Page 51 of Cursed
When everyone had eaten their fill, Seth offered to take Pax and Tony back to their house. “You’re safe now. Go pick up where you left off, without looking over your shoulder.”
Evan insisted on splitting up the leftovers and packed up their share as Tony gathered his things. They all got in the truck, with Evan by Seth in the front while Pax and Tony snuggled in the back seat.
When they reached the house, Tony spoke up. “Once you take a bit to recover, call us. You haven’t had a chance to see the good side of Savannah, and if you can spare a few days before your next adventure, we can play tour guide or at least give you a list of the places not to miss.”
Evan promised they would and waved goodbye, waiting to make sure they got inside safely. “Whew,” Evan said, “I’m glad that’s over. I’m all for taking a break before the next death-defying rescue operation.”
Seth chuckled tiredly. “That sounds like a great idea. I wonder how long it will take the remaining disciples to find out what happened and if it will make any difference.”
Evan sighed. “Vernon had the cursed carving ready, so he expected us. That’s new. Although they all seem to think they’re immune. And while I’d love it if they just gave up and went away, stopping the ritual means their immortality expires. They’re not likely to have a change of heart.”
“Let’s leave that for another day. One catastrophe at a time, please,” Seth replied.
Much as Seth wanted to rest, he knew there were loose ends to tie up. He called Teag, who also put Rowan on speakerphone. “Did the cleanup and handoff go okay?” Seth asked.
“Kinsley’s people swept Vernon’s main restaurant and house for magical items. They gave them to me, and I’ll take them to Sorren’s people back in Charleston, along with the wooden carving that whammied you,” Teag said. The Alliance and theBriggs Society take care of dangerous magical items that can’t be destroyed. Teag and Cassidy had worked with them many times over the years.
“Caden and his people made sure they didn’t leave anything behind,” Teag continued. “Nash’s ghosts kept watch.”
“We de-magicked the factory, so it’s just a rusting old plant tainted with toxic waste now,” Rowan added with a note of distaste.
“Caden says that the police are taking a closer look at Vernon’s shipping business. He suspects there will be plenty of illegal stuff to shut it down under normal standards, but he knows how to contact the Alliance folks if magical items show up,” Teag said.
“How are they going to explain monster meat to civvies?” Evan asked.
“Protected species,” Rowan replied with a hint of humor. “Poaching. Illegal harvesting and transport. Unlicensed hunting. There are a slew of normal laws that apply whether it’s yak meat or werewolf. All that matters is that the shipments stop and the equipment is impounded so no one else can pick up where Vernon left off.”
“Will you head back to Charleston tomorrow?” Evan asked, sorry to see their friends leave.
“Might take a day to catch our breath,” Teag said. “Nash invited everyone to a celebration at Mystic tomorrow night, just for our gang. Saving people doesn’t usually come with a party, so we’re planning to go.”
“Count us in,” Seth said after Evan gave the nod. “I should be awake again by then.”
“Don’t cut corners on replenishing,” Rowan warned. “Especially since you worked some spells that were a stretch.”
Seth winced at being called on using the gray magic, and Evan’s eyes narrowed. “Trust me, I’ll make it a priority,” Seth promised. “I feel like I did a triathlon.”
Rowan chuckled. “They always make magic look so easy in the movies and on TV. Even experienced practitioners get reaction headaches and fatigue. If you need anything, just let me know. I can’t zap you all better, but I’ve got some alternate remedies if the usual fixes don’t work.”
Seth thanked her and promised them that he and Evan would see them at Nash’s party.
When the call ended, Evan gently took his phone and set it on the table. “You took a big risk with magic from that grimoire.” Evan didn’t make it a question.
Seth knew he’d been caught out, and he could only offer the truth to temper Evan’s justified anger. “I couldn’t lose you,” Seth replied. “Defeating the witch-disciple wouldn’t matter if it cost your life. I’d walk away from all of them to keep you safe.”
“Gray magic has a cost,” Evan reminded him. “Every time you use it, it gets easier to rely on. I don’t want to survive a fight and lose you to dark power.”
“I’m sorry,” Seth replied.
“But you’d do it again?” Evan challenged.
Seth didn’t see the point in lying. “Yes. If that’s what it took to keep you safe.”
Evan looked like he weighed continuing the argument, and finally relented. “Let’s get you showered and changed into clean clothes, and then it’s time for some of that rest you promised you’d do,” Evan said.
Seth wasn’t foolish enough to think that the conversation was actually over. Evan was good at biding his time. Still, they had both just cheated death, and that deserved a celebration.
Seth leaned forward for a kiss. “I can think of alternate recuperation strategies,” he teased, but he knew that right now he was too exhausted to make good on the proposition.
