Page 5 of The Banning of Bath Bombs
Random.
His screen lit up with Glenn’s name.
Well, now Ross knew how to get his husband to call him in record time. He accepted the call but put it on speaker. “Don’t panic, don’t panic.”
“How the fuck did he get past our protections?!”
“I understand your concern, but I truly think this is an accident. For one thing, he’s naked as a jaybird. I know the Celts thought it was fun to run naked into battle, but no one else does that, okay?”
He could practically hear Glenn consider his point.
“Secondly, he said this was an accident, and I believe him because of how I found him. He’s alone, confused about how he got here, and doesn’t even have a cellphone.”
Ross opened the bathroom door enough to set the clothes on the counter before backing out again.
“Was this a summoning, then?”
“No, he’s quite sure he did this to himself, and he’s flustered. I’m getting the same vibe as when Keane has mucked up one of his spells.”
“Ohhh. That kind of accidental feat.”
“Exactly.”
His uninvited guest opened the bathroom door and stepped out, looking just as confused as before, but at least covered with clothes now. He regarded Ross quizzically.
“Who do you speak with?”
“My husband,” Ross explained, waggling the phone a little. “He’s also our clan leader. You, sir, are in Salem. Home of Clan Ó Riagáin.”
He absorbed this information for a second before saying, “You’re a vampire. Is your husband as well?”
It didn’t surprise Ross this man knew he was a vampire. If he could throw around magic, it made sense he knew what vampires were and could identify one. “Correct. Not all of our clan members are vampires, though, so keep that in mind. Glenn, I’m hanging up. Just come home quickly.”
“I’m already on my way, my love. See you soon.”Click.
Ross smirked. “Well, sir, you’ve had an interesting afternoon.”
“It’s about to get more interesting,” he grumbled, looking crestfallen. “My children are going to be quite upset with me.”
Ross blinked. “You have kids?”
“My apprentices, you see. They stayed with me even after graduating. Oh, they’re all vampires, too.”
This scenario was getting weirder and weirder. Also made more sense. This absentminded man had the air of someone who was used to being taken care of. Ross would know. Half his clan fell under this category. Ross wasn’t interested in learning this man’s history, though. He was more interested in undoing this insanity so he could get back to sleep.
Yes, even thinking of going back to bed tempted fate, but dammit, he’d planned to sleep in. Was that too much to ask for? Probably was. Well, moving on… “All right, so, where are you from?”
“I live just outside of Detroit.”
“Oh wow, that’s some distance you crossed. Pretty impressive. Well, in that case, you’re probably stuck here for the night until we can get someone to fetch you. What’s a phone number you remember?”
Ross generally started there because the modern child remembered scant few phone numbers. The older generation tended to remember them better, which wasn’t saying much. Even a single phone number would be helpful at this point, though. Any phone number.
Declan frowned. “Phone…number…? Oh, I don’t remember those.”
So this was going to be a pain in the ass before Ross had even realized it was made of fuckery. Now? Now it was rising to the next level, and Ross did not approve.
“First, grab your grimoire and come with me. Let’s see if we can at least dry it out somehow. We’re going for wine, Keane, and K—in that order.” While it was still sleeping hours for vampires, Ross had a foreboding feeling he’d lost his day to sleep in. Too bad Glenn had been called out earlier by a clan member, otherwise Ross would’ve made him deal with this one.
