Chapter 11
Penny
“Where do you think you’re going in that? It barely covers your ass!”
I never thought I’d be berated for dressing too sexily by an incubus. But the last few days had been full of surprises.
“I already told you: I’m going out with my friends.” Initially, this girls’ night was supposed to be a way to help me get over Travis. But Prax was already doing a damn good job of that. Still, I wanted to see my friends, and I was eager to check out the nightlife here in Darlington.
Back in Boston, my overprotective family had watched my every move, and I really hadn’t enjoyed any freedom since I returned home after college. The only parties I went to were charity events and family gatherings, which were both places where everyone tried to one-up each other. Especially the family gatherings. The only person aside from me who didn’t participate in the bullshit was Grandpa Theo—because he was the one everyone was competing to impress.
“You’re not going out in that. Especially not after what happened with the shifter.”
Somehow Prax’s possessive words claiming that I was his in the wake of the coffee shop incident were exciting coming from his mouth, though I’d never admit it.
I couldn’t imagine Travis ever saying such things to me and me actually liking it. Eww. If he had, I’d probably have run.
Maybe it was the spell at work, messing with my head. Was it messing with Prax too? Making him feel and say things he normally wouldn’t? Maybe that was just his schtick: acting possessive over his sexual conquests so they’d think it was more than temporary. Kind of like love bombing. That would be kind of an asshole move, and I didn’t know him enough to make that call. I chose to believe it was the spell.
Once I got my living situation sorted, which was on the agenda for tomorrow, I’d prioritize finding a way to nullify this love-finder spell gone awry. As much as I liked Prax’s company, I knew in my heart that it wasn’t fair to control or even influence someone with my magic. Why else would a newly freed incubus want to tie himself down?
Honestly, it wouldn’t be fair to me either. Even knowing that his affections probably weren’t real, I’d still fall for him. And then he’d snap out of it one day, and leave me with yet another broken heart. No, it was best for everyone if I nullified the spell.
Prax puffed into smoke, then reformed around my hips in the shape of a full skirt going down past my knees.
“Hey, don’t do that. I can’t go out with you all up in my business.”
“I am not all up in your business.” Something snaked between my legs, giving me the world’s most invasive wedgie. It didn’t stop there: the wedgie grew, trying to make its way up my pussy and ass.
I let out an indignant screech. “Argh! I command you to get off me.”
The perverted skirt disappeared, and Prax reappeared again in front of me, his arms crossed and his lips pouting. “You’re supposed to use your power over me to demand I get you off, not get off you. You’re a meanie.”
“Me? A meanie?” I reached over, grabbed his pants—he was back in his pirate outfit— and pulled up as hard as I could. I mentally willed him not to turn to smoke, hoping to give him a taste of his own medicine with a mega wedgie. “There. How do you like that?”
He made a face, his boggled eyes clearly conveying his discomfort, but he choked out “Love it!” in a strangled voice.
I grabbed my clutch to double-check I had everything I needed for a night out on the town: wallet, keys, phone, and a snack. Then, deciding that I should bring a glass of water too, I picked up the glass from my bedside table, ran the tap in the ensuite bathroom until it was cold, and filled it to the top. Then I opened the drawer to my bedside table and put it inside, careful not to spill it when I closed the drawer again.
“Did you just put a glass of water inside that drawer?”
“Yep, in case the drawer goblins get thirsty.”
Prax looked at me like I was crazy, but I just shrugged. In reality, the inside of my clutch was spelled to open up into the drawer.
I strapped on my heels, the only pair of shoes I’d unpacked other than my daily Doc Martens.
“Ooh, sexy.” Prax whistled. “But how are you going to drive in those?”
“I’m drinking tonight. I’m not driving.” I also didn’t trust my vehicle not to give away my location. I really needed to get my car looked at in case my parents had bugged it.
He grinned. “I will drive you.”
I shrugged noncommittally.
“I will go start the car.” Then he puffed outside.
Haha, sucker!
I quickly chanted the words to open a portal directly into Griselda’s living room. Since she was expecting me, she accepted the portal request immediately.
I stepped through, and Lily threw herself at me for a hug as the magical door fizzled out of existence.
“Eeeek! Gigi said you’re planning on staying here in Darlington even though the wedding fell through. I’m so excited! I mean, I’m sorry your fiancé turned out to be an asshat, but it will be just like the good old days. It hasn’t been the same without you.” She held me out at arm’s length. “You look great. Glowing, even! Not what I expected after…you know.”
I knew. She meant the wedding that never was. I also knew why I was “glowing.” My magic had spiked wildly when I was with Prax, and I could still feel it thrumming through me.
Griselda handed me a drink with a lime wedge. “Still a gin and tonic girl?”
“Does it still glow under black light?” I took the drink from her. “Staying here means I’m also finally cutting the cord and facing the fallout from my parents. My hope is that they’ll be so afraid of any bad publicity that they’ll keep everything hush-hush and not go crazy stalker on me.”
“About time!” Lily held up her drink for a toast, and the three of us clinked our glasses together before taking a sip. “You know, I used to be so jealous of people raised with silver spoons in their mouths, but then I met you. You couldn’t pay me to live with your family. No offence.”
“Gee, thanks, Lily,” I said wryly. I could always rely on her to be brutally honest with me. “I love you too. So, where are we going? I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a bar or a club, so I went a little extra sexy.” Then, in a lower voice, I said, “If you want to know the truth, I haven’t been to a club since our trip to Vegas. I say we go to a club.”
“Yeah! Let’s do it,” Lily said.
There was an oversized pirate-themed fleece blanket tossed over Triscuit’s massive cage to give him some privacy, but that didn’t stop him from hearing and replying to one of his favorite phrases with a loud, “Let’s do it!” and an even louder squawk.
“See, even Triscuit agrees,” Lily said, grinning. “Besides, Penny hasn’t experienced club life here like we have. Darlington is special. Even before the fall of the Wall.”
Just then, the doorbell rang, and Triscuit, already hyped up, started mimicking the sound.
“I’m going to have to change that ring sound before he learns it,” Griselda mumbled as she grabbed her phone to bring up the feed from her door. “Your hottie incubus is here, Penny.”
“Ugh! I thought I ditched him. How the hell did he know I was here?”
“Um, sweetie.” Griselda looked pointedly at me. “The bindings lead straight to you.”
Lily’s eyes went wide. “Bindings? Oh my god, you didn’t…” She squinted at me. “Oh my god, you did! It’s such a fine thread that I never would’ve seen it if I didn’t know to look for it. Damn, girl. You’ve been a very bad witch. “
“It wasn’t on purpose!” I explained what happened with the spell.
“You mean the spell that’s been going around on the forum? I’m pretty sure that doesn’t have a binding aspect to it.” Lily knocked back the rest of her drink and got up to make herself another.
“I know. That’s why I say it wasn’t on purpose. I must have fucked up somewhere. You know I’m not as good at this whole witch thing as the two of you.” Then I told her about the shifter from earlier today.
“Hmm, I think you’re right. Something got messed up somewhere.”
The doorbell rang again, and Gigi turned her phone around to show Prax still in his swashbuckling pirate outfit.
“Yummy!” Lily squealed. “If you don’t want him, I’ll totally take him.”
“I didn’t say that!” I snapped. He’s mine! All mine! Whoa—where the hell had that thought come from? “It’s that I told him it was a girls’ night out and he wasn’t invited. I mean, after the whole wedding disaster, I thought I’d have some time to be single. You know, find myself or whatever. When I cast that spell, I didn’t expect it to send me someone right that second, but Prax just poofed into my living room. So weird. Like, an incubus is a strange choice for that spell, don’t you think?”
“Very.” Gigi had produced a hand mirror and was meticulously applying dark red lipstick. “I’ve heard of demons and incubi finding mates, but it’s not common. They earned their reputation for a reason.”
“Well, what are we going to do about this one? We can’t exactly stop him from following us to the club.”
“I say we let him tag along and see what happens. Maybe the bouncer will stop him at the door.”
“Couldn’t he just phase right into the club?” I asked.
“Not into this one,” Gigi said. “You haven’t been to Darlington clubs. They’re special. Although, unless he’s caused shit at this particular establishment before, the bouncers would probably still let him in.”
“Especially if he looks that good. Damn!”
“All right,” I sighed. “I guess he can tag along.”