Page 17 of Fleshbound
Perry didn’t look convinced. He’d been hovering near Quill nearly every day, worrying ever since he’d passed out.
“I’ve been eating and resting accordingly. I’ll be fine.”
Perry sighed. “I still think someone should go with you.”
“I don’t disagree with Perry,” Cassius said, lifting a brow.
“This may be a trip for naught,” Quill said. “I only have theories and little hope they’ll work. There’s no point intwopeople wasting their time. One is bad enough.”
A spark sizzled in the middle of the room. It looked like an attempt to open a portal in the middle of the bookshop. Quill turned to Cassius, who lifted his hands, coiling magic into his palms. From the look of concern on his face, the portal clearly wasn’t his.
He was preparing a defense.
A tiny hole opened, and an older woman’s voice rang out. There was a light brogue to her voice.
“Can yepleaseallow me tae open this door and deliver this wretched beast back where he belongs? I’ve had enough o his incessant chatter and him eating all ma food!”
“Whoareyou?” Cassius demanded, wrapping the small spark with a bubble of magic to protect them.
“Magdelena o the Calanais,” she replied.
“Calanais?”Quill asked, stepping forward. He turned his attention to Cassius. “That was one of the places I was going to seek Corven. They’re Druids.”
“Get out of ma way, ye old hag,” a deep, male voice said. “Quillie! Is that ye I hear?”
Quill rushed to Cassius. “That’s Corven’s voice.”
Cassius didn’t look convinced.
“Can you allow them to open it a little so I can see him?” Quill asked.
“They’re attempting to open afucking portalinside our secured building,” Cassius spat. “I don’t know this witch and we don’t know if it’s truly Corven.” He turned toward the portal. “How do we know this isn’t an attack? I won’t allow you to break through our magical seals.”
“Oh, ma dear… I’m barely trying tae break through yer wee little wards. If I wanted tae open this portal, I coud. I’m giving ye the respect o a warning and a request,” the witch on the other side said.
“Wee little wards? They’ve protected us from demon attack,” Cassius snapped back.
“Demons?”She chuckled. “As if they’ve got anyrealpower. Look, Cassius… if ye let us in and rid me o this wicked manchild and his whining, I’ll help ye put up wards that even Hecate herself couldn’t break through. Wardsthe Sevencouldn’t shatter even on their best day.”
“And I should believe you why?” Cassius asked.
Magdelena sighed. “Nothing I coud say woud make ye listen. So, it has to be ma way.”
Suddenly, the portal burst open, breaking through Cassius’s protections and showering magic all over the bookstore. Books went flying… as did Cassius, Perry, and Quill.
Magdelena—all four feet nothing of her—walked through the portal, dragging Corven through. Nearly as round as she was tall, she more wobbled than walked. She released him once on the other side and dusted her hands. She glared up at Corven. “Don’t ye be coming back tae the Isles any time soon. If ye do, don’t ye dare darken ma doorstep.” She sighed and turned to Cassius. “Sorry it had tae come to this, but I refuse tae spend one more hour with this two-thousand-year-old twatwaffle. If you want tae learn some real wards that have the power tae make that never happen again, come tae the Calanais Stones and find me. I’ll be waiting for ye, old man.”
“Old man?” Cassius asked, lifting a brow. He gave her the once over. “Magdelena, hmm? I thought your name was N?—”
Magdelena whipped out her hand and suddenly Cassius’s lips sealed shut.
“We donnae use tha name anymore,” Magdelena said. She narrowed her eyes. “But I’m impressed ye soused it out.” She smiled at Cassius. “Meet ye at the stones. Whenever ye’re ready, Cassius Howe. I’ll be waitin.”
She wobbled back through the portal before it closed.
Quill rose from the floor, eyeing Corven. “Is it really you?”
“I think so,” Corven replied. “I sure as hell hope it is.” A smile stretched across his face, and he spread his arms wide.
