartbeat.”

Cross’ hand smoothed over my arm. “Perhaps it would be wise if you didn’t attend tonight's meeting.”

“I disagree. We can hope Effora isn’t working with Orphia, but shemightbe. Which means we need to find Orphia fast to stop whatever magic trick she thinks she’s going to pull.

“And before you say that’s exactly why I should stay locked in this room, I want to ask both of you how much more danger I would be in if Orphia opened the portals.”

Shepard sighed and wrapped his arms around my middle, pulling me flush against him and out of Cross’ arms. Cross inched closer until we were touching again. It was nice getting a group hug.

“How much time until we need to leave?” I asked.

“You should start getting ready,” Shepard said.

“But you probably need to shower again,” Cross added. “It would be best if you didn’t smell like us.”

“All right.” I quickly climbed over Shepard and regretted it immediately. Everything between my legs ached. “While I’m doing that, Shepard can tell Vena to shower, and Cross can get me pain relievers and some electrolytes.”

I held up my hand to forestall their worry. “I’m not in real pain, but I think it would be better if I weren’t walking with a hitch.”

Their slow smiles of understanding had me shaking my head and retreating to the bathroom for a second time. I’d just wrapped a clean towel around me when Vena knocked on the bathroom door.

“Oh, sister from another mister, I’m here to raid your closet. Can I come in?”

“Come in,” I said.

Vena rushed into the room and hugged me enthusiastically.

“Welcome to pound town, Everly! I heard you’re walking with a hitch and need some pain relievers. So tell me, what’s he working with? Are we talking a rolling pin or more like that juicer I picked up?”

I rolled my eyes at her.

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