Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(52)

Jeremy wrinkled his lips. “You’re both gross.”

“Wow, you are such a wuss.” The body’s hand jerked harder than before. Simone frowned. “It shouldn’t do that.” It convulsed again, so hard that they heard Gulley’s wrist break. Then it stopped.

Jeremy leaned closer. “Is it done?”

Simone raised her hands in the air. “Everyone, hands off the body. Something weird is going on.”

“You lose control?”

“No, I think it has to do with what we’re asking it.”

“We didn’t ask it any specific questions.”

“It doesn’t matter, intention is intention. Hand me—” Simone broke off as the pricked fingertip blackened and crumbled. Darkened skin spread up the wrist and into the arm. “What the fuck is that?” The head crumbled, and the neck sagged. Black hairline cracks appeared on the cart the body rested on. Simone grabbed the flat silver amulet lined with ruby hearts hanging from her neck and invoked her family’s bloodline. She whispered her abuela’s name to build a ward to contain Gulley and the cart. “That was not good.”

Desmond waved his hand in the air, and the papers flew to it. “These had a stronger protection spell, so they’re not damaged. That was some type of rotting spell.”

“I’ll clean these up and deal with the mess when I’m done,” Jeremy said as he took the papers from the magician without saying another word.

Simone watched him disappear into the hall. First he’s complaining, and now he’s all mum. What did he see? She went to the entrance and opened the door. “All clear, but don’t touch the body. It’s sort of in quarantine.”

“How did that happen?” Clive asked.

“Perry’s employer is interested in a wasting spell. That’s my best guess until I read everything.” Simone nodded to the handsome magician. “Thank you for your help.”

“It’s been an interesting night, so I didn’t mind.” Desmond offered his hand.

Simone shook it like an ordinary witch and not someone who was a member of every fan site the man had.

“You head home, and we’ll take care of the rest,” Clive said.

“Tell Edarra, wherever she’s holed up guarding the place, I said good night.” Simone kept a smile on her face as she walked to her car. I might seriously kill Jeremy if he knows more than he’s saying.





Chapter 15


BURNING OFF two legs in the purple fire of a small stove increased the putrescent taste clinging to the back of Jeremy’s throat. To protect his senses from being compromised further, a mask suppressing magic covered his mouth and nose.

“Can you finish disposing of Gulley’s body in your office?” Clive asked him. “I want to start cleaning out the lobby.”

Desmond dropped the tongs holding the dead man’s arm. “I would like to collect whole parts for myself.”

You mean in my office alone with me. Jeremy cracked his neck, which was sore after bending over the body for hours. “I’ll save whatever you tell me to, Mr. Magician.”

Clive rubbed his forehead tiredly. “Jeremy, Desmond has been helpful, and letting him supervise won’t kill you. I’m tired from the fumes, and I have my own notes to write down.”

“Half of it is due to my work.” Just the torso and head remained without the use of a proper crematorium, so Jeremy didn’t need anyone telling him how to do his job. “My ashes won’t lose a single memory, so I resent you calling my skills into question.” I know that asshole doesn’t care about leftovers. He wants to fuck. Jeremy glared at Desmond, hoping he could send him a silent message that he knew what the asshole was up to.

Desmond smiled at Jeremy innocently. “Guaranteeing that I could perform my own spells is the main reason I agreed to come here.”

“Whatever you need is yours,” Clive insisted. “Isn’t that right, Jeremy?”

“Of course, since it’s obvious my opinion counts for nothing. Come on.” Jeremy stalked to his office without looking behind him. “You can grab the oven.”

“I apologize for his behavior,” Clive whispered behind his back.

Both of them can sod off! Jeremy pointed his finger at the wooden slat they found near the dumpster out back to hold Gulley’s body and dragged it behind him. He shoved open the hall door and walked to his office.

“A little low-key,” Desmond said as he kept up with the oven, dragging it the same way as Jeremy’s burden. Smoke from its top curved toward a metal bowl hooked to the stove’s side to capture it, but moving jolted a few puffs free.

“It may not be a palace, but don’t set it on fire.” Once inside, Jeremy dumped Gulley in the middle of the floor and then made straight for his desk. “Why don’t you finish him off on your own if that’s really why you’re here.”

“Or….” Desmond closed and locked the door. “It’s distracting to hear the knight moving around while I chant.”

The flames went out without Jeremy willing them to do so. “We’re not having sex. Especially not with that thing in the room.”

“Why do you always question my motives? Even after I was nice and cleaned up after your mess?”