Page 82 of That Mafioso Magic
“Seems like your alpha doesn’t mind them all that much,” I said.
“Well, I never said your kind wasn’t without your merits,” James stated.
“It’s because, even with all of your power, your abilities, mages make you feel weak?” I speculated. I was starting to understand that dynamic more and more after the conversation I had with Salino. He never attacked Sage before, because he knew Sage was magical and didn’t want to take the chance of biting off more than he could chew. The only reason he was so emboldened now was because he could control Sage. Mages may be human, but it was starting to look like we were at the top of the supernal chain.
“You’re just creepy, is all,” James said.
“Well, this small talk is just delightful,” Xavier said with his characteristic sarcasm. “Can we talk about something else, like how we are going to take Lacey down?”
“It won’t be easy. This demonic spirit will have its own powers and will do whatever it can to defend itself. I honestly think you should stay back for this one, Xavier,” I said.
“After I’ve already flown down here with your ass, now you want to bench me?” Xavier asked with good reason. “I’ve always had your back, Adrian.”
“I know, but on cases dealing with this level of ugly… I’m just worried. I don’t know what we’re walking into. You saw what her home looked like, all that blood.”
Xavier shook his head and slouched a bit in the seat. “So, you get a shifter bodyguard and all of a sudden, I’m no use to you?”
“Well, this just got more dramatic than I was expecting,” James said with a cocked eyebrow.
I ignored him, because I really needed to explain myself better to Xavier. I turned to him. “That has nothing to do with it. I might have asked you to stay back in Chicago had I been thinking everything through properly. I’ve never faced a demonic spirit before. I’ve only done one exorcism, and that was a ghost, a rather young one at that. Even then, it gave me a fight. I’m just so used to you being at my side, I didn’t think of what dangers awaited us. Not entirely.”
“You’re human, aren’t you going to be in danger?” Xavier asked.
“I have to risk it,” I said.
“Then, I’m risking it with you. Partners,” Xavier stated with certainty. “I won’t be sidelined.”
I exhaled and nodded, giving in. “If things get hairy in there, you run. I mean it.”
“I promise. Besides, I have my amulet you just made, should help,” he said, lifting it to show me.
I was wearing mine as well. It was something I was able to whip up for Xavier and myself as part of our defense. But the amulet wasn’t a sure thing by any means. We could still get hurt and even killed. All the amulet did was make us a little more resilient. Say, if I were shot, I’d bleed out slower, which may give me time to get to a hospital where they could try to save me. Also, it helped us heal a little faster. Spelling the amulets was the most powerful spell I could muster on my own. Maybe there would be something similar on the pages Sage and I shared. We’d have to see if it presented itself one day. And a barrier spell around us was out of the question, because we needed to be able to get close to Lacey. We needed to be able to attack, too, so barrier spells would have prevented that kind of interaction. Amulet or not, the risk was still great. But Xavier was right. Partners.
“Back to what you were saying, though. No one is replacing you,” I told Xavier.
“Better not be,” he said, winking at me.
“Well, that was less entertaining than I thought it was going to be,” James said, then huffed. “Humans are so boring.”
“I don’t see you bringing the show,” Xavier remarked.
James smirked. “Do you want me to?” He grinned, showing off some very lethal canines.
Jewel snarled a warning. “Let’s not.”
James sneered, but I could tell he’d retracted his sharpened teeth.
“Anyway, back to the plan. We need to go in, blocking all the exits. I’ll need time to cast the spell,” I said.
“So, we act as distraction?” Jewel asked.
“We?” James questioned. “I hope you aren’t considering I’ll be helping?”
“Oh, I thought you were looking for some entertainment?” Jewel retorted.
James tossed her a look that proved he didn’t find her charming. He then looked back at me. “So?”
“If you did help, I’d be very grateful, but no,” I clarified.
