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I winced but also chuckled. “Yes, but his purple hair lasted way less than a week. This new version of Rasmus and I might start off on friendlier terms. Maybe this time around he won’t get so snippy with me over everything I say and do.”

Fiona shook her head. “What else did the guardian say? Did you talk about anything other than Rasmus?”

Maybe there was one more thing I needed to share with my child. “Yes. The guardian asked me to remove the demon compulsion from yer father. I told him no.”

Fiona swallowed hard. “Is it possible to say no to their requests?”

I huffed before answering. “They’re all about me exercising my free will, but that doesn’t mean they won’t go behind my back and bribe Lilith to remove the compulsion. The guardians think they know best for all of us. Plus, they think I’m too stupid to understand their higher thinking.”

Conn shook his head. He’d been shaking his head over everything I said. I didn’t have to ask him why because I knew. He felt sorry for me, which was something he hated feeling and something I hated being the reason for.

So I changed the subject between Conn and me. “Did ya get in touch with Ben yesterday?”

Conn nodded. “Yes. He wants us to drop by his new office. The Shadow Breakers rented mall space for the Salem headquarters. From his description, he’s already turning it into a pseudo-military compound.”

I blew across my refreshed coffee to cool it. “I’m imagining us having to drag a resistant captive across a mall parking lot full of cars that he or she keeps picking up and throwing around. That would not be a great way to introduce the business to the citizens of Salem.”

Chuckling, Conn shook his head. “This mall has no other shops in it. It’s one of the abandoned ones on Cauldron Avenue. By the way, they plan to ask you to ward the building for them.”

I shrugged and drank my coffee. “Since we need money for a down payment, I’ll do it. Will ya lay down some demon wards first?”

Conn shook his head. “I thought we could do the work as a favor for them. That way when we ask for real money, they’ll think we’re worth it.”

It went against my frugal nature to work for free, but I’d do it this once. “Ya better hope Fiona finds us a sweet deal with closing costs included.”

Our volunteer house hunter giggled at our discussion but didn’t comment. For a few minutes after that, silence fell around the table. Finally, I said what had to be said. “Let’s go see Ben this morning, Conn. Just know that I’m in no condition to do any warding today. I got very little sleep last night.”

Conn’s grin spoke volumes. “I wish you’d lost sleep for a better reason than simplytalkingto a man.”

“Me too,” I said, chuckling at how distant the possibility of being intimate with someone seemed.

Fiona grunted at the discussion. “Do you two talk about sex whenever I’m not here? Or is this just another way for you two to embarrass me?”

Conn turned his most serious look to her. “Your mother is my witch, my keeper, and like a sister to me. I want to see her emotionally happy, physically satisfied, and as full of power as possible. Celibacy is not an option for someone as powerful as your mother. It blocks personal growth and happiness in dangerous way.”

“Seriously?” Fiona asked, giving me a suspicious glance.

“No, Conn’s exaggerating,” I said.

“OMG,” Fiona declared before laughing. “If you’re downplaying it, I’m sure it’s true. Do I have to worry about hooking you up as well? I guess I could find you a booty call guy like Gigi has in Ireland.”

“No, Fiona. Ya do not have to worry about the men in my life—or the absence of them. Conn and I do not get involved in each other’s love lives. That goes double for mine,” I said, turning to glare at Conn. “Stop worrying my daughter. This is not a joking matter.”

“And I’m the one who keeps telling you that. I know Bridget warned you as well,” Conn said, leaning back in the chair to smirk. “When you blow something up with your pent-up magick, don’t say I didn’t warn everyone. We can’t afford to be paying for damages simply because you’re ignoring your own needs.”

Fiona’s eyes widened. “If Gigi mentioned it, then it has to be a real problem. Mom, just go to a bar and pick up a guy. You can’t be blowing up houses when we’re getting ready to buy a new one. I bet that’s what happened to your other rental. Your repressed sexual energy probably caught it on fire.”

I glared at my unhelpful familiar. “Do you see what ya started? I will not be forgetting this, Connlander.”

Conn’s laughter was loud.

I left my unfinished coffee, rose from the table, and rolled my eyes. “I’m going to get dressed now. My alleged suppression or repression or whatever expression ya’ve been discussing is my business. It is not a subject up for a group debate. Are we clear?”

Fiona snapped her fingers. “What about Murray, Mom? You said he wanted to get to know you better. Trust me, that’s guy-speak for wanting to sleep with you. I know you’re out of practice and probably don’t read men well anymore.”

I glared at my only child. “Okay, that’s quite enough ego battering.”

Fiona lifted her hands, feigning innocence. “You’re the one that told me Murray was closer to your age and dating speed. Didn’t you get his phone number?”