She did, ran her fingers over the handle. “Feels like a broom.”
“Because it is. If you’d take the other, Annika, and you’ll sweep over every door and window.”
“Every one?”
Laughing, he patted Riley’s shoulder. “As I said, big, bloody house. Doyle and Sawyer, you’ll take a bowl each, fill it from the pot. And you’ll sprinkle a bit of water along windowsills and thresholds. Think of it as the base layer.”
As Sawyer did, Doyle took a bowl, dipped it into the pot.
“What’s your second act?” he asked.
Bran took the last bowl, dipped it. Then, holding it in two hands, smiled again. “I’ll be bringing the curtain down from above.”
So saying, he levitated, rising up over the lawn, then the house.
“I hate to repeat myself, but holy shit. In any language,” Sawyer added.
“He’s got more than he let on.” Considering that, Riley propped the broom on her shoulder. “Okay, Anni, let’s get sweeping.”
Though it was barely dawn, Sasha made her way down to the kitchen. She thought she’d make breakfast, as she wanted to keep her hands busy—and hopefully keep everyone else’s mind off the fact that she’d paraded around half naked the night before.
Very first chance, she’d invest in some pajamas.
She found Riley already in the kitchen inhaling coffee.
“I thought I was the first up.”
Riley kept inhaling, shook her head. “Ended up researching late, conked a couple hours. Woke up restless and itchy. So coffee. Figured I’d break some eggs or whatever for breakfast, but now that you’re here . . . ”
“I’ll do it.”
“Even better. Nice necklace.”
Sasha lifted her hand to it as she walked to the refrigerator. “I was wearing it when I woke up. I assume it means something.”
“Closer look.” Riley slipped a finger under it, studied the stones and crystals. “Research mode tells me these are protective stones. To, like, ward off negative thoughts and intentions—against you. Since it’s easy money Bran put it on you, I’d say it’s potent and aimed at Nerezza. How’s your head this morning?”
“It’s fine. I need pajamas.”
On a hooting laugh, Riley walked back for more coffee. “I don’t think the little number you were almost wearing had the biggest impact. Not that you weren’t fetching.”
“Up yours, Riley.”
“That’s the way. Plus, as it turned out, you were only the warm-up act.”
“What?” Sasha nearly bobbled the eggs she’d pulled out. “What happened?”
“Bran happened.” She leaned against the counter, crossed her ankles. “You know, I’ve seen all sorts of rituals, ceremonies, and seen some wild stuff in my line, but he topped all of it. We got bacon?”
“Yes. For God’s sake, Riley.”
“I’m hungry. No reason you can’t do the breakfast thing while I talk.”
“Can you work a juicer?”
“I can figure it out.”
“Oranges.” She pointed to the bowl. “Juicer. Talk.”
While bacon sizzled and the juicer whirled, Riley filled in the details.
“He . . . flew?”
“More floated. Annika and I are on broom detail—I confess I straddled mine once, just to see if it would take off. No luck. But every once in a while, one of us would hit, like, this little pocket of . . . dark. Just something like a shadow, but more tangible, then we’d hit it with the broom, and poof. All gone. And the other guys are sprinkling water, and this white vapor would puff up for a second. Wild stuff. All the while Bran floating up there with his bowl, and the vapor’s drifting down over the house. Like the curtain you said we needed.”
Riley poured herself a short glass of juice to test. “Good stuff. You really missed it, Sash. And my take? He’s got a lot more than he’s shown us.”
Sasha hesitated, glanced toward the doorway. “I’ve dreamed about him.”
“Yeah, you said.”
“I didn’t . . . not everything.” She’d spoken—or prophesized—about the need for trust, then didn’t give her own. “Out there, on the cliff, Bran and I. Standing there, in a storm. Lightning, thunder, the wind, the sea crashing. He called the storm. He holds the lightning like reins. And we’re together. I don’t just mean on the cliff together.”
“I get what you mean. Why does that worry you? Being with him?”
“Because I’ve never been with anyone.”
“I admit it’ll give you a minute thinking about sex with a sorcerer but . . . Whoa.” Riley stopped herself, turned fully around. “Anyone? Ever? At all?”