I think about the library, which is still in shambles. “Uh-huh.”
“Awesome,” Nick gushes. “And you even brought cards.” He moves behind me and wraps me in a bear hug, squeezing me tight. “Everything’s coming our way, Reg. Things are finally looking up. Business is good, you’ve got a job, and I’ve got Diego. We just need to find you a man or a woman and make you happy.”
For some reason, I think of Ben. Ben, who I haven’t seen all week and I suspect is deliberately ignoring me after my spying on him. “For now, let’s stick with the employment,” I tell Nick.
* * *
AFTER I RETURN home, Dru makes a few potions with my assistance. One’s for healing—several of her friends are older, she says, and need pick-me-ups. The other is an infatuation potion for a bingo buddy. Dru decided to save her evil eye spell for tomorrow, so I’m free. Unfortunately, I’m also utterly wiped. I don’t pass out, but I find that there’s no strength left in me to do more than lounge around. I lie flat on the sofa in her living room and stare at the wall, contemplating crossing the room and picking up a book. I don’t even have the ability to dial up an Uber for Friday-night cards over at Nick’s. I’m too tired. Even if I did, I’d just fall asleep the moment I got there.
No wonder witches go through their familiars so quickly. This heavy casting takes its toll on me.
Just as I yawn again, the front door opens. I don’t bother to get up, because if it’s a burglar, well, I’m sure they’ll be turned into a rat or something before I can even defend the place. Not that I have the energy to defend the place.
Big feet appear in my line of vision. Black pants. Black shoes. I crane my neck and see Ben Magnus peering down at me, dressed all in black as usual, with a shopping bag in his arms.
He frowns at the sight of me. “It’s Friday night. I didn’t think you’d be here.”
“Does this confirm that you’re avoiding me, then?” I roll onto my back, but I still don’t have the energy to stand up.
Ben gazes at me loafing on his aunt’s sofa. “You look like a turtle on its back.”
“Don’t change the subject. You’re avoiding me, yes?” I try to give him my best evil glare, but I ruin it by yawning again. “Did I say something to piss you off?”
Instead of answering me, Ben sits on the end of the couch, forcing me to lift my legs halfway. I raise up my knees, but that’s the only concession I make to his large form. I was here first, after all. He sets his bag down on the ground and then leans on my knees, gazing down at me. “You look pathetic.”
“I might look pathetic, but you’re still avoiding the question.”
His face splits into a grin. “I wasn’t ignoring you, Reggie. Or avoiding you. I had a few spells ongoing that took up my time, and you’re supposed to be focusing on your job with my aunt right now, anyhow.”
“Well, she went to bingo,” I grumble. “And I’m lying here waiting for my strength to return.”
Ben pats my knee in sympathy. “What’d she cast today?”
“A couple potions.”
“That’s not too bad, then. You’ll perk up in a few hours.”
I stick my tongue out at him. He makes it sound so simple. Like I’m somehow going to make a miraculous recovery when I feel like death warmed over.
“You forget, I’ve been where you are right now. I know what it’s like. It’s rough at first, but it gets easier, trust me. Just hang in there.” He rubs my knee.
I let out a pitiful groan. “It’s just hard,” I whine. “I’m used to having a lot more energy. Now I don’t even have the ability to get an Uber and go hang out with my friend. I’m just depleted.”
“Do you want me to drive you?” His hand slides to my calf, comforting in its presence despite my thick sweatpants. “I can take you over there. I don’t mind.”
I consider his offer, then shake my head. “No, I’m just going to lie here on this couch like a pile of pudding,” I say dramatically. “So much pudding.”
“Odd place to store your pudding.”
“It’s a figure of speech, warlock.”
He chuckles. That’s the second time tonight he’s smiled at me, and I don’t hate it. My heart pitter-pats, and I think about the crystal ball and him stroking himself. I know I have a big cock.
Good lord, I’m in danger of developing a massive crush on this strangely attractive man.
“Well,” Ben says after a moment. “I was going to spend all night doing warlocky things like gathering eye of newt and playing with dried chicken feet, but since you’re here, maybe you can help me with something else.”
“What is it?” I ask, frowning. “If it’s a spell, I don’t have the energy. Literally.”
“Nope. Be right back.” He heads for the stairs, jogging up them with noisy thumps of his feet that echo even into the living area.
I force myself to sit up, my head slightly woozy. I do feel better, though, after lying down for a short while. Maybe some coffee will help me perk up enough to be human tonight. I peer down at the bag he left near my feet, because I’m nosy.
Books and what looks like some rolled-up parchment. Nothing nefarious. I think about what Penny said. How Ben is dangerous. Funny, he doesn’t seem dangerous. Then again, neither does Dru, and she turned me into a cat. But there’s something about Ben that I find appealing and trustworthy. The rumors are probably just that—rumors.
He returns a few moments later, a shoebox in his arms. This time, he sits next to me on the couch. “I purchased these, and I’ve been trying to learn the rules online, but it’s a little complicated. I was wondering if you could show me.”
Ben pulls the lid off the box, and inside are several packs of unopened Spellcraft: The Magicking cards.
I let out a squeal of surprised delight. “Ben! You bought cards?”
His face is alternately shy and pleased. “Yeah. You mentioned how much you enjoyed the game and how you didn’t get to play much anymore, and it sounded like something I’d be into. So I bought some, but like I said, the rules are throwing me for a loop. If you don’t have the energy, though, I understand—”
I squeeze his arm excitedly. There’s nothing I love more than ushering a new player into the joy that is Spellcraft: The Magicking. “Put on some coffee, my friend. You are about to experience card-game nirvana.”
“Is that so?” he says, but the smile is back on his face.
BEN
I know it’s a mistake to be around Reggie. I just can’t stay away from her.
Among warlocks and witches, it’s considered bad form to prey on another’s familiar. Familiars are our lifeblood. They’re the power that enables us to cast bigger, trickier spells without leaving ourselves vulnerable and useless when an enemy might be coming for us. As a result, familiars are considered off-limits. Despite Reggie’s scare the other day, had Livia caught her, she would have done nothing more than chastise Reggie and send her back to Dru.
To court someone else’s familiar is akin to cuckolding a man in front of his face.
So I should stay away from Reggie. She’s right that I’ve been avoiding her. I recognize that ache inside myself, that yearning, that covetous need for more of her, and I’ve been fighting it. I’ve done other things to keep me busy, had remote meetings with clients, researched spells, and even organized my private study, all to keep away from her. Even so, she’s been on my mind. That shy yet radiant smile when she’s happy, as if she’s not sure that happiness will last. Her obsessive need to organize because she’s positive her way is better. Her sweet laughter. Her damned freckles. Her stubborn belief up until the last minute that we were all playing pretend and magic wasn’t real.