Page 19

POE

“ I fucked up.” The words are past my lips now that I’ve told the council everything.

Trixie pushes to her feet. “Damn right you did. What if someone snuck in?”

“I don’t think that’s possible,” Leo answers. “They have to know about Hex first. Otherwise, the magic doesn’t work.”

“I know,” Trixie says with a sigh. “Perhaps we need to speak with the covens? Make an entirely new barrier?”

That unsettles my stomach. “If something goes wrong, the entire town is exposed.”

“And right now we have stray shifters flying around, and who knows what else? Who else?”

I shiver at the thought. Necromancers know about the sanctuary towns, but so far none have been infiltrated. That’s not to say it’ll never happen, just that it hasn’t yet.

That said, as far as I know, Hex is the only sanctuary town with a nephilim and bat shifter now. Yet another reason we need residents registered so we can share the information between towns if we need to. Spread information for safety.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh. “We also need to discuss the registration process. If we’re doing a new barrier, then we need to know when everyone is coming in so we can register them and get them the resources they need. Beau had none of that when he entered, and I wish we could have helped him from the beginning.”

Leo taps the table. “I still feel registration is important and I agree about changing the barrier. It’s old.”

Leo should have been the one in charge. If so, he probably would have had the tears repaired already and done a survey of the town to make sure he knew every face. That’s just how Leo is. I’m glad to have him on the council.

Trixie nods. “I agree with Leo.”

Everyone else in the room also agrees. They turn to me.

Leo stands and pounds on the table three times. “Now what do we do about Poe? He put Hex in danger by dismissing our concerns during the last meeting.”

The pounding of my heart floods out the rest of his words. His very true words. What the fuck have I done? I could have put everyone in jeopardy.

A knock at the door startles us all. Cordia glides in as if she owns the place.

“Sorry to interrupt.” She tips her head towards me. “I wanted to share some information in front of the council about the wards.”

Abigail waves towards a free chair, and Cordia takes her place as if she never stopped ruling Hex.

“As you’re aware, the wards are in need of repair, more than likely.” She continues with what she told me about micro tears and how there’s no way we would have known except for something like this happening.

The council visibly relaxes.

“In conclusion, Poe is not to blame and shame on you for thinking that way. Everyone on this council was voted in to protect Hex. Everyone has an equal hand in this. Poe may be your voice, but he’s not the king here .” She stabs her finger on the table.

Everyone squirms in their chair.

I swipe a hand over my face, thinking. “It was me that ended the meeting last time. I take responsibility for my actions.”

Cordia shakes her head. “That’s great, deary. But it’s not only on you.” She pats my hand. “That’s all I wanted to say. Have a good meeting. Toodles.” She finger waves at the council and I have to laugh because she picked that up from one of the freed crossroads demons. I just can’t think of which one.

We, the council of Hex, spend the entire day coordinating with the covens that call this town home. They are the backbone of our protection. Without them, Hex would cease to exist.

While I should be glad we’re getting things underway, all I can think about is Beau and where I’d like to take him on our date tomorrow night. The thought of him not being in my bed tonight irritates me. He hadn’t even had a place with me until the other day, but he already feels like he belongs next to me. My fingers itch to text him about the ward plans.

“We should take a break,” Leo says. “At least get some sustenance in us all.”

My stomach rumbles. I’d forgotten I hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast and that was hours and hours and hours ago.

“I’ll put in a food order for pizza,” Trixie says as she pulls her phone from her pocket.

I stifle the groan. We probably need rest, but I won’t dare open my mouth to suggest it.

While everyone is trying to decide on dinner, I stand to stretch. Pacing the council room, I check my phone and my heart soars.

Beau: Sparkle is taking me to Warwick’s Wicked Bakery when I get off in the morning. Want me to pick you up anything?

I grin at my phone, reading the text over and over. He messaged me .

Poe: Enjoy yourself and tell me all about it when I see you tomorrow night.

Beau: Sounds good. Anything you think I should try?

Poe: Everything, obviously

Beau: I’ll do my best. I hope you’re having a good day.

“Uh, you okay over there?” Trixie asks, since I’m still grinning at my phone.

“I’m great.” I shove my phone into my pocket and join the table again, hoping this isn’t an all-nighter in the end.

It’s 3am when I finally plop into bed, too tired to shower or change out of my clothes. Creamsicle joins me before I shut my eyes. She chitters her disapproval at me and I pet her until she settles on my chest.

The covens will create a new ward, but it’ll take a few weeks to gather the supplies. Weeks I’m grateful that we have a ward at all so it keeps everyone safe.

Everyone. From mean old Mr. Terrence, who’s always wagging his cane at the kids, to chaotic Vanderburgh with his schemes to become the next king of the crossroads demons, to Lark, that calls Hex home more than the Fae lands, to Beau. I’m glad Hex is here for all of us as a safe haven.

Speaking of which, Hex feels more home to me than the demon realm does most days. I’d rather bask in the sun than feel the drone of magic just outside my house.

Of course, magic is great and all. I just want a life that’s slower than being a king of anything. When I’m in the demon realm, I’m king of crossroads demons, which is a joke to most other demons, yet I’m still treated with respect. I rule over people and that scares them. They wrongly think they’ll find the same fate as everyone that crossed my path before, so they stay away. But it’s not like that in Hex. In Hex, no one knows the truth of the crossroads demons or me. One day that’s going to bite me in the ass.

Despite being tired, it takes time for me to fall asleep listening to the content kitty purrs in my ears.