Page 91 of A Taste of Torment
I hide my shiver in response to his husky laugh.
I continue working for another hour before I pack up and leave my projects be. Three of them are coming along well. I should have my nullifier completed before the event this weekend, which is perfect. I did a shortened version of the invisibility spell first, so that should be done in time too. It’ll have a large constitution, so each dose will be a large vial, but for all the potions, the dosage matters least. It will be me drinking it, not an opponent.
I’m also working on a stunning potion. It could be finished in a few days as well, but with this one, I’ll have to be more patient. Though, it’ll work on contact, without the condensing process, each dose will be around eight ounces, making it difficult to use. If only a little bit of liquid falls on the target, they’ll feel next to nothing. And it’s challenging to splatter a large portion of liquid onto someone in the middle of fight. I need a freaking water gun or something.
So, the more condensed, the better. I’ll leave it for another week or more.
As we’re closing up my little potions shop far below the school halls, Jarron tells me Bea is eager to help me dress for the formal.
“Eager?” I ask. “That sounds dangerous.”
He chuckles. “Push back on her if she puts you in anything you feel uncomfortable in. It’s not a Victoria Secret fashion show, as much as she’d like to think it is.”
I snort. “Maybe I should have stayed with Manuela as my personal shopper.”
He smiles. “Bea will be fine. She just needs a firm hand. I’m certain you can handle her.”
“How does Trevor feel about it all?”
“He’s vaguely pleased you’re here and we’re together. He doesn’t show much emotion to anyone but Bea, though, so it’s hard to gauge.”
“Bea was telling me a little about their relationship. She implied it’s more of an open relationship.”
Jarron frowns. “Of course she’d tell you that.”
“Yeah, she was trying to get under my skin any way she can.”
“Sounds like Bea.” He nods. “Demon relationships are a bit more varied than humans’, generally, so it’s not all that uncommon or surprising for us to not be so strict with our monogamy.”
“Hmm,” I say because I don’t know how else to respond. Jarron doesn’t elaborate what that would mean for him.
“You can meet Bea to get ready for the event at seven on Friday night. Does that work?”
“Sure,” I answer quietly. We round the final corner, and the gates to Minor Hall come into view. “I’ll see you at lunch tomorrow.”
He nods, a question in his eyes that I don’t dare ask about.
34
Who Knew Demonesses Could Double as Fairy Godmothers?
The unicorn bonecrumbles in my fingers as I rummage through the large plastic bag. It’s a bit softer than I’d prefer, to be honest, but when getting pre-prepared ingredients, that tends to happen. It’s impossible to get it perfect.
I could have requested unicorn bone and cooked it myself, but I was a little unsure of my abilities. I glance at the three steaming cauldrons lined beside this one, all set to be ready tomorrow.
It’s probably safe to say my concerns were unfounded. I could have easily cooked the raw bone myself. But now, I’ll have to make do with what I have.
I hand mix the bone meal until it’s powdery and then grab a thick handful and scatter it into the bubbling liquid. The potion will be finished in less than an hour.
I’m supposed to be meeting Bea to dress for the gala in forty-five minutes.
Dammit, I need it done before the gala. If I don’t do it now, it could be ruined. I can’t leave it for the morning or the top will crust over and it won’t be absorbable.
Timing is everything with potion making.
Bea is just going to have to wait.
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