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“Yup.”

Magicmight power the lights, but that didn’t mean they’d find decades’ worth of food and water inside.Generallyonly fire or a beheading could kill an immortal, but someLoreansperished from less.Coulda witch of only a hundred years starve? “Tellme about the wizard.Whydid he build this place?”WhatwouldRökandPoppyface tonight?

“Itwas supposed to be a home for his family, but they died a century ago.”Shepeeked under a dust cover concealing a settee.Whatwas she searching for? “Thewizard sealed himself up inside until he kicked it a few decades back.Somesay he lost his mind and was up to no good, while others say this castle is his booby-trapped tomb.”

“Whywould you come here without backup?Yoursisters wouldn’t have sent you off alone.”Heknew this for a fact, had run into the oldestDyersister earlier.Lea.Fearsomecreature, that one.

Butthen, the five sisters were all formidable in their own ways, rumored to each possess a different witchly caste power.

Lea’spiece of advice for him still resonated.Hewould never forget it because he replayed it every day. . . .

Poppyshrugged. “YouknowIwork jobs by myself.”

“AndI’vealways wondered why.”Rökhad recently undertaken a slew of solo missions himself, but he preferred the camaraderie of a partner or a crew.

“Didyou know that each of my sisters is named after a plant?”

Hedid.OleanderorLea,Sage,Clover, andBelladonna.Herbalistsand concoctionesses, they utilized plants in hex pouches.

Funny, though, when he’d takenPoppyto dinner, she’d ordered steak, rare. “Yeah, so?”

“So,Igrow best with my own spot in the sun.”

Howcould she be so cavalier?Nojob was worth her life. “Nowyou might be about to die in a dark castle.Plantsdo that too.”

Shewinked at him.

Frustratingwitch! “Atleasttryto use your portal.I’llmake it worth your while?—”

Withoutanother word, she started across the foyer, heading deeper into the castle.Herboot heels clicked against stone, her jeans rasping between her shapely thighs.

Hewatched her sexy stride for heart-stopping seconds.Atleast she tempered some of his teleporter’s claustrophobia.Ifhe had to be trapped with anyone, he’d choosePoppy.

Whata fitting name.

Prettyflower.Ruinousdrug.

Whenhe’d first encountered her on jobs, he hadn’t considered her anything special to look at with her bright hair scraped back in a bun and her serviceable work clothes.Shehad nice features and eyes the color of a new leaf, but nothing to make him do a double take.

Herscent though.It’dgotten him as randy as a stag encountering its first dose of heat.

Inconcoction terms, her scent was three parts vitality and one part smoky poppy blossoms, with a hint of womanly arousal.Inother words: smoke-demon nirvana.Soof courseRökhad asked her out.

Whenshe’d let down her hair for their date and he’d seen all those glorious locks framing her heart-shaped face, he’d been enraptured.

Thelittle middle gap in her white teeth?Adorable.Theglimmer in those green eyes as she’d mocked his best seduction lines?Madehim hard.Thesight of her curves in a rain-dampened dress?Godsbelow have mercy on this demon.

Yetafter one tiny hiccup, she’d ditched their date.Whenshe’d finally agreed to another one, the capricious witch had stood him up and blocked his number!

Shewas attracted to him—who wasn’t?—but it hadn’t been enough to bring her back for more.Infact, she’d avoided him for two years, dating someone else for half of that time.

Hewatched her for a moment more—mercy on this demon—then traced to catch up.

Anddidn’t go anywhere.Thatwas going to take some getting used to. “Headingright into danger?” he asked as he jogged to her side. “Yourpay must be astronomical.”

Shestrode toward a grand staircase, leaving a wake of disturbed cobwebs. “I’mvery motivated.Yourclient paying you well?”

He’dlet her believe he had a client; he did not have a client. “WouldIever take a job with measly pay?”Nota lie.