Page 40 of All's Fair in Love and Magic

“I can start sketching out a few ideas for runes over the next few days, but I need to repair some more of the wards before I get to it.”

“Of course. The wards are the priority.”

I shifted, and she climbed on my back slightly easier than she had the first time.

Her grip was still just as tight, though.

We dropped the duffel bags off at the bungalow before going back to leave the shopping bag of clothes to be returned at the front desk. Cecil was off duty—I’d moved the bastard to custodial for being an ass to my mate—and the current receptionist was polite.

“I got a message during the night that the demons are on their way. We expected them about twenty minutes ago, so they should be here any time now,” the receptionist said.

“Thanks. We have a few minutes to wait for them.” I headed toward a couch near the front desk, and Sage walked with me.

“The demons?” she asked.

“The Villin brothers are a family of demons that protect humans from asshole supernaturals,” I explained. When I took a seat, she sat with me. “I let one of them stay here for a few years a couple decades ago when they got in trouble with the Supernatural Government. When I got word that your coven is headed this way yesterday afternoon, I called in a favor with them.”

Sage’s eyebrows shot upward. “The coven is already coming here?”

“Guess they checked everywhere else off their list.”

“Fuck.” She shoved a hand through her hair, pushing it off her face. “You should’ve told me right when you found out.”

“You were asleep in the bathtub.”

She opened her mouth to protest. Then closed it and nodded. “I need to focus on repairing the most important protective wards as soon as possible. Runing them to make them stronger will have to wait. Surfing can wait too.”

“There’s no point in postponing your lesson. The spellbooks aren’t here yet.”

“Tell me as soon as they are,” she warned.

“I will.”

Without a sealed mate bond, I couldn’t protect her completely, so she could be damn sure I would tell her. We needed all the help we could get.

I felt a ripple of magic as the Villin brothers entered the parking lot.

Rafael’s magic was unmistakable.

“The Villins are here,” I said.

Sage and I crossed the lobby and met them out in front of the resort.

“Just so we’re clear, they know they were hired to protect a blood witch, right? And that what I am puts all of us at risk of being hunted by a whole coven?” Sage murmured.

“Yes. They’re staying for free as long as they want after everything’s over. And I agreed to let their mates take over one of the island’s coffee shops. Guess they want to sell candy there too.”

“Candy?” She frowned.

“Demons can’t get enough of it. Their mates sell it in their coffee shops. There was a longer explanation, but most of it didn’t process.”

Sage snorted. “I should’ve figured you wouldn’t be a candy person. Or sugar in general, huh?”

“I have nothing against it, I just don’t usually want it. I do eat pastries on occasion.”

“Like what, once a year?”

“Twice. Christmas and Easter.”