CHAPTER 4
REMMIE
“Witch?” What is he talking about now? The amber in his eyes seemed to glow with his new found revelation. As if he figured out the answer to a difficult puzzle. He leans in closer to me, staring hard into my eyes.
“What spell did you use? Is that why I’ve been unable to leave? You don’t seem that powerful. How was I able to leave just now?”
He asked me multiple questions at once, setting my nerves on edge.
“You were just OUT! You’re the one who popped back in here.”
“How did you do it, little witch.” Shade asks again.
“I am not a witch. I have no clue what’s going on here.” I yell.
Shade eyes me like he doesn’t believe me one little bit.
Has gran talked about witches my whole life? Yes! Do I believe they exist? Also, yes. Kind of hard not to with a demon standing right in front of me. But she never said she was a witch. And I’ve never performed a spell in my life.
“You have some kind of spell that traps me here. Like I said, I’ve been trying to leave here for hours.” Shade huffs.
“And yet, I just pushed you out of the door. Why did you come back in just to risk getting stuck, again?” I ask.
“Because my terrible, curious brain needs to know how you did it. How you let me out.”
I head to the door and yank it open, gesturing for him to try and go. He hesitates a moment before striding to the door. As soon as his foot gets close to the door frame, Shade is instantly thrown back onto his ass, tail flipped over one shoulder.
“Fuck! It happened again.” He whines. “There is definitely a spell cast on this place. One that lets demons in but won’t let them out. What use is there for a spell like that?”
I cool my shocked features enough to answer.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe, so sneaky golden demons can’t get away with eating my livelihood and running away without paying for them.”
“I was totally going to pay. But you have a point, Sweetness. And you say you don’t know how it got there?
That you didn’t cast it yourself?” Shade asks, standing.
He brushes himself off, his tail helping.
The frustration and confusion on his face shifting to cool charm as he regards me. This is just crazy. Am I being punked?
“Not a clue.” I respond.
“I love a good mystery. I am normally mistrustful of witches but I have a feeling you are a good one.”
Shade slaps his hands together. “It seems like I can only be let out if you let me out. It worked when you touched me. You mind if we try it?”
Out of everything that’s happened in the last few minutes, this idea made some sense.
I guess. As much sense as a golden himbo demon breaking into my bakery at Five AM in combat boots and a band tee.
Regardless of my uncertainty, we try it a few times.
I pushed him out, pulled him out and lead him out.
Each time he could only leave if I were touching him in some way.
He did try once to leave without me, landing on his face a few feet back. Well, that’s that then.
“That is one nasty spell you got there.” Shade hissed as he rubbed his lower back. His tail swayed in what looked like irritation.
“I keep telling you, I’m not a witch, I’m a baker.”
“Mm-Hmm. Ok. Those treats were pretty magical though.”
The compliment made my heart rate pick up. “Thank you.”
Shade shrugs but I can see a bit of a darker tint to his cheeks as well.
He paces back and forth a few times, deep in thought.
It gave me a moment to think. What am I getting myself into?
Really? I could only guess. Even though he seems overly proud and a bit of an airhead, I haven’t felt unsafe around him.
And what else do I have going on? I bake desserts every day that no one comes and buys anymore.
Maybe I am truly cursed. The thought depresses me further.
“Fine. It doesn’t seem like you are going to hurt me or anything.”
“I would never, Sweetness.” Shade holds his hand to his heart in mock hurt.
"Remmie." I correct him.
"Hmm. Been a while since I’ve had one but if you’re offering."
"What! No. That's my name. REMMIE. Short for Remilda." I huff.
"Oh. Well, someone clearly didn't like you at birth." He frowns. My eyes widen in shock.
"I was named after my grandmother. "
"Oh. My apologies. Someone clearly hated her."
His tone suggests that he’s teasing me, but I want to punch this cheeky demon in his stupidly good-looking face anyway. Though, I'm pretty sure he'd enjoy it too much. His smirk confirms it. The heat rising in my cheeks is just frustration, not because he's shockingly handsome when he does that.
"All jokes aside, let me make it up to you. I'll help you around here for a few days. Try to figure out the spell on this place. Even though I still believe you cast it. And in return, you bake for me. Seems fair, yeah?"
I am not so sure. If there is a spell on my bakery, could that explain the decline in sales?
And it wouldn't hurt to have someone around, even though there isn't much to do.
Shade hasn't harmed me or made me feel unsafe since finding him laid out on my kitchen floor.
I must be desperate and lonely to consider this, but I do. Why the hell not.
"OK. Deal. But only until we figure out what the spell is and how to remove it."
I stick my hand out towards him and he grasps it gently.
Energy crackles through my palm, up my arm and straight to my core.
The overwhelming arousal I feel almost makes me double over, but I manage to stay upright.
Shade makes a sharp inhale, his pupils expanding for the briefest moment before turning back into their stunning liquid amber color.
I pull my hand away with great difficulty, rubbing my palms together to smooth the effects still lingering in my fingers.
Shade's mask of cool flirtation comes back to his face and he gives a small bow.
"I'll be back later today and we can start, Sweetness." And heads for the door. He suddenly stops and turns, holding his hand out to me. "Would you mind?" He asks.
Oh. Right.
Only I can let him out with touch. I grab his hand, relived the shockwave from before didn't happen again, open the front door and lead him out. His smile is blinding as he turns from me and disappears, the spot where he was just standing, vacant.
Magic. Holy hells.
For all that had happened, it's still pretty early yet. The other shops remain dark in the early morning light and the feeling of being completely alone sets heavy on my shoulders. Well, I guess I'll start cleaning up.
I try to shake off this weird shroud of uncertainty and get to work.