was always raised at the corners. James swiped his hand. The room hazed over where he and Addison had placed a binding spell to keep their wayward brother trapped in there. James thought it was ridiculous that Adrian, who was hundreds of years old, still acted like a seventeen-year-old kid. No matter. James was still his big brother and felt obliged to watch over him. James called out to Addison.
Addison practically ghosted into the hallway. “What’s up?” she asked with an extremely rare burger in her hand. James didn’t feel it necessary to tell Addison about the strange feeling in his stomach, in case it was nothing.
“Adrian is acting out again. We’ve got to go get him,” James said.
“Aw… I guess I have to get dressed.”
James knew Addison was faking displeasure and controlling her urge to turn cartwheels all the way to her room. Even though she was tired of reining Adrian in, she often suffered from cabin fever, which manifested in a mild form of OCD— usually pathologically arranging canned goods in the cabinets for hours on end. James figured tonight would be a well-deserved outing for her, considering all she’d been through, even if it was just to Club Entice to drag Adrian back home. Something was better than nothing.
James snickered as he watched Addison go to her room. She was forcing herself to walk stoically; she didn’t want to let James know how excited she was. However, her internal exhilaration was brimming so much, she looked like a kindergartener holding her pee, trying to make it to the bathroom.
The slight smile that had appeared on James’s lips melted away. It was replaced by that feeling—that gnawing feeling. He knew that the off-putting knot was not caused by Adrian’s mischief, but he couldn’t quite locate the source no matter how hard he tried. And he didn’t have time to contemplate it either. He needed to focus his attention on uncovering how Adrian had gotten out.
James continued swooshing his hand around the room, looking for any weak spots in the vapor. Then he saw that the closet door was cracked open a bit. He pushed it and saw a hole in the binding cloud, right at the attic door. James climbed up, pushing the small door open. He peered in and discovered that the tiny, round attic window had been Adrian’s mode of escape.
“That bastard.”
James squirmed on the velvet fainting couch, waiting on Addison to get dressed. He clicked his tongue to alleviate the tension that had spread throughout his body. It had taken him two minutes to get ready, but he was well aware of Addison’s prolonged routine. She would fastidiously shave off every single hair that was not on her head, and douse her slender body with Chanel No. 5. just in case she stumbled upon some handsome male witch from her old clan—which never happened. She’d even gotten a clitoral piercing for such an improbable event. James found it utterly amazing his sister would tell him such personal details about her potential sex life, but he also knew she was shameless.
Addison popped into the living room decked out in a black mini skirt, fishnet stockings covered by thigh-high boots, and an impossibly tight top. James thought she looked like one of Anna Gristina’s girls.
“What took you so long?” he asked, as if he didn’t know. “We’re just retrieving the prodigal brother. And by the way, you’re going to call too much attention to yourself with that getup. Go put on jeans and a T-shirt.”
“What? Did you think I was going out looking like a troll? Besides, we’re going to Club Entice. A T-shirt and jeans would pull more attention than this. Duh.”
“I can see the horny wheels spinning in your head. But remember, we’re just picking up Adrian. So whatever wild fantasies you have swirling around that in that brain of yours, put them to rest.”
“Brother, I haven’t left your ass yet, but that option still exists. So I’d shut up if I were you.” Addison stepped back and got
Addison practically ghosted into the hallway. “What’s up?” she asked with an extremely rare burger in her hand. James didn’t feel it necessary to tell Addison about the strange feeling in his stomach, in case it was nothing.
“Adrian is acting out again. We’ve got to go get him,” James said.
“Aw… I guess I have to get dressed.”
James knew Addison was faking displeasure and controlling her urge to turn cartwheels all the way to her room. Even though she was tired of reining Adrian in, she often suffered from cabin fever, which manifested in a mild form of OCD— usually pathologically arranging canned goods in the cabinets for hours on end. James figured tonight would be a well-deserved outing for her, considering all she’d been through, even if it was just to Club Entice to drag Adrian back home. Something was better than nothing.
James snickered as he watched Addison go to her room. She was forcing herself to walk stoically; she didn’t want to let James know how excited she was. However, her internal exhilaration was brimming so much, she looked like a kindergartener holding her pee, trying to make it to the bathroom.
The slight smile that had appeared on James’s lips melted away. It was replaced by that feeling—that gnawing feeling. He knew that the off-putting knot was not caused by Adrian’s mischief, but he couldn’t quite locate the source no matter how hard he tried. And he didn’t have time to contemplate it either. He needed to focus his attention on uncovering how Adrian had gotten out.
James continued swooshing his hand around the room, looking for any weak spots in the vapor. Then he saw that the closet door was cracked open a bit. He pushed it and saw a hole in the binding cloud, right at the attic door. James climbed up, pushing the small door open. He peered in and discovered that the tiny, round attic window had been Adrian’s mode of escape.
“That bastard.”
James squirmed on the velvet fainting couch, waiting on Addison to get dressed. He clicked his tongue to alleviate the tension that had spread throughout his body. It had taken him two minutes to get ready, but he was well aware of Addison’s prolonged routine. She would fastidiously shave off every single hair that was not on her head, and douse her slender body with Chanel No. 5. just in case she stumbled upon some handsome male witch from her old clan—which never happened. She’d even gotten a clitoral piercing for such an improbable event. James found it utterly amazing his sister would tell him such personal details about her potential sex life, but he also knew she was shameless.
Addison popped into the living room decked out in a black mini skirt, fishnet stockings covered by thigh-high boots, and an impossibly tight top. James thought she looked like one of Anna Gristina’s girls.
“What took you so long?” he asked, as if he didn’t know. “We’re just retrieving the prodigal brother. And by the way, you’re going to call too much attention to yourself with that getup. Go put on jeans and a T-shirt.”
“What? Did you think I was going out looking like a troll? Besides, we’re going to Club Entice. A T-shirt and jeans would pull more attention than this. Duh.”
“I can see the horny wheels spinning in your head. But remember, we’re just picking up Adrian. So whatever wild fantasies you have swirling around that in that brain of yours, put them to rest.”
“Brother, I haven’t left your ass yet, but that option still exists. So I’d shut up if I were you.” Addison stepped back and got
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