Page 4 of Curses & Cold Brew
“Why would someone use that?”
“I can’t be sure, but it was known to be used in darker magic curses. It blocks out evil forces. Historically, witches used it to hide from more powerful beings when they had less-than-honorable tasks.” I smiled awkwardly. “Nothing like having your wickedness interrupted to ruin a witch’s night, I guess.”
Ramona leaned in close, her perfume overpowering the last remains of the herbs on my tongue. My breath hitched when her finger brushed my bare arm.
“Pull yourself together,” Jordyn muttered from the corner of her mouth.
I anxiously tucked a strand of hair behind my ear to put more space between us. I couldn’t help it. There weren’t a lot of creatures that put me on edge, but Ramona was one of them.
“So you think it’s witch magic?” Ramona murmured.
Jordyn shrugged. “Could be other things. There are a few creatures that can enact curses of this kind: succubi, vampires, banshees . . . demons.”
“And what about a curse that could cleave a soul from its binding?”
“Are you saying youlosta soul?” I asked.
Ramona’s eyes found mine again. “I didn’tloseanything,” she said tightly. “A soul has been temporarily misplaced. And when I find the person who has made the fatal miscalculation that it was safe to steal from me? Let’s just say it’s been a long time since I’ve stretched those particular muscles and I’m going to havefunexercising them.” Her eyes lingered on me, sweeping up and down my body. “I’m a bit territorial about things owed to me.”
“Noted,” I said thickly, knowing she spoke of the debt I owed her.
Our first kiss had sealed our deal—one I had made for information last year.
Our second one was for a two-month extension and had taken place at the witch summer camp on Lake Nevermore.
Both played on a constant loop every night before I went to sleep. There was nothing to compare them to. The hunger and possession in Ramona’s electrifying kisses were a drug all their own.
And all I owed her was a date.
One simple date and then our deal would be over and I’d probably never speak to the demon again.
Every time I spied Ramona in Maple Hollow, I wondered if that would be the day she’d call in my debt. I saw it in her eyes every time she looked at me: the anticipation, the thrill of a debt unfulfilled.
I mindlessly rubbed a hand across my collarbone where her sigil branded my skin, and her eyes caught the movement. The heat around my collar intensified.
Jordyn, my constant savior and supreme clit-blocker, finally broke the tension with an awkward, “Right. Well, if we hear anything about a misguided witch running around snatching souls, we’ll let you know.”
Ramona nodded. “Good.” She gave me a panty-dropping wink before she sauntered out of the shop.
As soon as Ramona vanished outside, Jordyn lifted her hand and sliced it through the air in front of me.
I eyed her incredulously. “What are you doing?”
“Seeing if I could cut the sexual tension.”
I balked. “Ramona could have sexual tension with a freaking telephone pole.”
“Not doubting that,” Jordyn agreed. “But she definitely has it with you. Be careful with that one, Iris. Demons are bad news. Evenyouwould be out of your depth with her.”
“I know better than to mess around with a demon,” I said breathlessly. “Well, more than I already have.”
“You seriously need a chaperone on that date you owe her or you’ll be naked before the first course.”
All sorts of sinful images of me spread out over the fancy linen tablecloth flashed through my mind. Forget dinner when I could be the main course.
“Iris!” Jordyn clapped in the air in front of me as if I were Ichabod knocking potions onto the floor. “Promise me. No demon fucking. It’s part of the coven bylaws for a reason. Ramona is dangerous.”
Jordyn had little room to talk since her ex-girlfriend, Lou, had been part demon and they’d been together until Jordyn’s—now long gone—commitment issues had gotten in the way. Lou was an exception, I knew that. She’d been more human than demon, which had deemed her docile enough in the coven’s eyes. Ramona, on the other hand, was ancient, powerful, and unpredictable. “Calculated chaos” as our elders would say. Our mayor, Billy Bacchus, welcomed the demons so long as they vowed to use their powers to protect the town from humans. And so far, Ramona had kept her word. But none of that mattered to the coven.
