Page 21 of Hexed Up

“A lot,” Damien says with a glare. “Do you want to be stuck in love with Molly forever?”

“Erm …” Horatio scratches the back of his neck.

“Exactly! So keep it in your pants, Mister. I’m already having a hard enough time tracking down fairy toenails as it is.”

Horatio opens his mouth, clearly about to ask me what in Medusa’s name that is. I hold up a hand.

“Don’t ask,” I tell him.

“In fact, that’s why I’m here,” Damien says.

“Oh, so you’re not here to ruin my sex life,” I hiss under my breath at him.

“That is just an added bonus,” he says with a grin. “My supplier needs an upfront payment for the toenails.”

“Is that normal?” I ask. “It’s not a scam, is it?”

“Julian’s a faun so more than likely, but he’s my only lead.”

“How much does he want?” I ask.

“Two grand.”

“What?!” I say, nearly hyperventilating.

Damien shrugs. “Is that a lot?” Being a demon, he has very little concern when it comes to money. He finds it amusing that we humans are such slaves to it.

“You want two thousand pounds to give to a … faun?” Horatio clarifies.

“Correct.”

“In order to obtain an ingredient necessary for the potion reversal?”

“Correct again, sir.”

“Fine,” Horatio nods his head, then turns away and disappears inside his flat. I think he may have reached his limit and this was the last I’ll ever see of him, regardless of the pull of the potion.

“I thought you had more self-control, girl,” Damien whispers when he’s gone.

“I do! I have!” McGruff yaps like he disagrees. “I just got caught up in the moment.”

Damien’s eyes narrow into dark slits. “You like him!”

“I do not!” I protest feebly.

“Molly,” he says with exasperation, “this is the man who yelled at you for accidentally turning the communal light off.”

“He’s been really sweet to me this morning. He made me coffee and bought me pastries.” And told me I was beautiful. And talked to me like an actual human being. And listened to me too.

“You human women are so easily seduced,” Damien says in disgust.

“Besides, he didn’t really yell at me. I may have exaggerated that altercation just a little.”

“Here,” a voice says from behind me, and I turn to find Mr Hottie with the biggest wad of cash in his hands that I have ever seen.

“Woah!” I say, “where did you get that?”

“My flat.”