THIRTY SIX

Elodie

Winnie's house is out in the suburbs. A cozy little two-story with a hedge growing tangled and wild over the rickety fence. A big tree overhangs the front porch and the leaves crunch under our feet as Arrol, Quinn, and I approach the front door.

It's quiet after we knock and for a moment, I worry she's not home.

Arrol pulls out his phone and types out a message. "Just letting her know it's us. She doesn't like to answer the door."

I shoot Quinn an anxious look. This feels like a bad sign, but I don't have any other options, so we all wait in silence as quiet footsteps inside the house approach the door.

After a moment, the sound of several locks being turned from behind the door is loud in the quiet night. The door opens a crack.

It's dark inside the house. The woman peeking out at us has frizzy brown hair and horn-rimmed glasses perched on the end of her nose. "You didn't tell me there would be two humans."

She pushes the door closed, but Arrol quickly sticks out his foot to hold it open. "The other is my mate. You can trust them both."

Winnie pauses. I file that piece of information away for later, internally grinning from ear to ear for Quinn.

Finally, Winnie lets out a little huff. "Fine, but you owe me."

She opens the door and beckons us with a hurried little movement of her hand. "Come on. Be quick, please."

We scurry inside. I wonder what she's afraid of. It looks like a perfectly nice neighborhood to me.

She slams the door shut behind us and we follow her into a small living room crammed full of bookshelves and baskets of yarn. Winnie sighs. "I suppose you'll want to sit down. Find yourselves a spot."

We all cram onto a small sofa that creaks under Arrol's considerable weight. The large tigron folds his hands into his lap.

"I suppose you'll all be wanting tea."

Quinn opens their mouth and I know they're about to say they don't drink tea. Arrol's large paw pats Quinn's thigh. and tigron answers for Quinn in a low rumble, "Yes. Thanks, Winnie."

When she bustles off to the kitchen, Arrol lowers his voice. "It'll give her a minute to adjust to us being in her space. She doesn't like company."

"What's she so worried about?" Quinn hisses.

Arrol sighs. "People aren't kind to half-breeds."

I'm dying to ask what he means, but under the circumstances, I keep my mouth closed.

Winnie returns with a tray of tea things and sets in on the tiny and unstable coffee table in the center of the room.

When she hands me my cup, I hold it in my palms, letting the warmth of the liquid warm me a little. I try not to tear up at the way it reminds me of Azeroth's skin.

"So you want to know about demons?" she says to me.

I nod. "Yes, please. Specifically about summoning. I um... I've done it once before, but I can't really remember what I did, and I'm really looking to summon a specific demon."

Her brows lift. She perches on a sofa chair opposite and gives me an appraising look. "I don't think this is something you should be playing around with," she says frankly. "Demons are always out to get something. There's always a cost."

"I know." I avoid the look Quinn is giving me. We've had this argument before, but I know Azeroth isn't like that. "I'm not making another deal. I just want my friend back."

This makes her brows lift even higher. Her glasses slip from her nose and she pushes then back up with a hasty motion. "Your friend?"

"Can you help me?"

She sighs and sets aside her tea. Then she gets up and goes to the bookshelf below the window. After a moment of searching, she pulls out a book. "It should be here." Opening the book, she flicks through the pages. Then she pauses for a moment. "Hmm. It's certainly possible. But you will need something of his."

I think. There should be something in his office. I can't get into his apartment, but I should be able to let myself into the office with my after hours code. I'll just tell security I forgot something. "I can do that. Is there anything else?"

"Alcohol. Flame. You have his name?"

I nod.

"Music helps, but anything that will get you into the right frame of mind." She hands me the book. "Read this chapter thoroughly. Make sure you read the warnings as well. Don't do this lightly. You need to be sure you know what you're getting yourself in for."

"Thank you." I take the book and rest the heavy volume in my lap. "I will."

We finish our tea. At least Arrol and I do. Quinn sets theirs down after only one sip.

As we walk to the door, I catch Winnie's quiet whisper. "I'd suggest your friend reconsider. It's never simple, summoning a demon."

"I'll talk to her," Arrol whispers. "Thank you."

Winnie huffs. "Us half-breeds gotta look out for each other."

Arrol lifts a large paw to pat her shoulder. "Sure do. I'll drop the groceries at the door tomorrow."

She shuts the door hurriedly after us and Arrol turns to me. "You're sure?"

I nod. "Yes. Something is wrong, and I need to make sure he's OK."

Quinn purses their lips, but only gives my hand a squeeze. "You want us to be with you?"

I shake my head. "It's OK. You've both done heaps. Thank you. It's going to be fine. I promise."

They exchange a look, but agree to drop me outside my office building on their way back to Quinn's apartment. I know they really wait in the car on the street, because after I enter the code and let myself into the dark building, Quinn texts.

Quinn: be careful. We're outside if you need us

I text back.

Elodie: love you. I will

I open the door to Azeroth's office and peer inside. It all looks exactly the same as the last time I was in here. His large desk is covered with files and documents people have left for him to look over. They've built up over the time he's been gone.

The book said I need something of his, so I walk around the desk, searching through the drawers. A pen.

Will that be good enough?

A pile of paperclips. Come on, Elodie, there has to be something better.

There! A cuff link. I laugh to myself at the old-fashioned flamboyance of wearing jeweled cuff links. Of course, Azeroth does that.

It feels warm when I pick it up, and I hold it in my fist while I set the book on the desk and sit in his chair.

This is going to work. I'm sure of it.

There's no way he just disappeared on me. I'm going to find him and get to the bottom of what's gone wrong.

Stooping to go through my bag, I pull out the candles we stopped at the store for and set them on the desk. As I light each one, I try to stop my hands from shaking.

This is so different to last time.

Last time, I never even dreamed it would work. I can't even really remember what I was thinking, except for feeling hurt and angry and wanting a way to vent it.

This time, I'm desperate for it to work. I can picture his handsome face, the bright blue eyes, the deep red skin. His wicked smile. Right down to the carefully crafted facial hair, the tuft of beard at his chin, his dark sideburns.

I scan the page of the book, checking the next step. Music. I try to remember what I put on the first time I summoned him. Unable to recall, I pick something and hit play, change my mind and select something else.

That's better. A strong beat. I remember dancing.

I pull the bottle of gin from my bag and unscrew the cap. The first swig burns in my throat, and I wonder how I managed to drink so much of this straight.

I tip a little onto the carpet, silently hoping he forgives me for the mess I'm making.

The candles flicker.

I look around, but he's not here.

The room is dark and quiet.

Right. Chanting.

The only thing that comes to mind are the words running through my head. So I clutch the cuff link tight. "Please, please, please, let this work."

The next moment I feel a gentle tug as if someone is pulling the chair from behind me.

Heart beating fast, I close my eyes. "Please, please, please."

Suddenly, I'm yanked off my chair and falling far too far compared to where I know the floor is—or used to be. I'm whirling through the dark, missing the warm, firm hold of Azeroth's arms, unable to scream because the breath is sucked from my lungs.