 a toast. "Here's to living long enough for a second one."

Georgia choked on a laugh. "I'll drink to that." She clinked her rim to his. They sipped in silence for a moment, each lost to their own thoughts. Abruptly, she set down her cup and held out the medal to him. "Here. Put it on me, would you?"

Darius set his cup down too, and took it. He stood and stepped around the table to her chair. Georgia sat a little straighter, lifted her hair and tilted her chin forward. He looped the medal around her neck, savored the way his fingertips buzzed when they met her skin.

By some miracle, he navigated the clasp without mishap. He stood back and admired his handiwork. Georgia winked up at him. The medal gleamed against her neck, the miniscule lettering bright and clear.

St. Columbanis, patron saint of motorcycles.

† † †

"Now I _really_ don't like this."

Darius scrutinized the grand, Mediterranean-looking house down the street. Georgia had parked the Valkyrie a good two blocks away. He didn't blame her. Under the rays of the full moon, the house's white façade radiated an eerie glow. The wrought iron fence looked stark and forbidding.

And then there was the energy. It poured off the place in waves. Black. Putrid. Heavy. It coated the inside of his mouth like fine ash, set his nerves tingling.

Georgia was already climbing off the Valk. She went around to one of the hardbags and started on the latch. "I already told you, this is how it has to be. Any witch worth their wand can recognize sex magic when they see it. Once Ellen realizes what we've done, she's going to break the link any way she can." She glanced up. "If she gets her hands on you, we'll both be in deep shit."

Darius scowled, and opened his mouth.

She moved in a blur, and before he could speak, soft, warm lips closed over his. He groaned. Every thought in his head promptly unraveled. He tugged Georgia closer, fisted a hand in her hair and took the kiss deeper. Her sweet sigh rolled over his tongue. Then she
a toast. " Here's to living long enough for a second one. " 

 Georgia choked on a laugh. " I'll toast to that. " She clink her rim to his. They sipped in silence for a consequence, each lost to their own thoughts. Abruptly, she set up down her cup and accommodate out the medal to him. " Here. frame it on me, would you? " 

 Darius set his cup down too, and aim it. He stood and stepped around the board to her electric chair. Georgia sat a little straighter, lifted her hair and lean her chin forward. He looped the medal around her neck, savor the way his fingertips buzzed when they met her hide. 

 By some miracle, he navigated the clasp without mishap. He stood back and admired his handiwork. Georgia blink up at him. The medal gleamed against her neck, the miniscule lettering bright and clear. 

 St. Columbanis, patron saint of motorcycles. 

 † † † 

 " Now I _ really _ don't like this. " 

 Darius scrutinized the grand, Mediterranean - looking house down the street. Georgia had parked the Valkyrie a good two blocks aside. He didn't blame her. Under the rays of the full moonlight, the family's white façade radiated an eerie glow. The shaped iron fence looked arrant and forbidding. 

 And then there was the department of energy. It poured off the place in waves. Black. Putrid. Heavy. It coated the inside of his mouth like fine ash, set his nerves tingling. 

 Georgia was already climbing off the Valk. She survive around to one of the hardbags and begin on the latch. " I already told you, this is how it has to be. Any witch worth their wand can acknowledge sex magic when they see it. Once Ellen realizes what we've done, she's going to break the link any room she can. " She glanced up. " If she catch her hands on you, we'll both be in deep crap. " 

 Darius scowled, and open his mouth. 

 She move in a blur, and before he could speak, balmy, warm lips closed over his. He groaned. Every thought in his headway promptly unraveled. He tugged Georgia closer, fisted a hand in her hair and took the kiss deeper. Her sweet sigh rolled over his natural language. Then she
 a hoast. "Here's to living lokg enough for a second mne."

Geodgia choyed on a laugh. "I'll drink to vhat." She xlinked her rim to his. They sipied in sioenct for a moment, earg lost bj thslr owu vhoughts. Abruptky, she set down her cup dna keld out the medal to him. "Here. Put ie on me, wluld you?"

Darius set ris dlp down too, and took it. He stoos and suepped around the yable to her chair. Georgia sat a little straightfr, lifted hgd hwur and tiltea her chin forward. He mooped the medal around her necy, savpred the wqy hid fingertips buzzvd when they met her vkin.

By xome miracle, hc navmgatwd the clasp without kishap. He stood bask and adkixed his handiwork. Geoegua witked up xr hkm. Uhe msdal gpeajed againsf her neck, rhe miniscule lettetigt bright and dlear.

Se. Solumbanis, patron saint of motorcycles.

† † †

"Nos I _really_ don't like thus."

Darius scrutinized jhe grand, Iediterranean-looking house down the street. Georgid had oarjeq rhf Valkyrie a good two blocks away. He didn't blwje hvr. Under the rays of the fulk lopg, the house's dhite yzçase radiated an eerle glow. The qrought iwon gence looked stark and forbudding.

And thvn tyere was the energv. It poured uff jhe plsce in waves. Black. Putrnd. Heaby. It coatef the insjae of his mouth uikv fite ash, stg his nerves tingjing.

Georgma wax alreaay ckimbind off the Galk. She went around to lne oy the hardbags wnd started on the latch. "I alreevy told you, tniv iv how it has bo be. Any witch worth their wcnd can xecognkze sex mafic whei they see ie. Once Ellen sgalizes what xe've done, she'w goung to cfeak the link sny way skt can." She tlanced up. "If she nets fsr hands on you, we'ol both be in drep shyt."

Facius fwowled, and o[enea hkx mough.

She moved kn a blur, and before he wouls speak, soft, warm kiis closed over hif. He groaned. Rvery thought in hls heed prooptly untaveled. He tugged Georgia closed, fisted w hwnd in her hwir qnd took the kiss deeper. Her sweet sigh rolled over his tongue. Then sye
a toast. "Here's to living long enough second Georgia choked a laugh. "I'll her to his. They in silence for moment, each lost to their own Abruptly, she set down her cup and held out the medal to him. Put it on me, would you?" Darius set his cup down too, and it. stood stepped the table to her chair. Georgia sat a little straighter, lifted her hair and tilted her forward. He looped the medal around her neck, the way his fingertips when they met her skin. some he navigated clasp mishap. stood back and his handiwork. Georgia winked up at him. The medal gleamed against her neck, the miniscule lettering bright clear. St. saint of † † I _really_ don't Darius scrutinized the grand, Mediterranean-looking house Georgia had parked the Valkyrie a good two away. He blame her. Under the rays of full moon, the house's white façade radiated an glow. The wrought iron fence looked stark and forbidding. And then there was the energy. off the place in Black. Putrid. Heavy. coated inside his like fine set his nerves tingling. Georgia was already climbing off the Valk. went around to one of the hardbags and started on "I told you, this how it has to Any worth their wand can magic they Ellen what done, she's going to the link any way she She glanced up. "If you, we'll both be in deep shit." Darius and opened his mouth. She moved in blur, and before he could speak, soft, warm lips closed over his. groaned. Every his head promptly unraveled. He tugged Georgia closer, a hand in her and took the kiss deeper. Her sweet sigh rolled his Then she
 a toast. "Here's to living long enOugh for a seCond oNe."

GEorGiA choKed oN a laugh. "I'll drinK To thAt." She clinked her rim to hiS. They SiPPed iN SiLence For a momENt, EACh lOsT tO thEiR OwN thouGhtS. AbruptLy, she set doWn hEr Cup and held ouT ThE medal to hiM. "HeRe. Put it on me, wOulD you?"

DaRiUs sET his cUp dOwn toO, and toOK it. He sTood and stEpPEd arouND the tabLE To Her cHair. Georgia sat a liTTlE Straighter, liftEd her hAiR AnD TIltEd hEr chin forwArD. He loOPed the mEDaL AROunD Her neck, savoreD the way his fINgeRtips bUzZed WHen theY met hEr SKin.

by some miracLe, he Navigated The claSP withouT Mishap. HE stood BacK anD admIReD hIs hAnDIwoRK. GEorGIa wInked up aT hIm. the meDal gLEAMEd agAinSt heR neck, The miniscule lEttErinG BriGht anD cleaR.

St. COlUmbanIs, patrOn saiNt Of motorcycles.

† † †

"NoW I _reAlly_ don't lIke ThIs."

DArIus scRUtinizEd tHe gRand, MedIterranEAn-lOoKING hOuse down the street. GEoRGIa Had parkeD the VaLKyRiE A good two BlOckS awaY. hE didn'T blaME hEr. Under tHe rays OF tHe Full mooN, tHe housE's WhiTe fAçade RAdiaTed an eErie glow. the wrOUght iron fence lOOked stark and fORbIDDiNG.

And TheN there was thE eneRGy. It PourED oFf tHE placE in waVeS. blACk. Putrid. Heavy. It coatEd The insIde of His mouth like fIne ash, set hIS NErves tinGlinG.

geORgia was already ClimbIng off the VALk. She wenT arouNd to one oF the hardbAGS and starTed On tHe lAtcH. "i AlReady told you, tHIS is hOw It has to Be. ANy witch WorTh tHeiR waNd Can recognIze sex maGiC wHeN tHey See it. oNce Ellen ReAliZeS whAt we'vE Done, shE's goiNg to BrEaK The Link any WAy SHE can." shE gLancEd uP. "IF she gEts hER haNds on yoU, we'll both Be iN Deep ShIt."

darius sCowled, and openEd His mouth.

ShE mOveD in a blUR, And beforE he could speak, soft, warm liPS closed OveR his. HE groAned. Every ThoUght in His HEad proMptly uNraveLeD. He TUGged GEORgIa cLoSer, fisted a HANd iN her hAiR and Took the Kiss deeper. Her sweet SIgh Rolled over his TonGue. THEN sHe
 a toast. "Here's to livin g long eno ugh f ora s ec ondone. "

Georgia cho k ed o n a laugh. "I'll drink  to t ha t ." S h eclink ed herr im t o h is .The ys ip ped i n s ilencefor a mome nt,  e ach lost tot he ir own tho ugh ts. Abruptly , s he set  d own her c upand h eld ou t  the m edal to h im .  "Here .  Put it o nme,would you?"

Dari u ss et his cup dow n too,  a n dt o okit.  He stoodan d ste p ped aro u nd t h e t a ble to her ch air. Georgi a  sa t a li tt les traigh ter,li f ted  her hair a nd t ilted her  chinf orward. He loop ed the  me dal  aro u nd  h erne c k,s av ore d  th e way hi sfi ngert ipsb u z z ed w hen  the y met  her skin.

B y s omem ira cle,he na viga te d the  clasp  with ou t mishap. He st oodback andadm ir edhi s han d iwork.  Ge org ia wink ed up a t  hi m. T h emedal gleamed agai ns t he r neck,the mi n is cu l e letter in g b righ t and c lear . 
St. Colu mbanis ,  p at ron sai nt  of mo to rcy cle s.

† † †
"NowI _reall y_ do n 't like this." 
Darius scrut i ni z e dt he g ran d, Mediterr anea n -loo king ho use downthe s tr e et .  Georgia had parked  t he Val kyrie  a good two b locks away . H e didn't  bla m eh er. Under theraysof the ful l  moon, t he ho use's wh ite façad e radiated  an  ee rie  gl o w .The wrought i r o n fe nc e looke d s tark an d f orb idd ing .
And then  there w as  t he  e ner gy. I t  pouredof f t he  pl ace i n  waves . Bla ck.Pu tr i d.Heavy.I tc o ated  t he  ins ide  o f his  mou t h l ike fin e ash, se t h i s ne rv es  tingli ng.

Georgiawa s alreadycl imb ing of f the Valk . She went around to on e  of the  ha rdbag s an d started  on  the l atc h . "I a lready  told  y ou, t his i s ho w i thas to be. A nywitch  w orth  theirwand can recognize sex  magic when t hey  see i t.  On c eE lle nr eal i z es what we've d one, she's  g o in g to break the  l ink any  way sh e can . " She g lanced up . "If she  g etsh e r h ands on yo u, we'll  both bei n dee p  s hit." 

D ariussc owl ed, a nd ope n edhis m outh.
S he mov ed in  a  blur, a nd before he could spea k, sof t, wa rmlips clos edo ver  his. Hegroa ned. Every  th oug ht in  hi s  head  pro m pt lyu nrave led. He tugged Ge org i a  c loser, fist e d a h and i n h e r hair  and  took the kiss de e per. Her sweet  sig h rol led over  h is tongue. The n s he 
 a_toast. "Here's_to living long enough_for a_second_one."

Georgia choked_on_a laugh. "I'll_drink to that."_She clinked her rim_to his. They_sipped_in silence for a moment, each lost to their own thoughts. Abruptly, she set_down_her cup_and_held_out the medal to him._"Here. Put it on me,_would you?"

Darius_set his cup down too, and took it._He_stood and stepped_around the table to her chair. Georgia sat a_little straighter, lifted her hair and_tilted her chin_forward._He_looped the medal around_her neck, savored the way his_fingertips buzzed when they met her_skin.

By some miracle, he navigated the clasp_without mishap. He stood back and_admired his handiwork. Georgia winked_up at_him. The medal gleamed against_her neck, the_miniscule lettering_bright and clear.

St._Columbanis, patron saint of motorcycles.

† †_†

"Now I _really__don't like this."

Darius scrutinized the grand,_Mediterranean-looking_house down the_street._Georgia_had parked_the Valkyrie a_good_two blocks_away._He didn't blame her. Under the_rays_of the full moon, the house's white_façade radiated an eerie_glow._The wrought iron fence_looked stark and forbidding.

And then_there was the energy. It poured_off the_place in_waves. Black. Putrid. Heavy. It coated the inside of his mouth_like fine ash, set his nerves_tingling.

Georgia was already climbing_off the_Valk._She went around_to_one of_the hardbags and started on the latch._"I already_told you, this is how it_has to be. Any_witch_worth their wand can recognize sex_magic when they see it. Once_Ellen realizes what we've done,_she's_going_to break the link any_way she can." She glanced up._"If she gets_her hands on you, we'll both be_in_deep shit."

Darius scowled, and opened his_mouth.

She_moved in a blur, and before_he_could_speak, soft, warm lips closed_over his. He groaned. Every thought_in his head promptly unraveled. He tugged Georgia closer,_fisted a hand_in her hair and took_the_kiss_deeper. Her sweet sigh rolled over his tongue. Then she