Monster Baiter (An Obscure Magic Book 6) (8 page)

“Nope. It will be all safe and warded. Do not worry.” She smiled. “Thanks for babysitting it and giving my dad the vacation he is desperate for.”

“I transferred the curse.”

“And he is enjoying himself.” She didn’t mention that she could feel her father’s joy through the spot that the curse occupied.

“Well, dear, have a good day. I have to get back to Harcourt. He is shackled to the stove.”

Sophy felt her eyes widened. “I have nothing to say to that. Have fun, you two.”

She didn’t flee the Ganger home, but she didn’t waste time. She was back in her car and driving to the Guild Hall in under a minute.

“Your trunk is warded?” Magnus was nosy today.

She sighed and put her blinker on. “Of course. With all the gear I haul around, it is essential that it is protected against search and seizure, as well as those who would seek out the power or supplies.” She smirked. “I also have a few changes of clothing back there, and that is hard to explain when pulled over. The armament doesn’t even make a dent on their awareness when they get a look at the lingerie.”

Magnus chuckled. “I can see where that would be distracting.”

“Yeah, and you can’t even get an erection.”

Sophy enjoyed the blissful silence that her comment caused, right up until she pulled up to the Guild Hall. She was forced to ask, “Who do I have to ask for?”

He answered the words that she was really hoping he wouldn’t. “The Archmage.”

She dropped her forehead to the steering wheel. “Fuck.”

She straightened her clothing and grabbed her purse. “Keep quiet, Magnus. I will ask for your release, but that is it.”

“It will be enough.”

Sophy walked into the building that managed to wedge ancient architecture into a modern office building. It was not a good look. The officers at the door watched as she walked through the scanners and didn’t set off the demon scans, so they waved her through.

She had been in the Hall often enough to know where to go, she just didn’t want to go there.

A lovely young woman whose gaze was filled with leashed power manned the reception desk. She was not just decorative. She gave Sophy a speculative look as she approached.

“Good morning, miss.”

“Good morning.”

“How may I help you?” She folded her hands on the desk. It was not a good sign. Normally, a proper receptionist would have a pen or keyboard under her fingers.

“I need to see the Archmage.” The moment she said it, she wanted to take it back and make a beeline for the door.

The receptionist gave her a brittle smile. “He is occupied this morning. May I take a message?”

“Certainly. Please, tell him that Sophia DeMonstre, the Cursed One, is waiting in the lobby, and the more coffee I drink, the worse things will be when he shows up.” She smiled tightly as the woman blanched at her words.

“
You
are the Cursed One?” The expression went from contempt to hero worship in an instant.

“I am.”

“Oh, I love your work. Just a moment. I will call him.”

Sophy waited and actually signed an autograph for the receptionist—Judith—while the woman made the call before Aleneus bolted into the entry hall with his robes swinging and a hectic expression in his eyes.

“Sophia. You are here.” He rushed up to her and took her hands, bringing them to his lips one at a time.

“I am. I have something to ask of you. I would rather that it not be done here.” She looked around at the curious faces who were watching them intently.

Judith was smiling at Sophia’s autograph as they passed her desk with Sophy’s hand firmly clutched in Aleneus’s.

He had been trying to get her either into bed or a marriage since she turned eighteen, and as he was only two years older than she was, it was a little disturbing that he hadn’t given up in the subsequent decades.

“I am so delighted to see you here, Sophia.”

“Oh, it is a delight, all right.”

They rode up to his offices in the elevator, and she checked the nearest windows in case she needed to jump. Sure, it was nine stories, but she was betting she could recover from the fall if she could push herself past the wards.

He set her in a curved chair in front of his desk, and he settled in his own chair, steepling his fingers and smiling. “What can I do for you, Cursed One?”

She placed her hands in her lap. “I would like you to release Magnus.”

He frowned. “Who?”

“Magnus. The mage in amber whose consciousness is currently haunting my phone and any other appliances with audio capabilities. He is my liaison with the guild, and I would like him released but to remain in the capacity of my advisor.” The words came out before she knew what she was going to say.

Aleneus stared at her, his mouth opened and closed, his hands clenched into fists. “Why do you want him?”

Whoa.
There was a lot of anger aimed in her direction, but it was about her request and not her personally. He was treating her as if she had been bespelled.

“He has been useful, and if he has served centuries, I believe that he is done with penance. At the very least, he is capable of being integrated into modern society.”

Aleneus winced, and she could almost hear the whirring of his mind. “He will be released.”

“Wow. That was easy.”

“Well, the sentence was that if a woman that did not have carnal knowledge of him asked for him to be released, he would be. When that regulation was put in, we did not count on his consciousness being pulled for this assignment.” He grimaced and pulled a sheet of parchment from his desk.

Everything in the guild was done as traditionally as possible, and that included penmanship.

Aleneus wrote with a flourish; his golden hair fell forward as he finished and sanded the page.

“So, Sophia, what are you doing for dinner this evening?”

Sophy blinked. “I am doing some research at the Gangers.”

He grimaced. “Oh. Them.”

“Demon influence. I have found a cursed object, and I need to look into it. They are the best source for knowledge and information.” She didn’t mention that she had already gotten it. He didn’t need to know that.

“I would like to take you to dinner soon. You are not getting any younger, and keeping the curse in powerful bloodlines would not be a bad idea.”

She blinked. “I had not thought of that. One of my ancestors had their daughter in their fifties, so I have some time.”

He scowled. “I want you, Sophia.”

“I am aware of that, Aleneus.”

“Was that all you wanted?”

Sophia looked at him, truly looked. He had wide shoulders, a very attractive face, thick neck, deep chest and his butt wasn’t bad either. He took care of himself, and it showed, but he wasn’t for her.

“Yes, that is all that I wanted here.” She smiled softly. “Good day, Aleneus.” Sophy rose to her feet and headed for the exit.

“I will have to summon you here after Magnus is free, to make sure that he is behaving.”

She paused and turned. “What do you mean?”

Aleneus was standing up, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Didn’t he tell you? By asking for his freedom, you are now responsible for his behaviour, and his behaviour has never been acceptable to the Mage Guild.”

She gritted her teeth. “No, he didn’t mention that.”

“Enjoy your charge. We can put him back in the amber if you say the word.”

Sophia nodded and left his offices as quickly as she could. She didn’t run but walked swiftly through the halls and tapped her feet in the elevator. The final sprint to freedom concluded in her car when she settled, put on her seatbelt and started up the vehicle.

“Were you going to tell me that I was responsible for you?”

“I hoped but was not sure that they would actually release me. They are doing it?”

She sighed and put her car in gear. “Yeah, weren’t you listening?”

“No. My ability to communicate does not extend to the Guild Hall in this form.”

She grunted and headed home. It was time to work on the stuff she could actually control. “Did the book come home with me?”

“Yes. It is on the coffee table.”

“Good. I have some reading to do while they thaw you out.” She mused. “I wonder if I have to pick you up or will they deliver you?”

“I have access to portal magic. I will deliver myself.”

“Oh. Yay. Nothing like another surprise to cap the day.”

He chuckled, and she fought a smile.

Once home, she startled Delwin, who had on an apron and was dusting the objects that didn’t have repulsion wards. He was taking his duty as a housekeeper seriously.

“I am just going to grab this book and head into the back yard. As you were, Delwin. It is looking great.” She smiled.

He grinned. “Thanks, Sophia.”

She headed out the back door and saw that he had already cleared her small table and tiny chairs. It was downright cozy now.

The journal welcomed her touch, and she opened it, focusing on information on demon magic, and when the page settled in front of her, she started reading.

Three hours later, she rubbed at her eyes and stretched. It was going to take a few ingredients she didn’t have, but she would be able to break through the exterior enchantments. It was a good thing she had a license to purchase the rarer ingredients. That stuff was controlled in many cities, including her own.

Magnus had gone quiet after the first hour. That was probably when she had stopped reading out loud. He had nothing to comment on.

She went inside, got a notepad and pen and returned to the back yard. Time to make a shopping list.

Delwin brought her some lemonade and some small sandwiches.

“It’s lunchtime. You need to stay fuelled up.”

“Thanks, Delwin. You don’t have to do all this.” She took the lemonade and sipped at it. “But it is very much appreciated.”

He smiled. “I am enjoying it. You very obviously need someone to assist you at home. Now, you just need to find one to help you on the job.”

She sighed. “Well, I had an offer today.” It slipped out before she could stop it.

Delwin sat across from her. “Who was it? A dashing guild officer?”

She made a face. “Sort of. An old acquaintance.”

“Really? Can I ask who?”

Sophy was saved by an arrival on her property. In the far corner of the yard—the only place warded for transport arrival—a large figure took shape before the light faded.

“Oh. I appear to have a visitor.”

Delwin was staring at the man, and he sighed. “Oh, if only he was here for me.”

She gave him a grin and walked over to the corner where her guest was pinned in the heavy warding. “Hello.”

He smiled. “Hello. You are taller than you seemed through the lenses.”

The voice made her shiver and coming out of the mouth of a man who looked like he would have an easier time swinging a sword than driving a car, she suddenly realized she had been backed into a corner. “Magnus.”

He grinned. His long, dark hair was shaggy and slid forward when he bent his head toward her. His jaw was broad, the blade of his nose was arched and the nostrils flared. It was a serious nose above some very mobile lips. They were currently curved in a smile.

“Sophia DeMonstre. I am here to assist you, as you are my guardian.” He inclined his head.

She wrinkled her nose and let him loose from his confinement.

“Pleased to meet you, Magnus. I am still working on that research but was about to go out to get some supplies.”

He was wearing contemporary clothing, and he was wearing it well. The jeans and obscenely faithful t-shirt were something she wanted to enjoy looking at, so she decided to avoid them instead.

Sophia returned to her table and made the notes, flipping the pages back and forth until she was sure that she had listed every ingredient that she didn’t already have at home.

“May I come with you?” Magnus was into her lemonade and sandwiches.

“Yes. I don’t trust you around Delwin. He seems to want to climb you like a stripper pole.”

Magnus looked toward the merman, and he smiled. “Well, I must say that he is extremely attractive but, sadly, not my type.”

Delwin blushed and scuttled inside, bringing out another lemonade with a smile. “Here you go, sir.”

Sophia muttered, “Magnus, his name is Magnus, and according to the Mage Guild, he did something very bad.”

Magnus smiled. “According to them. I did something unacceptable by their standards, and my sentence was the amber. Well, until a woman asked for me to be freed who had not had intimate knowledge of my body.”

Sophia snorted. “I have never licked my GPS. Not once. Oh, and I gripped my phone but never fondled.”

Delwin smiled, “Where is he going to sleep? I vote my room.”

Magnus inclined his head. “I can make myself a shelter out here. I am used to living rough, or I was. I am sure I can be again.”

Sophy folded her list and put it in her bra. “You will have a problem conjuring anything here. My home is warded against that kind of thing.”

“I will make do.”

Sophy kept her mind on business, grabbed the book and smiled. “Well, if you have to stay with me, prepare to ride shotgun. We are going shopping.”

Magnus followed her into her house, and suddenly, the comfortable space felt a lot smaller.

She locked up the book and grabbed her purse. Magnus extended his hand, and her phone was in his palm. “You almost forgot me.”

“This was a perfectly good phone before you inhabited it.”

He grinned. “And now it is a great phone.”

She grabbed her phone and shoved it into her purse, stalking out the door and leaving him to close up behind her. She had gained an assistant, and she had no idea what to do with him.

Well, she did have a few ideas, but he was sleeping outside, so that wasn’t going to happen.

Sawberry’s Magical Supplies was a huge chain that bragged it had everything in stock.

Magnus whistled slowly. “Are we going in there?”

Sophy chuckled. “No. Follow me.”

She locked her car up when they were standing in front of it and turned away from the supply superstore, walking to the blank brick of the building behind it.