“I’m going to finish this counteroffer then crash.” I rubbed itchy eyes. “Thanks for your help.”
“Next time, dial me up for a chat.” She flicked ash off her cigarette. “It doesn’t have to be all business.”
“I will,” I promised, and I meant it. “Night, Megara.”
“Good night, darling.”
Careful not to spill water on my bed, I carried the mixing bowl to the bathroom to pour down the drain.
Leave a metaphysical doorway open and who knew what might drift through it. The same rules applied to scrying. People who wielded black magic didn’t live long if they got sloppy with it.
With the bowl drained, washed, and set on the sink to dry, I climbed back into bed to organize my notes.
An hour later, I was happy to scan the pages with my phone and email them to Asa to hand up the chain.
So close to dawn, I didn’t expect an immediate response from him, but I got one.
A text.
>>I apologize for my behavior.
As much as I would love to claim I fired off a quip about how he always seemed to be apologizing to me, I debated how to answer until I fell asleep.
* * *
Morning cameseconds after my head hit the pillow. That was how it felt, anyway. I strangled my phone, which was bleating its usual time for work alarm, until it shut up and left me alone.
“Hey.”
The tiny whisper almost brought tears to my eyes. I did not want to get out of bed yet.
“Hey, Rue.”
Maybe if I ignored it, it would go away.
“The daemon from last night is on our porch.”
That did it.
My eyes flew open, my heart lodged in my throat, and my feet swung over the edge of the bed.
“Wards?” I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “Breach?”
Soft feet tickled up my leg until a guilty-looking moth sat on my lap. “I lied about the daemon.”
The starch went out of me, and I fell back, but the adrenaline churning in my veins refused to quit.
“He’s not on the porch,” she continued, climbing up my stomach to sit on my chest. “He’s in the yard.”
“Why?” I wasn’t sure if I was asking her about Asa, or the universe about why I was awake, or why she was attempting to give me a heart attack.
“He was there when I woke up this morning. Not daemon-Asa. Just regular Asa.” She stared down at me. “And before you fuss, I’ve been calling your name forever, and I really need to get back to my game.”
The downside of my brand of insomnia was when I finally did fall sleep, I was dead to the world. That explained why I didn’t rouse when she called my name. It had nothing to do with my subconscious perking up at learning Asa was right outside.
None of which sounded great for my peace of mind. “Clay?”
“I haven’t seen him.”