Page 10 of How To Summon A Memory
Florence rolls her eyes. “Oh, I’m so scared.”
We both stick out our tongues, but Memaw snaps and our tongues stay that way. My heart pounds and I don’t want to be a brat anymore.
“They’ll stay that way until you decide to have some manners.”
Florence’s eyes go wide and she shakes her head. “I’ll be good,” she tries to say, but it’s jumbled because of her tongue.
“Good. And you?” Memaw turns to me. My shoulders drop and I agree to be agreeable for the moment.
Chapter 4
Warwick
I’m mixingthe latest cookie batter in a bowl with Poe watching on. We’re in my apartment kitchen in the demon realm and I love how the threads of magic outside make me feel powerful. I enjoy the human realm, but it reminds me of Ethan and how I can’t fucking find him no matter what I do.
“Are you going to tell me why you asked for an audience or just make me watch you make cookies all night long?”
I sigh and set aside the batter. Poe’s red eyes dart to the whisk, and I had it over to him. His long tongue snakes out to find all the bits of batter and chocolate chips still stuck to the metal. If my brother were here, I’m sure he’d cat call Poe, but I don’t exactly find the tongue action hot. Not from Poe anyway. He cocks a brow as if he’s waiting for me.
“I need advice.”
“Stop thinking about Ethan.”
My cheeks blaze so hot I can probably bake the cookies with touch alone. “That’s not the advice I’m looking for.”
“The batter is good, so as long as you don’t over bake the cookies, they’ll taste fantastic.”
“Again not…”
Poe grins as he hands the whisk back to me. “I know.”
“I have a few more weeks of freedom before you send me back to my crossroads.”
He nods, and this time waits for me to continue.
“What would you do if you were me?”
Poe shrugs and spins on his stool a few times. “Dunno. I’ve been a crossroads demon, then the king, for centuries. It’s all I know.”
“I had hoped I’d find Ethan by now, but Cordia has every resource blocked. What has her so fucking scared?”
“You were planning on taking him away from her.”
“No, I was planning on freeing him and Florence from their arranged marriage. They weren’t planning on leaving. I just?—”
Poe lays his hand on top of mine. “As the king of crossroads demons, I have privy to all deals that take place.”
“Right. But what does that have to do with anything?”
“You know how Pike’s first deal was a soul?”
I nod. It made him practically royalty at the same time and made him an outcast. Only Van, Poe, and I were friendly with him until Lark came around. The Fae totally changed his world, then set him free. Jealousy tries to rage in my heart. I’ve come to love my freedom over the last year. I want it forever, but I’ve never told anyone that, not even Ethan.
“Pike’s deal was with Cordia.”
I suck in a breath and shake my head.
“She gave him her soul to have a grandchild that’s the most powerful witch the world has ever seen. What she didn’t anticipate was the magic being so volatile because one person isn’t supposed to contain that much magic.”
