Page 36 of Incubus with Benefits
The smell of magic here was sour and acrid, too much sulfur. I rang the doorbell first, and when she didn’t answer, I tried knocking. Still nothing.
“Lily?” I called out. “Lily?”
I was about to break down her door—I hesitated only because it was brand-new and I doubted her landlord would spring for another one—when my phone buzzed. It was Lily.
“The call went through!” she exclaimed in a hoarse whisper. “Is that really you outside, Julian?”
“Yes. I’m right outside your door. What’s wrong?”
“Knock four times,” she whispered.
Frowning, I did.
She let out a breath. “Itisyou. I still can’t open the door in case this is a trick. But I’ll have my wards let you, Julian incubus,and only you in. Phase through the walls, so I know it’s not something else pretending to be you.”
She was going through a lot to confirm my identity. What the hell had happened?
“Okay, I’ll do that. But I need to put my phone and wallet through the mail slot first. Can’t phase with them on me.”
“You’ve got thirty seconds.”
I stuffed my belongings through the mail slot, then popped through the wall into her apartment. Her magic didn’t stop me.
I found her wrapped in a blanket in front of her computer, lit only by the glow of her screens. There was a small black cat in her arms that hissed when it saw me. That must be Shadow.
Lily’s eyes were wide, and she was holding… a hatchet?... in one hand. She looked equal parts exhausted and terrified.
“What happened?” I scanned the room for danger. Something smelled burnt, but everything was in place, unlike the last time I’d been here after the break-in.
“They’ve been trying to get in for an hour. At least. I tried to call for help, but it’s like my apartment was wrapped in magic. My phone wouldn’t work.” She showed the outgoing calls she’d made in the last hour. She’d called me at least three times, and her friends many more.
“Who are they?” I stepped too close, and the cat swiped at me.
“It’s okay, Shadow. Julian’s safe.”
The cat seemed to understand her. It calmed down, but still kept an eye on me.
“I don’t know who or what they were.” Carefully, she placed the hatchet on the desk and pulled up a video from one of the cameras she’d installed. Three shadowy figures stood outside her door in the hallway.
I recognized offensive wizardry magic when I saw it.
“They weren’t just at the door,” she said. “They were outside my window. My balcony. They kept whispering, trying to get me to come out or open the door.”
That explained why every blind and curtain was closed and the apartment was in darkness aside from her screens. I threw open the nearest curtain, letting in the early evening light of Darlington. Lily relaxed.
“I guess they left now that you’re here.”
She reached for me, tentatively at first, like she was afraid I’d morph into one of those shadow creatures. When I didn’t, she threw herself into my arms, burying her face in my chest.
I held her close, furious that I’d spent time choosing an outfit and worrying I was too early when I could’ve been here rescuing her.
She sniffled, then let out a small sob. “They pretended to be my friends. They mimicked Gigi and Penny’s voices perfectly. I don’tknow how they knew.” She straightened. “What if it’s because they helped contain The Breach? I have to warn them. What if they’re next?”
“Give me your phone,” I said, holding out my hand. “I’ll message them. You pack. You’re not staying here. You’re coming with me until this is over.”
I braced for resistance, but she just nodded and handed me her phone, already open to her group chat. Whatever had happened in the last hour had shaken her to the core.
Shadow meowed from her perch on Lily’s desk.
