His bearded chin nestled into the hair at her crown, and at the easing of so much terrible tension, both of them slumped into the sofa. Into each other.
“If you hadn’t escaped the fire, I don’t like to imagine what I would have done, Gwen,” he whispered. “Probably proved my colleagues right. Become another Blacke twin lost to violent rage.”
She stilled in his arms, shocked. Did he really care about her that much?
“You’re safe now, though, and I intend to keep you that way.” His pulse faintly throbbed against her mouth, and she resisted a growing desire to lick him there. “I started researching prenatal classes, incidentally. People don’t usually attend those until about thirty weeks or so, but it’s good to be prepared. Do you have a birth plan in place?”
“Uh…” Successfully distracted from licking-related urges, Gwen blinked into his neck. “No. Not yet.”
“We can work on that later if you’d like. I’ve also begun compiling a list of baby supplies that are top rated for safety and reliability. When you get a chance, you can check them over yourself.”
Just how much research had he been doing while she’d eaten her cheese? Holy crap.
“Um…thank you?” She searched for the right words, loathto discourage his very sweet efforts but also entirely unready to make those sorts of decisions amid a possible apocalypse. “Perhaps we should wait a few—”
His new burner phone rang atop the kitchen island. Once, then a second time.
“Only a very limited circle of contacts has access to that number.” Hugh exhaled heavily. “I’d better pick up.”
He kissed the top of her head again, then gently set her aside and rose to take the call.
“Sabrina?” A long pause. “Yes. Let me get Gwen on the line. Hold on.”
He brought the phone over to the couch and put it on speaker as he sat again.
“Is everything okay, Sabby?” Gwen leaned in closer to the microphone. “Do you need help with Starla?”
“Thanks, Gwen, but we’re fine. Star just needs time to recover from all the crap that happened this week. Hopefully before thenextwave of crap hits.” The witch’s voice was gravelly with exhaustion. “How areyoudoing? I heard about the fire, and I got worried.”
“I’m good,” Gwen told her. “Hugh brought me to the hospital, where I got a clean bill of health. So did the baby, for that matter.”
“He found out, huh?” Sabby sounded intrigued but quickly got back on track. “If you’re okay, then let me cut to the chase: A few minutes ago, I got a call from a witch friend who wants to remain anonymous. According to her, she supplied and set a soundproofing spell earlier today for an unfamiliar demon who claimed to be Councilor Blacke’s friend. Because Blacke was busy at work, the friend had offered to procure the spell on the councilor’s behalf and oversee its immediate installation.”
Well, that confirmed Hugh’s earlier speculation about thepopGwen had experienced upon leaving the apartment.
“Your witch friend didn’t question the demon’s story?” Hugh sounded thoughtful rather than accusing. “Even though there was no direct confirmation from me, the actual homeowner?”
“Since setting the spell required bypassing various security measures to access the apartment’s interior, and the demon performed those bypasses without hesitation, she believed you’d given him permission. Also, I think she was somewhat overawed by the request to assist such a famous, powerful leader in the SERC community and didn’t want to second-guess her good fortune.”
Sabby very clearly wouldnothave shared her friend’s wonder and gratitude.
“When she heard about the fire, though, she panicked and came to see me for advice.” Concern inflected Sabrina’s voice. “I told her to find someplace else to stay immediately. Preferably somewhere no one would look for her, because as far as we know, she’s the only one able to identify the demon who ordered the spell.”
Gwen broke in. “I agree that your friend may want to lie low for the time being. But I’m guessing her customer was glamoured, Sabby.”
“Good point.” Sabrina sighed. “They’d be a fool not to disguise themselves, knowing that they’d be implicated in arson and attempted murder if identified.”
“Also—and please forgive my bluntness—if they’d showed your friend their true face, she’d probably be dead already.” Hugh’s brow was creased in thought. “Nevertheless, please have her check the photos of possible demon perpetrators I’ll send along shortly.”
“Of course. She’s eager to help in any way she reasonablycan.” Sabrina’s tone softened. “She also wanted to pass along a sincere apology to you and Gwen. When she set the spell, she didn’t know it was a malicious request, but she regrets both her lack of due diligence and the harm done to both of you.”
“Please tell her not to worry,” Gwen said. “We’re fine.”
“If she looks over the photos, that’s apology enough for me,” Hugh affirmed.
“I guess having a fancy title and a stick up your butt doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a total asshole.” Sabrina’s observation sounded contemplative. “Good to know. Okay, you two. Keep me updated and be careful. Love you, Gwennie. Cautiously tolerate you, Blacke.”
She hung up before either Gwen or Hugh could utter a single word of farewell.
