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He’d laid out a fresh set of clothing nearly identical to what I’d gotten bloody on the bed. The vibrating angel relic patiently waited beside them. The only thing Rasmus hadn’t found were my extra shoes. That was understandable since I had stashed them in the car Dylan was still driving. I figured if I ever needed an extra pair it would be while working out in the field.

“Where can I find shoes for you?” he asked.

“They’re in the car Dylan is driving. All I have here is a pair of sturdy boots. They’ll have to do.”

Now that I was working again, I obviously needed to invest in a few more pairs of sneakers, but I had yet to make it plant shopping, much less to a shoe store. I hated shopping on the best of days but sometimes it had to be done. Usually, I talked Fiona into going with me. I guess I’d have to ask Mulan to go.First, I’d have to lay some ground rules about stripper heels and too much bling. I hated both and Mulan loved them.

I watched the guardian’s mouth tilt up at both corners. “Do you find my lack of shoes funny? I could conjure a pair but the cost of that sort of magick is dear for a witch. I’d rather make do with what I have. Especially given what I have to do today.”

“No, I swear I wasn’t laughing. I was thinking that if you ruined your boots this afternoon, you’ll be shoeless and have to borrow some from Mulan.”

“Borrowing shoes wouldn’t work. Mulan wears a whole two sizes smaller. She has unbelievably tiny feet.”

“Really?” Rasmus asked as he glanced at my toes peeking out from under the giant bath towel. “Are your feet considered abnormally large for your size? How is that genetically possible?”

“I wouldn’t use the wordabnormalto describe my feet. And I’d appreciate it if ya wouldn’t use it, either. Anytime ya talk about my body or one of its parts, ya better be using the same poetic language ya used last night.”

Rasmus laughed at my rant and I grinned at him for it. Laughter was still too rare for him, but I was grateful to occasionally amuse him enough to make him forget to be his serious self.

I was about to drop my towel to dress when someone knocked on the door. “It’s Conn,” I said to him, still ready to let the fabric drop. Conn had seen me naked plenty of times.

Rasmus grabbed at the cloth and held it in place. “Come in,” he called.

I rolled my eyes when Conn walked in and grinned at a stubborn Rasmus holding onto my towel.

“Lunch delivery,” Conn said, brandishing the tray. “Henry told me to put it in your sitting room. Are we all having lunch together?”

Entertaining people wasn’t high on my list at the moment, but it seemed only fair to invite them. “Sure. Why not? Invite Zara as well. I don’t want her to feel left out. If Zenos is around, he can come too. We’ll make it a party. Some people might have to sit on the floor, though.”

“Zara is still sitting on the couch. She’s reading a book while she waits.”

“That’s her research,” Rasmus said. “Hold on to your towel while I close the bedroom door.”

A snickering Conn carried the tray into the sitting room. I’d hear about this later. He’d tell Mulan and I’d get twice the teasing. I glared at Rasmus. “Conn’s seen me naked more than you have.”

“Yes, but I don’t want him to see you naked today. That’s what counts.”

I heard Conn’s laughter from the other room and glared at Rasmus.

“Fine, Guardian. Shut the damn door. I could have been dressed by now.”

“I’ll just pop out into the foyer and invite Zara to lunch.”

“Sure. Do that,” I said with an eye roll.

The moment Rasmus opened the door, I threw off my giant towel and waved my arms to anyone who might be passing by. If they’d seen me, I’d have looked like a naked idiot.

Rasmus glared before clicking the door shut behind him.

“Prude,” I said under my breath. I guess it was flattering that he cared that much.

I ended up having to hunt for my boots and they were in the last storage tub I checked. I was ready to admit Henry’s iron-fisted right to rule the choices of our furnishings. What would it hurt to let him find me a bedroom set that came with drawers I could use instead of plastic tubs?

Henry’s impeccable taste in furnishings usually suited me. I doubt he’d put something I hated in here.

I picked up the angel relic and studied it. The wood looked freshly cut from a tree after only a couple of hours. I felt sure this was why Zenos thought the resurrection spell would work.

I emerged from the bedroom to find everyone already present in the sitting room except for Zenos. Even Zara had come in. She sat on the small couch with Mulan and Conn. Rasmus was in the chair he used last night. The remaining chair, a magickal one still sized for me, waited for my rear end to grace it.