Women of the Otherworld 10.5 - Counterfeit Magic by Kelley Armstrong Page A

exorcism potion. Seems we’re out of buckthorn.”
     
    She winced. “Sorry. It’s downstairs in the kitchen cupboard.”
     
    “Why would you—?” I shook my head. “Fine. Let’s tie this guy up, and I’ll get the buckthorn.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Savannah had put the herbs in the tea cupboard, reasoning that it looked enough like tea leaves not to concern any human guests. As for why she’d needed it in the kitchen at all, I wasn’t going to ask.
     
    I headed upstairs. All was silent up there, meaning the demon was still locked in Savannah’s binding spell.
     
    I was starting down the hall when the stairs creaked behind me. Before I could turn, something cold went around my neck. I grabbed it and spun, lashing out with a knockback spell that sent my attacker slamming into the wall.
     
    “Lucas?”
     
    “Your defensive reaction has improved. Apparently, sneaking up to deliver a gift is no longer such a wise idea.”
     
    “Gift?” I looked down at my hand. What I’d grabbed was a necklace with an engraved red stone for a pendant.
     
    “A carnelian amulet of Hamiah ,” he said. “I know you’ve been looking for one.”
     
    I stared at it and my first thought was: It’s an apology. He thinks he can buy me off with baubles. But then I looked up at him, and he smiled, and I knew whatever I’d heard on the phone had been an illusion. Counterfeit magic to convince me my husband had been unfaithful.
     
    I lifted onto my tiptoes and kissed him. He kissed me back with no hesitation, no surprise, no sign that I’d have any reason not to welcome him home.
     
    “Oh my God!”
     
    Savannah’s voice made us jump apart. She strode down the hall, gaze fixed on Lucas’s shirt. I followed it to see a crimson stain spreading across it. He looked down and touched it.
     
    “You’re hurt,” I said. “How—?”
     
    He cut me off by pressing his stained fingers to my lips. Sweet and fruity.
     
    “Strawberry jam?” I said.
     
    “Spread, actually. Another gift. Your knockback must have broken the jar in my pocket.”
     
    “Strawberry spread?” Savannah said. “Why would you—?” She stopped and lifted her hands. “Dumb question and I don’t want to hear the answer.”
     
    “Nor was I going to provide it. So—”
     
    A muffled sound from the bedroom cut him off.
     
    “Shit,” Savannah said. “Binding spell broke.”
     
    She hurried in to recast it. Before I could explain, Lucas strode to the bedroom door. He looked at what appeared to be Adam, bound, gagged and sitting on our bed.
     
    “Ah,” Lucas said. “Seems I interrupted something. My apologies.”
     
    Savannah laughed. “Only you would walk in on this and apologize. It’s not what it looks like.”
     
    “It’s not demonic possession?”
     
    She laughed again. “And only you would jump to that conclusion.”
     
    “Yes, it’s possession,” I said. “Someone sent him here to seduce me—”
     
    Savannah made choking noises.
     
    “It didn’t work,” I said.
     
    “Well, duh. I just mean… eww . Adam is not going to live this one down.”
     
    “I’m sure he won’t. But before we bring him back, we need to find out who sent the demon.”
     
    “Someone who’s not very bright,” Savannah said. “Sending anyone to seduce you would be a waste of time. But Adam?” She shook her head. “Time to get some answers.”

Contract Negotiations
     
    Savannah walked over and yanked the gag off the demon. “Okay, who’s the dumb-ass who sent you to possess Adam and seduce Paige?”
     
    The demon pressed his lips together and glowered at us.
     
    “I asked you a question,” Savannah said.
     
    “Let’s forget who for now,” I said. “ Why did someone want you to seduce me?”
     
    Again, he didn’t answer. Savannah lifted her hands to hit him with a spell, then quickly lowered them, as if she’d remembered it was Adam’s body she was about to blast. He’d suffer the consequences when he returned.
     
    “We