Page 81 of Not Your Ex's Hexes
“You’re the Virginia Cummings who used to live in Los Angeles? In Pasadena?”
The older woman nodded. “I’ve been blessed to live all over the world throughout my many, many years. You look familiar, dear. Do I know you? Are you Audrey’s great-granddaughter? You look a little like her across the eyes.”
Muttering a soft curse, Rose glanced at him over her shoulder. “What do I do?”
“This is the job, babe. Locate the target. Subdue the target. Bring in the target.” He nudged his chin toward the elderly woman. “We located, and now you subdue. Break out those nifty magical cuffs and let’s get moving so we can move along to the third step.”
“I’m not putting an octogenarian in freakin’ handcuffs—magical or steel,” Rose hissed.
“Eighties?” Virginia chuckled. “If only I were in my eighties again. I’m actually quite a bit older.”
Rose whipped her head back toward him, finger pointing. “Didyou hear that? She’s even older! Julius must’ve been smoking whatever Olive’s roommate is selling from their apartment, because there is no way this little granny is the person we’re supposed to bring in. Look at her!”
He did… right over Rose’s shoulder. All his reflexes went on instant alert, preparing to move if needed. But he kept his voice even. “You may want to get those cuffs on her before things get tricky.”
Rose propped her hands on her hips and glared at him. “I’m not hauling in an old woman and her walker to stand before your brother…orthe Council.”
The air around the Faroi demon rippled as Virginia’s Norm outer layer melted away with every inch she grew. A few distracted moments later and standing in the exact place of the once-eighty-year-old woman was a red-scaled creature with Medusa-like horns and an odoriferous ooze that most definitely didn’t smell like butterscotch candies.
Rose sniffed the air, her nose immediately wrinkling with distaste. “What’s the smell?”
Damian pushed off the wall. “Turn around and find out.”
“Why would I…?” She turned, her eyes widening to saucerlike discs as they roamed up and up, her head tilting back to take in the entire length of the Faroi, which stood nearly three feet above her own five-foot-eight. “What the hell did you do with Virginia?”
With a bellowing laugh, the she-demon tossed the walker aside. “Oh, sweetheart. I ate Virginia Cummings for breakfast nearly four and a half centuries ago.”
“Ate?”
“I amCumitox. Entrepreneur. Philanthropist. Acquirer of Magical Antiquities.” Cumitox flicked her forked tongue over her lips. “And I would very much like to make you my next vessel. You look absolutely edible… and sturdy.”
Rose stepped back, shaking her head. “I’m not. Really, I’m not.I’ve been told I give people indigestion, and not the kind cured by a roll of Tums.”
Damian chuckled. “I think you taste pretty damn good.”
Her head swiveled toward him, “Not helpful, doc. Not helpful in the least.”
“Oh, you want me to be helpful? Like suggesting you put her in magical cuffs? Oh wait… I did do that. Huh. Guess I’m pretty helpful after all.”
“Can we save theI told you sofor when a demon isn’t announcing they’d like to make me their next skin suit?”
“Seems a little boring, doesn’t it?” Damian asked, using her own words against her.
The she-demon’s gaze bounced between them. “Are you married or something?”
“No way!” Rose exclaimed at the same time Damian snorted, “Not even close.”
The witch’s head snapped to him. “Why do you say it likethat?”
“Like what?”
She dropped her voice and mimicked him. “Not. Even. Close.IfI ever decide to marry, that person would be the luckiest person on Earth.”
“Then we definitely know it’s not me because the only luck I have is the bad kind,” Damian quipped.
“Yoo-hoo!” Cumitox waved her taloned hands. “I hate to break up this lover’s quarrel, but can we get this moving? I’d very much love to get to bed and have sweet, sweet dreams of my dear Nicky.”
Damian came up next to the Faroi. “Sorry, Tox, but nap time will have to wait. You need to come with us.”
