Page 74 of That Mafioso Magic
“Out getting a very rare ingredient for the spell to save Lacey.”
“That griezel heart?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Okay, that’s not going to be easy to get. He’s going to kill a griezel?”
I didn’t say anything, which prompted more prodding from Xavier.
“Hello? Are you listening to me? Is Sage going to kill a griezel?”
“I don’t know. Not exactly.”
“If he can’t buy it off the black market, and you really want it to save that girl, yes, he will kill a griezel,” Jewel said as she walked over toward us. She had been in the kitchen on her cell and had been so silent, I’d forgotten she was there or that she was probably listening to every word shared between Xavier and I.
“Killing a griezel, won’t that start a war or something?” Xavier asked her.
“If it’s done in a way that reveals my king did it, then yes. But my king is quite crafty, you won’t have to worry,” Jewel said.
“Except that he has no problem killing a griezel,” Xavier commented.
“One that I’m sure will deserve it and the city will be better off with him dead. It’s true that not all griezels kill humans to survive, but some do and take great pleasure. I heard your little conversation.” Jewel looked at Xavier. “Yes, my king is a killer. He is ruthless when he wants to be. He will get what he wants. He is shrewd, cruel, and dangerous when he needs to be. But he is also kind, gentle, loving, loyal, protective, and as you have already experienced, generous with those whom he cares about. I would appreciate it if you stopped talking shit about him. You don’t know who he is and for all that you do know about him, he’s been nothing but kind to you.”
Xavier sat back in the chair and his gaze didn’t leave Jewel’s. “Yeah, he has. But I’m the suspicious type. When people I don’t know are really nice, chances are they want something from you. So, maybe yourkingwants me to accept him as Adrian’s lover, since it’s Adrian that he wants. And like you said, he always gets what he wants. So maybe, I’ll just keep my guard up if you don’t mind.”
Jewel smirked. “By all means, waste your time.”
“At least until I feel he’s earned my trust, eh?” Xavier winked at her.
She made an offhanded gesture. “Whatever. Enjoy your luxury digs on his dime while you’re judging him.” She walked away to go sit in the living room and watch television.
“So, that went well? Think she’ll give me her number?” Xavier asked me as he slowly took his gaze off of Jewel to look at me.
I laughed.
“Not bloody likely,” Jewel said from the sofa.
I laughed harder.
“I like when a woman plays hard to get.” Xavier smirked.
“There’s hard and then there’s impossible,” I said. “But, hey, keep turning on the charm like you are and who knows?”
He rolled his eyes, then gestured to the grimoire. “Okay, so now what?”
“Well, I get to work.”
I thumbed through the pages of the grimoire again, looking for the spell I was going to use. I was almost there when another spell caught my eye. I read it and took note of the ingredients and what would be needed from me to conjure the magic up. “Well, this looks to be even more promising.” I said, then I got up to rummage through one of my boxes from my home, looking for the right items. I was still going to need the Fishel, but now I was going to need the Orb of Essence and Sage’s blood along with my own. I might be able to draw Sage’s blood from his ruined suit if he hadn’t already destroyed it.
I returned to the dining room, placing the items on the table, then I turned to make my way back into the bedroom. I looked around again, seeing how big and luxurious it was. Certainly large enough for two people to share. I loved his entire home, but the bedroom and bathroom were my favorite places already. I began searching for Sage’s suit, the one he wore that day. It would have plenty of blood all over it. I found the closet and was shocked to see that one side was clear, as if waiting for me to move all of my things in. I looked at Sage’s gorgeous suits lined neatly on the rack, different styles and colors, but I was sure each cost a small fortune.
After searching all over the bedroom, I didn’t find the clothes. Maybe Jewel or Nadia might know something. I entered the living room where Jewel was engrossed in the show she was watching. I recognized it as one of Xavier’s favorite shows too. Well, that was one thing they seemed to have in common.
“Jewel, do you know what happened to Sage’s clothes from that night?” I asked.
“They were destroyed. Sage doesn’t keep damaged clothes around, especially with his DNA all over it. Not if he can’t salvage them,” Jewel said without taking her eyes from the television.
Well, of course, he would have gotten rid of them as quicky as possible. Guess I was going to have to wait for him to return to be able to work that spell. In the meantime, I could try to locate Lacey. I walked back over to the dining room table and moved some items around to put the map of the country in front of me. Again, I turned to the page in the grimoire I was going to need.
