Page 33

Chapter 33

Bastion went off to make enquiries about the High Priestess whilst Oscar and I washed the dishes together. I preferred to wash, he preferred to dry: it was the perfect partnership. My kitchen had a double sink, one full of hot water and soapy suds and one full of cold water to wash the soap off again. I rinsed another bowl and passed it to Oscar to dry. We’d found a rhythm over the years and I wondered if he felt like Bastion’s arrival into our lives had thrown that off.

‘I—’ I began.

‘Amber—’ he started at the same time.

‘You go first,’ I said with a laugh.

‘Things with Bastion – they’ve … developed?’ He seemed as uncomfortable talking about it as I was.

My neck heated and then my face followed suit. ‘Erm, yes. I like him.’

‘I do too.’ Oscar assured me. ‘He’s a good man.’

‘I think so.’

‘He makes you happy?’

I thought about it then nodded. Our relationship might seem odd to some because essentially I was Bastion’s boss. Each day I decided where we went and what we did, and he came along to protect me. That power disparity might have been difficult for some, but he had enough wealth never to work again. He didn’t need me for the money any more than I needed his money.

And he was powerful in a way that I wasn’t. He could coax and he could kill. He was respected and feared by almost everyone. I might be the boss but that was only because he was allowing me to be. And I might order him around for eighteen hours a day but he was happy to be the boss in the bedroom – we were both happy with that arrangement. Though that wasn’t something I wanted to confess to my pseudo-father.

I cleared my throat. ‘He makes me very happy. It just … works.’

Oscar searched my face before smiling. ‘I’m glad, Am. And your mother would be, too. I think it might have taken her a while to get her head around it, but ultimately she would have been happy for you.’

‘I know she would.’ I hated that we were talking in the past tense. I managed a tight smile. ‘Thanks for the chat.’

He reddened slightly. ‘We don’t need to talk about protection, right?’

My cheeked flared red. ‘He’s my protector,’ I responded, wilfully misunderstanding his comment.

‘That’s not what I was talking about.’

‘I know and I’m deliberately misinterpreting so we don’t have to discuss condoms. I’m forty-two, Oscar.’

‘Right.’ He cleared his throat. ‘I just needed to be sure that you’re being sensible. You’ve always said you don’t want kids.’

‘I don’t,’ I said firmly. ‘Bastion and I have discussed it and he’s okay with that. He has Charlize, after all.’

‘And are you ready to become a step-parent?’

I grinned a little and nudged him with my shoulder. ‘If I’ve learned anything from Disney, it’s that all stepmothers are evil. So no, not yet.’ I sobered. ‘We’ve really only just started this thing. I don’t want to put the horse before the cart.’

‘The cart before the horse. The horse always pulls the cart.’

‘All right, Mr Equestrian. Not all of us know all things equine.’

He was laughing at me. ‘Most people know how horses and carts work.’

‘I’ve never been on a horse and cart ride, so sue me.’

There was a knock at the door and Oscar went to get it. Jeb came in wearing his backpack. ‘Who am I runing?’ he asked good-naturedly.

‘Me.’

His eyebrows rose. ‘Who dared to clear you?’

‘My mum,’ I admitted. ‘When I was a kid.’

‘This’ll hurt like a bitch, Coven Mother,’ he warned. ‘The clearing has been in place for a long time.’

‘I’m aware,’ I responded drily. As a healer and rune mistress, I knew far more about both subjects than Jeb, who was a mid-level runist at best.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to teach you how to stir a cauldron,’ Jeb muttered with an apologetic glance.

He set down his backpack and pulled out his paintbrush and the black sludgy revelation potion, then pulled on purple gloves. Most potions don’t require the gloves and we use them for show, but not the revelation potion. You do not want to get that stuff on your skin unless you have the protection of the runes.

Jeb often brought his familiar with him when he did rune work but I couldn’t see the black rabbit. ‘Where’s Jessica?’ I asked curiously.

‘She’s a having a run in the Coven’s garden.’

‘Who is Jessica?’ Bastion asked as he joined us.

‘Jeb’s familiar, a black lop-eared rabbit.’

Bastion looked amused. ‘You have your own Jessica Rabbit?’

‘Living the dream,’ Jeb joked with a wink.

‘Clearly.’ Bastion moved closer to me. ‘I have the information we need and I’ve set up a meet after we’re done here with breaking the clearing.’

‘She won’t be doing anything after the clearing is broken,’ Jeb interjected. ‘She’ll be a miserable mess.’

‘Thanks,’ I said drily.

‘You know what I mean.’

Bastion sat down next me. ‘She’s stronger than she looks.’

‘Hey!’ I protested. ‘I look strong.’

He smiled and pressed a kiss to my forehead. ‘You’re very tough,’ he agreed, but I felt his amusement. He thought I was about as strong as a feather. I narrowed my eyes at him.

He backpedalled. ‘You are strong in mind and spirit. You’re the most determined person I’ve ever met, but physically you probably couldn’t bench-press twenty kilograms. Which is fine, because I can bench-press six hundred kilograms.’

‘Am I supposed to be impressed?’

A smile pulled at his lips. ‘Yes.’

‘Ah. Well then, I am. Very.’

He laughed. Jeb was watching the two of us, his eyes dark; all hints of humour had slid from his face. Oops. He’d just realised that Bastion and I were a couple. I cleared my throat; it was time to get back to business. ‘Shall we?’ I gestured to my forehead.

‘Of course,’ Jeb said tightly. ‘Prepare yourself.’

I closed my eyes but, as it turned out, no amount of visualising the brace position could prepare me for what was coming.