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F oxx had to say, Mari’s house was pretty, in a rustic type of way. At least what they’d seen of it had been. The witch had set them up with sweet tea, in her rather large kitchen. The space held a double wide oven and stove, a two-door fridge, and all the counter space one could ask for. There was also a sizable kitchen island, alongside the round table they were currently sitting at.

He could tell the table expanded, even though it already could sit eight. With wooden walls, floors, and counters, the cabinets and appliances were all similar shades of green. Which was most of what they’d seen so far.

Harlow was sitting to his left and Mari to his right, with Gavin beside her. After he'd finished explaining all they would be trying to do, Foxx slowly rasped, “I know it’s a lot to ask in a short period of time, but can it be done?”

Mari pursed her lips, “It is a lot, no doubt, but—” She let out an ear tingling cackle that just made him smile. “—it can! And with very little prep on my end, thankfully. Helps to have a storage room of spells and other such things at the ready.”

He beamed, grabbing one of her hands. “Thank you. Really, thank you!”

“No problem, dear.” She patted the top of his hand before giving it a squeeze and pulling away. “Nothing to thank me for when it’s the right thing to do. Though I do find myself quite irritated by the fact that Sephira hid someone so cute from me!”

Foxx giggled, waving shyly. “Oh, stop!” But he wanted her to go on, because he was cute, and it deserved to be pointed out.

“Dimples and freckles, oh my.” She giggled with clear delight—as she should.

Harlow cleared his throat. “As cute as he is, shouldn’t we talk about what exactly you plan to give us to help make our insane plan less insane?”

He glared at the dhampir. “You couldn’t let her go on a bit longer?!”

“I’ll compliment your cuteness later, Brat.”

“It’s not the same, Old Man! And you aren’t allowed!” Foxx huffed. The man was always spoiling his fun!

Mari chuckled. “I never said anything about making it less insane, as where would the fun be in that?”

Gavin laughed. “She has a point.”

“Ohh, you’re a cutie too.” The witch patted the dragon’s cheek. “Such sweet boys.”

Harlow could practically see Foxx and Gavin’s metaphorical tails wagging as the witch flattered them.

Rolling his eyes, he sighed. “What exactly do you plan to do?”

“Yes, yes, dhampir, down to business.” Mari tsked. “A simple ward will work for the sound issue. I can give you three talismans to make you ‘disappear’ for your own entrance and exit, but we’ll use more flexible ways to get the people you want out of the building, both humans and paranormals alike. The latter without being noticed of course.

“However, if there are as many paranormal captives as you say, they will need transportation, especially if they are injured. Which I can handle as well. Fire-wise…it would be best to let it consume the buildings beside it, as it will seem more natural that way. But harm can, of course, be eliminated to those who are innocent.”

That all sounded good and well, but not super clear .

“How much would we owe you for all this?” Foxx asked, before he could push for further clarification.

“Rather than payment, it is more that you must fulfill a request,” the witch said with a smile, her expression looking much like a pleased cat.

“Sounds shady, I like it.” Gavin laughed.

Mari cackled. “Oh, how I wish it was, but no. The only thing I ask for is that you…take me with you.”

Harlow’s brow rose at that. “I’m guessing that is why you were so vague about everything.”

“Indeed, much must be done by my own two hands.” She held them up, her fingers slim and wrinkled. “That, and it’s been far too long since I’ve had a night of fun. This is just too hard for me to pass up.”

“YES! Let’s fuck them up!” the vampire cried.

She cackled again, petting Foxx’s curls. “So cute.”

Why did he feel a headache coming on? Also, why did it feel like his vampire was a witch magnet? Do witches like cute things or something?

“We can’t guarantee your safety,” he felt the need to point out.

Mari snorted. “Child, I have been in more fights than the number of bodies you and that young man, Tony, have burned and buried.”

Harlow chuckled. “Not sure when you last saw him, but Tony is not so young anymore.”

She blinked and laughed. “Time does have a tendency to get away from us, doesn’t it?” The witch clapped. “Well, you are welcome to relax here. It’ll take me an hour at most to get things ready, and make a call to my grandson to fetch a few of his friends and their…ridiculously large vehicles.” The woman’s nose wrinkled as she said the last part.

Foxx pursed his lips. “Can’t say I prefer larger cars myself, which is why I have a Mini Cooper.”

“Ah, yes, a perfectly sized car.”

“If you’re tiny,” Harlow grumbled.

Mari stood from her seat and reached into the pocket of her dress. Something was in her hand when she pulled it back out and held it in front of Gavin, palm down.

The dragon frowned. “Uhh?”

The witch smiled. “Hold out your hand.”

Obediently, the man did. A small, golden frog dropped into his palm. The dragon’s pupils dilated, his eyes turning starry as he rasped, “It’s so shiny.”

Mari hummed. “I figured I’d hand it over and save you the trouble of sneaking it away.”

“I like you!” Gavin smiled at her, clearly happy. The dragon’s eyes were practically smiling as well with how much they had closed.

She giggled, patting his cheek again. “You’re a good boy.” Mari’s gaze did a sweep over them all. “You all are. Yes, even you, Harlow.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’d rather not be.”

“I’m sure you would,” the witch cackled.

Foxx cleared his throat. “So, I was thinking, after we fight and drop off the paranormals, we could maybe…bake?”

“Foxx!” Harlow snapped.

“WHAT?! I’m baking deprived! It’s been days, Harlow! I am sad and stressed, and because we are on the road, I can’t bake to make myself feel better!”

“I know he mentioned baking with his witch friends, but can he actually bake? Like, is he good at it?” Gavin asked with interest. “I’ve seen his social media posts, but always assumed that maybe he just copied all of the craft and goodies from somewhere.”

Foxx sputtered. “I would never! Also, stalker much?! All of my accounts are literally set to private.”

“Stop stalking my boyfriend, Gavin,” Harlow growled, before frowning as he thought over what Foxx had said. He supposed the vampire did usually bake like crazy when he was upset… “Maybe we could stay for a little bit so you can bake.”

“I’d love to bake with you all. And I can even promise you that staying will change nothing for the worse. Y’all can stay here, relax, and I’ll be back.” Mari wandered off down a hallway, opposite the one they entered through, disappearing deeper into the house.

“Can you really bake?” Gavin asked again.

“His cooking skills are none of your business,” Harlow snapped .

Foxx huffed. “I am an excellent baker, thank you very much!”

“And mine ,” he growled.

The dragon snorted. “I don’t want your man, I want your therapist!”

“You should go for it!” Foxx giggled.

Harlow’s mouth twisted in disgust before he could stop it. There was just something that didn’t sit right about Gavin dating someone so much fucking older than him. He wasn’t sure how, what, or even why he was reacting in such a way, but…he at the very least knew why Foxx was doing what he was doing. “You just want to watch the chaos unfold, you fucking menace.”

“That I do! And if you stop letting your protective big brother urges take over, you would be looking forward to the mess as well!”

“ ‘Protective big brother urges? ’” he repeated slowly with disbelief.

Surely the man must be joking? Also, what exactly was wrong with him questioning Gavin being okay with dating someone who was over twice his age?! Wasn’t that questionable?!

“Holy shit, you’re right, Foxx!” Gavin gasped, his eyes wide with fucking wonder. “That’s why he’s reacting the way he is!? This is huge! This is progress! This is—” The dragon’s expression pinched. “—not exactly a welcome development, to be completely honest. I feel it is one part of my life I would actually prefer he stay out of…”

Harlow scoffed. “Sounds like it’s one part of your life that your useless fucking guardians stayed out of too. But also, big brother urges, my ass. Foxx, you just made that up, didn’t you?” He looked at the vampire, wincing on finding the man looking bright eyed and…up to something. “What are you plotting?!”

Foxx blinked, his smile not dimming even for a moment. “Nothing at all, because no matter what happens, or how you try to interfere, for me, it will be pure unadulterated entertainment.”

Harlow glared. “You are such a fucking brat. And you know what, I’m not going to play into your trap. I am choosing to NOT be your entertainment, you hear me, Brat?! I’m not going to interfere! I’m going to still judge, but I will sit back and just enjoy the show while doing fucking nothing, just like those three useless, dumbfuck, irresponsible, dunderheaded dragons who raised his ass!”

The vampire giggled. “Fine, you do that. ”

“I will!” he snapped.

Gavin sighed. “I feel I should be insulted that you two are viewing my love life as entertainment, but since it means you will likely help me, or in Harlow’s case, at least not get in the way, I’ve decided I don’t care.”

Whatever, it didn’t matter! He may still poke at those three idiots though. Fucking useless fucks. Either way, who Gavin dated was none of his business…

Did it have to be Wes, though?! Ugh, good luck, Wes , Harlow thought with a sigh.