7. Ember

7

EMBER

H oly mother of magic. The past hour or so had felt surreal. Un real. If not for the pleasant ache between my thighs, I would’ve assumed I’d dreamed it. Yet, there I was, standing across the counter from the demon I loved, smiling like a fool.

He winked, and my stomach fluttered. How the simple movement of his eyelid could affect my insides like that baffled me, but hey… I’d just let him do me in his demon form. My mind was scrambled at the moment.

The weirdest thing? I hadn’t just let him. I’d wanted him in his demon form. Me. In love with a full-on demon. Hecate have mercy.

“I’m glad you had a good time while we were gone.” Ash bumped her hip to mine, drawing me from my trance. She held the aura-shrouding powder in both hands and offered one fistful to me. “But it’s time to get this shit show on the road.”

“What makes you think we had a good time?” I held out my hand, and she poured the powder into my palm, laughing.

“Neither of you has stopped smiling since I walked in. Ready?”

“Let’s do it.” I held her free hand, and we recited the incantation in unison. “Aura strong, magic deep, we hide your essence from all who seek.”

We blew the powder onto my demon, and he inhaled deeply, his conspiratorial smirk never slipping as the magic took hold, hiding his demonic nature.

At least, I assumed it was hidden. Thanks to the sigil glowing softly on my arm, I continued to feel his true self. A self I loved.

Crazy, I know.

“Guys, did it work?” Ash asked.

Miles squinted at Mayhem, and Shade sauntered toward him, his eyes calculating as he circled him. “If I didn’t already know what he is, I wouldn’t have a clue.”

“Same.” Miles closed his laptop and slid it into his bag. “All three of you look the part. Getting inside won’t be an issue, and Shade, you’ll blend right in if you have to drop your shadow.”

“Here. To fireproof your dress, just in case.” Ash handed me a tiny spray bottle filled with sunny yellow liquid. “Who would’ve thought a group of light witches…Veil Keepers, no less…would team up with demon princes to rob an auction?”

I sprayed my front before handing it to her so she could coat what little fabric there was on the back of my slinky little dress. “At this point—with what we’ve been through the past few months—nothing surprises me. And anyway…”

I tested the hem of my dress, trying to singe the threads. They refused to burn. Good. “It’s not like we don’t have experience in theft and breaking and entering. This ain’t our first rodeo. Is it, Boyd?” I winked at my demon, and he smiled.

“No, ma’am, it ain’t. I only wish I could have joined you on your previous adventures.”

“You’re here now. That’s what matters.” I slipped on my kitten heels and sprayed them with the fireproofing potion. “What do you think?” I turned in a circle for Mayhem to see.

“You look stunning, as always.” He put on a black sports coat and adjusted his bolo tie. “I, on the other hand, look ridiculous.”

“You look like a Texas oil baron,” Miles said. “It’s perfect, though Ember, you’d look more convincing in higher heels.”

I laughed. “You’re lucky I’m not wearing combat boots. If things go south, and we have to fight, I can’t kick ass in stilettos.”

“It’s time.” Chaos rested a hand on Ash’s back.

“Everyone’s clear on their duties?” Miles asked.

The energy in the room shifted, a heaviness settling on our shoulders as we nodded our agreement. We were about to attempt a heist.

An effing heist, for Hecate’s sake!

Yeah, we had proficiency in theft, but our experience was in coven libraries and apartments of deceased, so-called friends. “A heavily guarded auction house,” I muttered, not meaning to say it out loud.

Mayhem moved toward me, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead. “With you by my side, anything is possible. We can do this.”

The conviction in his words made them almost believable.

“Shall we?” He held out his arm like a gentleman, and I laced mine around his biceps.

“Let’s go rob an auction.”

Ash drove, miraculously finding parking a block from our target. She left the engine running and turned in her seat to give me an encouraging smile. “You’ve got this. In and out, and no egos.”

She gave each of us a pointed look before shaking her head. “I don’t know why I said that. We’re sending in our three biggest.”

“It’s kind of like telling a wolf not to howl, isn’t it?” I unbuckled my seat belt and cast a longing gaze at the hidey hole in the floorboard. I felt naked without my weapons. “We’ll behave. I promise.”

Mayhem rested his hand on my thigh. “We will do our best.”

“Put your earpieces in so I can test them.” Miles handed us a small box, and we each stuck the tiny pieces of silicon into our ears.

Mayhem and I climbed out of the van, and he slid the door shut behind us. Squinting, I peered through the tinted window. “Why isn’t Shade coming?”

“He’s standing right beside you.” Mayhem gestured to my right.

“There are cameras all over the city,” Shade’s disembodied voice said. “It might look weird if I disappeared on screen.”

“Testing,” Miles said into our earpieces. “Can you hear me?”

“Loud and clear.” I pressed my fingers to my ear.

“Don’t do that,” Ash’s voice came through. “The whole point of them being small is so no one knows you’re wearing them.”

“Gotcha.” I fisted my hands so I wouldn’t do it again. What could I say? All the FBI and CIA and Secret Service people did it in the movies. I’d learned a bad habit by watching a screen. Imagine that.

“Ready, guys?” I started down the sidewalk, toward the auction house. “Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is simple.”

“Have we not already accepted the mission?” Mayhem asked, his expression adorably perplexed.

I laughed. “Yes, dear, we have. In, snag the amulet, and out. As tempting as it’ll be to check out all the other artifacts they’ve gathered, we have to stay focused.”

“Indeed.” He held out his arm, and I clutched his biceps. “The sooner we obtain the amulet, the sooner we can return to our penthouse and utilize the plush mattress in the main suite.”

Shade snorted somewhere to my left as we stepped into a crosswalk. A crisp autumn wind whipped down the street, blowing my hair into my face and raising goosebumps on my bare arms. I should’ve taken a shawl or a shrug from the store of doom, but oh well. Only fifty yards to go, and we’d be at the entrance.

“Have I told you how stunning you are?” Mayhem asked, his voice low.

“Don’t get used to this look.” I adjusted the top of my dress, fighting the urge to reach inside it to reposition my boobs. Bras had been around for over one hundred years, and no one had come up with a comfortable, strapless version that didn’t slide down the first chance it got.

“Ash, when this is through, I’ve got a job for you and your sewing skills.”

She laughed. “I’ll get right on it. After I organize the library, figure out how to make spell capsules instead of bottles, and reopen the store so we can pay our bills.”

“Add reinventing the strapless bra to your list.” Because we would get through this. Ash would have plenty of time to whittle away at her to-dos because things would go back to normal. They had to, and I would keep telling myself that until they did.

We stopped in front of the building, a ten-story brick and glass structure with three sets of heavy double doors. No sign announced the name of the owner, but the magical vibration of the wards turned my skin to gooseflesh.

“Go ahead and powder the doors,” I said, looking at my demon because I had no idea where Shade stood.

“It’s already done. I’m going to grab your hand. Don’t react.” Warmth and pressure wrapped around my wrist before Shade slid his hand down to clutch mine.

I took Mayhem’s hand. “The spell Ash concocted is temporary. It shouldn’t set off any alarms, but we have to cross the ward immediately before it resets.”

Mayhem opened his power to me, and I fought a gasp as the low vibration and pinpricking sensation traveled up my arm to spread through my body. I shared a little of it with Shade so we could cast this spell without draining our vim too much.

We recited the incantation together. “Ward of light, this is our plight. Peel away your hood so we may enter for the greater good.”

The energy on the building wavered, the pressure of the ward lifting, blinking out. I tugged from Shade’s grasp and held Mayhem’s arm, ushering him toward the middle set of doors and praying to the goddess that this was the only ward on the auction.

“We’re inside,” I said, still fighting the urge to touch my earpiece and rearrange my boobs.

“Good,” Miles replied. “Someone should approach you to check in.”

“Oh, no. You clearly didn’t read the rules of the auction.” A witch in a dark gray suit and red stilettos clicked toward us, shaking her head and gesturing at what I could only imagine was Shade.

“Either drop your shadow or kindly leave the premises.” She tapped her finger on a tablet screen and arched a brow.

Shade sighed heavily and appeared next to Mayhem.

The woman clicked her tongue. “No shadow magic, no weapons, no spells intended to affect the outcome of the auction. You received the rules via email after you registered, Mr…?

“I apologize, ma’am.” Mayhem laid on a heavy Texas accent. “My name is Boyd Anderson, and this here is my wife, Ember.”

She swiped the screen and tapped it three times. “Yes, you and your wife are registered.”

“This is my assistant, Shade. His shadow has a mind of its own when he’s nervous.” He lowered his voice and winked. “He’s kinda shy and as awkward as a nun in a whorehouse. Please forgive his transgression.”

A blush spread across the woman’s cheeks as she gazed into my demon’s eyes, and I suddenly felt the urge to gouge out hers. Okay, I wouldn’t really do that, and I knew he was charming her so we could complete our mission, but damn.

Jealousy was such an ugly emotion. I suppose I’d never cared about anyone enough to feel it before.

The woman cleared her throat. “He isn’t on the list.”

“Surely you can add him… I apologize again, ma’am. I missed your name.” Mayhem stepped toward her, his gaze slipping to her mouth before returning to her eyes.

I bristled and clenched my teeth.

She swallowed audibly. “It’s Hazel.”

“Hazel, Shade is also my accountant, and I need him present when I make large purchases. I plan to spend a lot of money today.” He winked again, and my stomach tightened along with my jaw.

“Well…” She let out a breathy laugh. “We don’t normally make exceptions, Mr. Anderson, but I see you’ve been verified as a platinum-level bidder. If I can see his ID, I’ll add him to your registration.”

The tendons in Shade’s neck were so tight, you could’ve plucked them like guitar strings, and a vein on his temple looked like it was about to burst.

“Give it to her, Shade,” Miles said through the coms. “It’s not ideal, but we don’t have a choice.”

He dug his wallet from his jacket and offered her his ID. “I won’t be bidding. Just assisting.”

She scanned the barcode on the back of his license and returned it to him. “Thank you, sir. This way.”

Her heels clicked on the tile as we followed her through the foyer. Mine clicked a little too, but the sound was lower, much more practical. Thudding boot heels would have been better.

“Stop fidgeting,” Mayhem said under his breath. “You must appear confident in your clothing.”

“You try feeling confident when your bra is about to slip down to your waist and take your boobs with it.”

“The ladies’ room is down that hall and to the right.” Hazel gestured at a massive archway. “Men’s is to the left.”

My cheeks heated, but I kept following her. “Thank you.”

The foyer opened into another room with squishy carpet and a ginormous crystal chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling. Black and white photos of New York during various decades hung from the dark green walls, and a bar and buffet stood at the back of the space.

“Here, you will find refreshments, and you may pick up your auction paddle on your way to the main event.” She tapped her screen and closed the cover before batting her eyes at Mayhem. “May I assist you in any other way?”

Oof. I did not like the way she said that. The emphasis she put on “any other” made her intention as clear as pure quartz.

“We’re good. Thanks.” I gripped Mayhem’s arm and rested my hand on his chest.

“Actually…” Mayhem patted my shoulder. “I would like to see the amulet…item 457…ahead of the bidding. Can you make that happen?”

She glanced at me before smiling at him. “Absolutely. Someone will find you as soon as it’s ready for viewing. Please, enjoy yourselves.”

Shade laughed as she walked away. “Ember Holland finally met her match.”

I blew a breath through my nose. “I could kick her ass with both hands cuffed behind my back.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that.” He laughed again. “But could you be any more jealous?”

I glared at Shade, trying to formulate a snippy comeback, but my mind blanked. Yes, I was jealous of a shadow witch because she flirted with my man. I could admit that.

Hell, she hadn’t even flirted. Not really. Honestly, she hadn’t done a damn thing wrong, but I could feel her attraction to my demon and I hated it. Get a grip, Em.

“You have nothing to worry about.” Mayhem hooked a finger beneath my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his. “You are my first, last, and always, remember?”

“I remember.” I rose onto my toes and brushed a gentle kiss to his lips before wiping the lipstick away with my thumb.

“Mr. Anderson?” A man in a dark red jacket approached us. “The item is ready to be viewed.”

Hazel the shadow witch flanked him, her mouth tight, her eyes narrowed in a perturbed expression. “I’ll be accompanying you this evening, unless your assistant would like to leave the premises.”

A sense of smugness made me straighten my spine. Did our friend get into trouble for allowing Shade to stay? I started to think that was what she got for fawning over my man, but the direness of our circumstances sank in instead.

She’d be watching Shade’s every move, so he was out of play. I should have anticipated something like this. They had guards with automatic rifles. Of course they would have people actively watching for shadows and spells. Honestly, I was surprised the ward on the building wasn’t stronger. They hadn’t even hired an elemental witch to cast it.

But now we had to go back to plan A: Me distracting the guards while Mayhem swiped the necklace. But Hazel would have one mesmerized eye on my demon too. Shit.

My pulse sprinted, and I took a deep breath, trying to look calm, but Miles’s voice over the coms made my stomach take a flying leap into my throat. “All right, guys. It’s go time.”