Page 94 of Awry
Harlee inhales deeply.“As best I can tell, it was a combination of a seek and a find spell, and what looked like a modified …” She shakes her head.“A teleportation spell?I’m honestly not … if it worked, I assume it’s because Ingrid was essence bound to whoever she was looking for.Because even with a visual lock through the scrying, I can’t see how she thought … she was powerful but … maybe it’s beyond me.I’m not a Wisdom.”
“Currently,” Cayley mutters under her breath.
For once, Harlee ignores her.
“Any evidence that Ingrid found the person she was scrying, or had tracked them previously?”
Harlee shakes her head.“No.Just evidence of multiple attempts to refine the casting over a few days.”
So my aunt had been missing, or at least out of contact, for a few days before she died.Died and took her bond mates with her.
Harlee clears her throat.“I left the personal effects, of course.”
“Thank you.Please send me your bill.”
Harlee opens and closes her mouth, then glances between me and Cayley, then back to me.“That’s it?”
“Do you have more to tell me?”
“Yes, of course.There are intricacies to the essence —”
“Do you want more than just the broad details?”Cayley asks, a little mockingly.And not toward me.
“No.”I turn back toward the freezer while Harlee quietly sputters.“Does anyone want some ice cream?I just made it, so it’s still soft serve.”
Cayley practically launches herself off the couch as I pull the tub of ice cream out of the freezer and set it on the counter between us.The shifter has the top off the container by the time I pull three spoons out of the drawer.I pass a spoon to Cayley, keep one for myself, and set one of the spoons on the counter, close to the disgruntled mage.
Cayley doesn’t question the lack of bowls, simply running her spoon through the ice cream to create a perfect small scoop of chocolate creaminess.She pops the scoop into her mouth and moans.
Harlee’s gaze snaps to the shifter.She looks away just as quickly.
“Oh, fuck me, yes.So, so good.”
Harlee slowly crosses to the counter, finally untwisting her fingers and letting her hands fall to the marble.“I’m … I don’t do well with dairy.”
Cayley snorts.“For this, you don’t worry about a little farting.”
Harlee throws her a dark look.“You know it’s more than —”
“No dairy,” I say around my own mouthful.“Coconut cream.”Then I find myself wondering whether spending time with the two of them is always going to be an exercise in thrusting myself between them to keep the conversation on track.If I loved drama, that might not be overly taxing.But I control too little of my own life to truly embrace that level of chaos.Not that I generally have chances to cultivate friendships …
Harlee nods, picking up her spoon and taking the tiniest of scoops.
Cayley side-eyes her.Then, smirking, she takes another huge bite, groaning enthusiastically.
Ah.The shifter noted the mage’s reaction to her first — more genuine — moan.
Harlee squirms, almost imperceptibly, keeping her gaze off the shifter.
“Are you guarding Harlee?”I ask Cayley.“Or me?”
“You,” Cayley says without hesitation.
I hum doubtfully.“And are you guarding me or guarding others from me?”I ask, my tone even.
Cayley doesn’t have an immediate answer.
Harlee snorts, then takes a larger scoop of the ice cream.“I’d like to act as your liaison with the West Coast Coterie.And be your local contact in general.If you’re staying?”
