 her jacket and fished out a slip of crumpled paper. She passed it to Helena. "Spell ingredients."

"You must be joking." Helena's gaze sharpened still further. "Either that or you've lost your mind. Why me? Why not someone else? Someone without our... _baggage_?"

Georgia swallowed a snort. Seemed like she was getting that question from everyone lately. "Why you?" She thought for a moment. "I don't know. I guess I trust you."

"You really have lost your mind." Helena's eyebrows drew together. "People have been talking, you know. Word is The Council's after you. Again. Word is they've even put a bounty on your head." Her gaze turned contemplative. "What makes you think I won't call them the second you leave?"

Georgia met her eyes. "Because you could have told Darius about us."

Helena groaned. "I knew I was going to regret that." She snatched the paper from Georgia's hand and began to read. She pursed her lips. "Some of these things are illegal." She kept reading. Her brows went up. "Highly illegal."

Georgia finally pulled her foot out of the doorway. "Will that be a problem?"

Helena's lips curved into a smirk. She folded up the paper and slipped it into her pocket. Then she opened the door a little wider, and stepped back.

"Come inside."

# CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

#

How the hell did a person prepare for a sex magic ritual?

Darius left the office early. It wasn't like he could concentrate, anyway. The bus ride home seemed to take longer than usual, but when he finally marched through the front door of his studio, he still had three hours until Georgia was supposed to arrive. Three hours! What was he supposed to do for three hours?

He cleaned; first the apartment, then himself. It struck him while he was dragging a razor over his jaw just how long it had been since he'd shaved for a woman. He changed the sheets on the bed. Changed them again.

At last he could think of nothing else to do. He wandered over to the phonograph and trailed a hand along the glossy wood top. Should he put on music? Maybe he should put on
her jacket and fished out a slip of crumpled newspaper. She guide it to Helena. " Spell ingredients. " 

 " You must be joking. " Helena's gaze sharpened even further. " Either that or you've lost your thinker. Why me? Why not someone else? Someone without our... _ baggage _? " 

 Georgia swallow a snort. look like she was getting that question from everyone recently. " Why you? " She thought for a moment. " I don't know. I guess I entrust you. " 

 " You really have lost your mind. " Helena's eyebrows drew in concert. " People have been talking, you know. discussion is The Council's after you. Again. Word is they've even put a amplitude on your head. " Her gaze turn contemplative. " What induce you think I won't call them the second you leave? " 

 Georgia meet her eyes. " Because you could have told Darius about us. " 

 Helena groaned. " I knew I was going to repent that. " She snatch the paper from Georgia's hand and began to read. She pursed her lips. " Some of these things are illegal. " She kept reading. Her brow went up. " Highly illegal. " 

 Georgia finally pull her metrical foot out of the doorway. " Will that be a problem? " 

 Helena's lips wind into a smirk. She fold up the paper and slipped it into her air pocket. Then she opened the door a little wider, and stepped back. 

 " Come inside. " 

 # CHAPTER TWENTY - EIGHT 

 # 

 How the hell did a person prepare for a sex magic trick ritual? 

 Darius left the agency early. It wasn't like he could concentrate, anyway. The bus ride base seemed to take longer than usual, but when he ultimately marched through the front door of his studio, he still have three hour until Georgia was supposed to arrive. Three hours! What was he suppose to do for three hour? 

 He cleaned; foremost the apartment, then himself. It struck him while he was dragging a razor over his jaw barely how long it had been since he'd shaved for a woman. He transfer the sheets on the bed. Changed them again. 

 At last he could think of nothing else to do. He wandered over to the phonograph and trailed a hand along the glossy forest top. Should he put on music? possibly he should put on
 heg jacket and fished out x slip of crumpled papxr. She lassed ig to Helena. "Spell ingredientd."

"Yiu muwt be joking." Helena's gxze sharpvned stilo fucther. "Either thav or you'yz losf youx nind. Why me? Whi not someona else? Someone wktkout our... _baggage_?"

Georgia swallowed a fnort. Sreled like she wws gtttyng fhat question from everyone lately. "Why yol?" She thought for a moment. "I don't know. I gufss L trust you."

"You reaply have lowt yjyr mind." Heleva's eyebrows drew togejher. "People have been talking, yoj knoc. Word is Tye Coktcil's after you. Wgain. Word is they've even pit a bounty on yonr hwad." Her gaze turned cmntemplative. "What iakes you tkink I won't call them tye sewond you oeaxe?"

Gtorjia met hfr xyes. "Becauss you could have told Darius anotn us."

Helena grkaned. "Y hnew I was going to regret that." She snauched the paper from Georgia'w hand and began to rgad. She puwsed her lips. "Some of these things are illegal." Sha kepv feablkg. Hde hrows went up. "Highly illegal."

Georgia finally ptmltd mer foot out of bhe doorway. "Will tnah ng a problem?"

Helgna's li'a durved into a smirn. She fjlded up the pwper and slipped it into her poxket. Then shv opwned the door a lictle wider, aud stekped bsck.

"Come inside."

# CHAPTER CWENTY-SIGHT

#

How thf hell dis a person prepard fpr a sex magic ritual?

Darius jeft the iffiee early. It easn't jike he cokld concentrate, anyway. Tje bud side home deemed to take longer than usual, but when he gitalny marchzd thrpugh the frone door of his xtudio, ke stiul had thrve hours nntil Georgiw was supposeg to arrive. Tiree hourf! Whqt wqs he sjoposed to do fpr three kjurs?

Ye cleaned; first tme apxdtment, then himweld. It struck him whkle hv wes drwcging a razos ovdr fos jad just how oung ot had been since he'g shzved for a woman. Hr ghanged tye sheetf on the bed. Vhanged them again.

Wt lavt ie coukd jhink of nothing else to do. He sandered lvev to the phonjgraih agd trailed a hand along the glossy wood top. Shoulv he put on music? Maybg he should put on
her jacket and fished out a slip paper. passed it Helena. "Spell ingredients." gaze still further. "Either or you've lost mind. Why me? Why not someone Someone without our... _baggage_?" Georgia swallowed a snort. Seemed like she was getting question from everyone lately. "Why you?" She thought for a moment. "I don't I I you." really have lost your mind." Helena's eyebrows drew together. "People have been talking, you know. Word The Council's after you. Again. Word is they've put a bounty on head." Her gaze turned contemplative. makes think I call the you leave?" Georgia her eyes. "Because you could have told Darius about us." Helena groaned. "I knew I was going regret that." the paper Georgia's and to read. She lips. "Some of these things are reading. Her brows went up. "Highly illegal." Georgia pulled her out of the doorway. "Will that a problem?" Helena's lips curved into a smirk. folded up the paper and slipped it into her pocket. Then she opened the door wider, and stepped back. inside." # CHAPTER # the did person prepare a sex magic ritual? Darius left the office early. It wasn't he could concentrate, anyway. The bus ride home seemed to than but when he marched through the front of studio, he still had until was Three What he supposed to do three hours? He cleaned; first apartment, then himself. It dragging a razor over his jaw just how it had been since he'd shaved for woman. He changed the sheets on the bed. Changed them again. At he could nothing else to do. He wandered over to phonograph and trailed a along the glossy wood top. Should he put on Maybe should put
 her jacket and fished out a sliP of crumpleD papeR. ShE paSsEd it To HeLena. "Spell ingreDIentS."

"You must be joking." Helena'S gaze ShARpenED sTill fUrther. "EIThER ThaT oR yOu'vE lOSt Your mInd. why me? WhY not someonE elSe? someone withoUT oUr... _baggage_?"

GEorGia swallowed A snOrt. SeeMeD liKE she wAs gEttinG that qUEstion From everyOnE Lately. "wHy you?" ShE THoUght For a moment. "I don't knOW. I GUess I trust you."

"YOu realLy HAvE LOst YouR mind." HelenA's EyebrOWs drew tOGeTHER. "PeOPle have been taLking, you knoW. worD is The coUncIL's afteR you. AGaIN. WoRd is they've eVen pUt a bounty On your HEad." Her gAZe turneD conteMplAtiVe. "WhAT mAkEs yOu THinK i wOn't CAll Them the sEcOnD you lEave?"

gEORGia mEt hEr eyEs. "BecAuse you could hAve Told dAriUs aboUt us."

HElenA gRoaneD. "I knew i was gOiNg to regret that." SHe snAtched the PapEr FroM GEorgiA'S hand aNd bEgaN to read. she pursED heR lIPS. "soMe of these things are IlLEGaL." She kept ReadinG. heR bROws went uP. "HIghLy ilLEGal."

GeOrgiA FiNally pulLed her FOoT oUt of the DoOrway. "WIlL thAt bE a proBLem?"

HElena's Lips curvEd intO A smirk. She foldeD Up the paper and SLiPPEd IT intO heR pocket. Then She oPEned The dOOr A liTTle wiDer, anD sTEpPEd back.

"Come inside."

# CHApTeR TWENtY-EIGhT

#

How the hell dId a person pREPAre for a sEx maGIc RItual?

Darius lefT the oFfice early. iT wasn't liKe he cOuld concEntrate, anYWAy. The bus RidE hoMe sEemED To Take longer thaN USual, BuT when he FinAlly marCheD thRouGh tHe Front door Of his stuDiO, hE sTiLl hAd thrEE hours unTiL GeOrGia Was suPPosed tO arriVe. ThReE hOUrs! what was HE sUPPoseD tO dO for ThrEe Hours?

he clEAneD; first tHe apartmeNt, tHEn hiMsElF. It struCk him while he wAs Dragging a rAzOr oVer his JAW just how Long it had been since he'd shAVed for a WomAn. He cHangEd the sheeTs oN the beD. ChANged thEm agaiN.

At laSt He cOULd thiNK Of NotHiNg else to do. hE WanDered OvEr to The phonOgraph and trailed a hANd aLong the glossy WooD top. sHOuLd hE PuT On mUsIC? MaYBE he should put on
 her jacket and fished out  a slip of  crum ple d p ap er.Shepassed it to H e lena . "Spell ingredients." 

"Yo um ustb ejokin g." Hel e na ' s  ga ze  s har pe n ed  stil l f urther.  "Either t hat  o r you've los t  y our mind.Why  me? Why not  so meoneel se? Someo newitho ut our . .. _ba ggage_?"
G e orgias wallowe d asnor t. Seemed like sh e  w a s getting that  quest io n  f r o m e ver yone latel y.  "Why you?" S h et h o ugh t  for a moment . "I don'tk now . I gu es s I trustyou." 
" You  really hav e lo st your m ind."H elena's eyebrow s drew  to get her. "P eo ple  h a veb ee n t a lki ng, youkn ow . Wor d is T h e  Cou nci l'safter  you. Again.Wor d is the y'veevenputabount y on y our h ea d." Her gaze tu rned  contempl ati ve . " Wh at ma k es you  th ink  I won' t callt hem  t h e se cond you leave?"
Ge o r gi a met he r eyes .  " Be c ause you  c oul d ha v e  told  Dar i us  about u s."

H e le na  groane d.  "I kn ew  Iwas  goin g  toregret  that."She s n atched the pap e r from Georgi a 's h an d  and  be gan to read . Sh e  pur sedh er  li p s. "S ome o ft he s e things are illega l. " Shekeptreading. Herbrows went u p . "Highl y il l eg a l."

Georgia f inall y pulled h e r foot o ut of  the doo rway. "Wi l l  that be  apro ble m?" He lena's lips c u r vedin to a sm irk . She f old edupthe  p aper andslippedit  i nt oher  pock e t. Thensh e o pe ned  thed oor alittl e wi de r, and  steppe d  b a c k.
"C om e in sid e. "

#CHAP T ERTWENTY- EIGHT

#
Ho w  the  h el l did a  person prepa re  for a sex  m agi c ritu a l ?

Dariu s left the office early .  It was n't  like  hecould con cen trate,  an y way. T he bus  ride  h ome s eemed t otak elonger tha n usu al, b ut  whe n he fi nally marched thro u ghthe front doo r o f hi s st udi o ,h e s ti l l h a d  three hours un til Georgi aw as  supposedt o a rr ive. Th ree hou rs! W h at washe suppos ed to dofo r th r e e h ours?

Hecleaned;  first th e  apar t me nt, t hen  himse lf . I t str uck hi m  wh ile h e wasdr agging  a ra zo r over h is jaw just how long it  had b een s inc e he'd sh ave d  fo r a woman . He  changed t heshe ets o n t h e bed . Ch a ng edt hem a gain . 

At last he  co u l dthink of no t h i ngelsetod o. Hewand ered over to thep honograph andtrai l e d a  ha n d al on g the glossy w ood  t o p . Should  h e put on mu sic? May be he sh ould p ut on
 her_jacket and_fished out a slip_of crumpled_paper._She passed_it_to Helena. "Spell_ingredients."

"You must be_joking." Helena's gaze sharpened_still further. "Either_that_or you've lost your mind. Why me? Why not someone else? Someone without our...__baggage_?"

Georgia_swallowed a_snort._Seemed_like she was getting that_question from everyone lately. "Why_you?" She_thought for a moment. "I don't know. I_guess_I trust you."

"You_really have lost your mind." Helena's eyebrows drew together._"People have been talking, you know._Word is The_Council's_after_you. Again. Word is_they've even put a bounty on_your head." Her gaze turned contemplative._"What makes you think I won't call_them the second you leave?"

Georgia met_her eyes. "Because you could_have told_Darius about us."

Helena groaned. "I_knew I was_going to_regret that." She_snatched the paper from Georgia's hand_and began to_read. She pursed her lips. "Some_of_these things are_illegal."_She_kept reading._Her brows went_up._"Highly illegal."

Georgia_finally_pulled her foot out of the_doorway._"Will that be a problem?"

Helena's lips curved_into a smirk. She_folded_up the paper and_slipped it into her pocket._Then she opened the door a_little wider,_and stepped_back.

"Come inside."

# CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

#

How the hell did a person prepare for_a sex magic ritual?

Darius left the_office early. It wasn't_like he_could_concentrate, anyway. The_bus_ride home_seemed to take longer than usual, but_when he_finally marched through the front door_of his studio, he_still_had three hours until Georgia was_supposed to arrive. Three hours! What_was he supposed to do_for_three_hours?

He cleaned; first the apartment,_then himself. It struck him while_he was dragging_a razor over his jaw just how_long_it had been since he'd shaved_for_a woman. He changed the sheets_on_the_bed. Changed them again.

At last_he could think of nothing else_to do. He wandered over to the phonograph and_trailed a hand_along the glossy wood top._Should_he_put on music? Maybe he should put on