Page 13 of Disabling Relics for Dummies
“Should we open this box?” I asked.
Ravyn was going to do it, anyway. She was a little crazy like that. Minerva Krauss saw that same drive in her at the academy and took Ravyn under her wing to harness it safely. At least her thing was diffusing dangerous objects and not stealing cars to drag race because honestly, it could have gone either way.
“Whywouldn’twe open this box?” Ravyn said, petting it fondly like it was a cat.
We did this dance every time she got a new shipment in. She had an excellent success rate. Ravyn got this job for a reason. I had full faith in her skills. I also had just as many trust issues as she did. People were terrible. We got plenty of lovely religious relics people created to honor the God who created them and some historical items from the estates of famous people, but we also got plenty of terrible shit people created to hurt people. One of these days, she might get something here that hurt her.
“The puzzle box needs to be opened carefully,” Key said. “Something is inside it. A blood lock would have kept people out. If you’ve figured out how to pick a blood lock, I’m guessing they also knew it was possible or knew it would be one day. Whatever is inthisbox is more important to them than the other locked box.”
If Doctor Key was going to be here flirting with my witch, he was damned sure going toearnhis keep if he would eventually join our coven. I remembered everything from the last time I was alive and my time in the Aether, but the Cult of the Aether Sisters was before my time.
“You’re the expert on the cult, Key. Earn your keep,” I said.
“And deny this lovely witch the opportunity to do what she clearly loves? We’ll help, of course. It’ll be a bonding experience. I’m guessing youwerehere the last time Valentine was. I’m also guessing he never saw your face because you are Ravyn’s familiar. It’s the only thing that makes sense to me, and it’s utterly fascinating. I won’t press, and I’ll keep your secret, but I’mdyingfor the gossip on that one.”
Howthe fuckhad he figured that out? No one would have drawn that conclusion, and no one would have figured out my secret. This was my second time walking this Earth as a warlock, and I wouldn’t have guessed that about Felix or myself. Everything about Felix was pure warlock. Everything about Doctor Key was warlock, but he seemed to know things he shouldn’t like Lilith and Reyson.
“We don’t even know your first name,” I snapped.
“Why is that such a big deal? Have I not been helpful since I got here?”
I pouted because he really had. And I actually liked the man. He recognized Valentine hurt Ravyn and was pissing her off with his jealousy towards me. Key got rid of him, so neither of us had to deal with him anymore.
I got the feeling if we were going to live through this and not actually revive an evil cult. We weren’t going to pull it off without him.
Even if he was super weird about his name.
Chapter11
Ravyn
Key was pretty amazing. Ripley was going to come over as soon as the library closed. Key pretended to leave to get Valentine back to the hotel and double backed. I spoke for all of us when I said I didn’t want Valentine to get back to the hotel, wonder why Key wasn’t back, and come back to the museum with my twin sister here. There would be blood. I wasn’t maiming him because I didn’t want to get fired, but my sister didn’t work here and would cut a bitch.
He also returned with food from this sandwich shop all the academy students hit up. Ripley and I loved that place and had been fans since we were students. Key got enough for my sister too, which meant a lot to me. He didn’t know her, but he knew she was coming straight here without eating.
“You seem like a turkey and avocado on rye with jasmine tea girl,” he said, pulling my favorite sandwich out of the bag.
How the fuck had he guessed my favorite sandwich and that I always drank tea? Ripley and I tried every sandwich at the shop, and that one was my favorite.
“I don’t know your twin, but she strikes me as a pastrami girl. I got tuna for Killian.”
What the actual fuck? Ripleyalwaysgot pastrami. One of the first things Killian wanted to do after he got his body back was eat at our favorite sandwich shop. There were a ton of options, but he ordered the tuna. We witches had our intuition about people, but we had to ask what they wanted to eat.
I wasn’t complaining, and I wasn’t going to press him. We were keeping secrets because we hardly knew him. He could have his own. I could tell one day we’d be comfortable enough around each other to share them.
The door opened, and my twin sister strolled inside. I saw her take in Doctor Key. Her gaze raked him from head to toe, and then she gave me her trademarkedyou need to get that, girl,look. First, Ripley hugged me, and then Killian.
“We haven’t met yet. I’m Ripley. Where is the asshole cheating wolf?”
“Doctor Key,” he said, grazing her knuckles with a kiss. “I got rid of him because it upsets your sister. Even with Ravyn’s red hair, a man would have to be blind to confuse the two of you, even though you are clearly identical.”
“I like this one. You should keep him.”
I handed her the pastrami sandwich and opened mine.
“Doctor Key is this big mystery who managed to guess our favorite sandwiches.”
“Then you should definitely keep him. Reyson makes our favorite food all the time. It’s a perk. And he got rid of Valentine. I like him already.”
