Page 31 of Strike It Witch

“Sorry, but I can’t send Fennel into the underworld for a while. He got into trouble last night.”

A bemused look crept over the peaks and valleys of Sexton’s harsh, angular face. “Demonic cat nip?”

“He has a problem,” I said.

“We all have our addictions. But no. This will not require a trip to any other realm. It is something to be done here, in the human world.”

“Something you can’t do?”

“It would be … messy were I to get involved.”

“What’s in it for me?” I asked.

“A great deal of money, if you are successful.” He rose like a glitch-in-the-matrix shot in a horror movie. No time passed between him slouching in his chair and standing upright. “Contact me if you’re interested.”

He moved in two flashes. In the first, he made it halfway to the door, and in the second, he stood on the opposite side of it. Then he was gone.

The world snapped back into full focus. Ronan’s head swiveled around, and the look he gave me could’ve flash-frozen a side of beef.

I threw some money on the table, gave him an apologetic shrug, and hustled out before he could confront me. Ronan might not have been able to see Sexton, but his wolf was no doubt scenting the demon. He had to be pissed I’d allowed one into his bar.

That I had no idea I’d been dealing with a demon until Sexton showed up wouldn’t matter to Ronan. And if the shoe had been on the other foot, it wouldn’t have mattered to me.

No one wanted demons around. They were scary as hell.

Chapter

Nine

“Between three and four a.m. then?

“The witching hour, yeah.”

“You got the gravedigger demon’s word?” Ida paced from one end of her living room to the other, her leopard-and-zebra-print swimsuit coverup fluttering behind her. The pink night-vision sunglasses were atop her head.

She’d loved my gift, as I’d hoped she would.

It had taken me two hours to cast the spell on them with help from Fennel and Cecil. I’d finished it a half hour ago, exhausting what remained of my magic in the process. I’d hoped to take another nap before tonight, power up a little, but no dice. As it was, I was late getting to Ida’s.

“He swore on his honor.” I picked at the red strap on my black-and-white, polka-dot bikini top and tugged up the high-waisted red bottoms.

“Honor, right.” The mobile home floor shuddered when she pivoted with a stomp and paced to the window.

“Let me put you up at a hotel tonight. That nice one with the indoor pool in La Paloma.” I did a mental calculation. With the money Sexton had paid me today, I had just enough money tocover her stay and the spell renewal. “Or I could stay here with you. Or you could stay in the Airstream with me.” I peered into a rainbow-colored, stuffed-full tote bag sitting on a dining room chair. “I demand to be the little spoon, though. You’re eating cheese tonight.”

“Like you can digest dairy any better than I can, smart ass.” She scrunched up her nose and lifted her chin. “Thanks for the offer, but as long as you’re sure you have the demon’s word, I’ll be fine in my own home.”

“Ida, I’m sorry.” I reached for her arm, and she halted her pacing.

“It’s all right, Betty. I understand. Besides, Sexton and I have a truce. I don’t reanimate any of his charges and he doesn’t murder my soul.”

My stomach dropped. “Oh goddess. I didn’t realize he could do that.” I patted myself, searching for my phone, until I remembered I’d left it on the charger at home. “I’ll be right back. This isn’t happening. No way am I risking?—”

“Oh, piffle. Don’t cancel on account of me. Sexton’s going to talk to the soil here. If you can figure out what’s going on with this place, you can fix it and sell it. I know leaving is important to you.” She picked up the rainbow tote on the dining chair and another she’d set on the floor. The latter hit her hip and clinked. “I wish it weren’t, but I understand. Thanks for the sunglasses. I can’t wait to wear them to poker night next week.”

“Ida, I?—”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything else.”

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