Before she’d even got the words out, he was chanting in his magical language, and his magic caressed her skin. Her dress began to transform, the grey silk taking on a stunning grass-green hue. It floated around her legs as if on a vernal wind, the delicate fabric skimming over her thighs. Two long slits inched up the front while her neckline plunged. Gold vines snaked around her waist to just below her breasts, holding the stunning fabric in place. Silver bracelets appeared on her wrists, and a warm, white fur jacket appeared in his hands. With a graceful flourish he placed the jacket on her shoulders.

Staring at his creation, he ran a finger over his lower lip. “Now you look perfect.”

She glanced down at her ensemble. “I didn’t have you pegged as a clothing designer.”

“There’s very little I’m not good at.”

She nearly pulled a muscle rolling her eyes.

Chapter 28

He turned to one of his bookcases and began retrieving magazines from a shelf and tossing them onto the floor. Each featured a boat on the cover, and had titles like All Things Sailing and Anchors Away.

She narrowed her eyes. “Is there some sort of nautical solution to Zee’s missing soul?”

He leaned over, staring into the shelf. “I need to consult my grimoires. We need to conjure a protective ward to prevent the incubus from using his shadow magic on us.”

“You know when a magical ward would have been helpful? When I was at the opera.” She stepped closer, peering over his shoulder. The magazines had hidden a metal button, and Kester pushed it. Something clicked loudly, and a nearby bookcase swung forward on a hinge, creaking over the floor. On the back of the bookshelf was a small collection of swords and knives, but the real treasure seemed to be a hidden alcove in the wall, that glowed with that magical amber light. As she peered over his shoulder, she saw that the light protected a small collection of books, just like the ones in the Plaza apartment.

“I’m going to need your help in a minute.”

That was something she’d never thought she’d hear him say. “What do I need to do?”

He glanced at her. “A ward spell derives its strength from the souls of the people who create it. Magic is always more powerful when there are multiple spell-casters. If we cast one together, it will be doubly strong.”

“And we’ll be reading from one of those books?”

“Yes.” He held his hands over the amber light, closing his eyes. Slowly he intoned a single word, his deep voice a velvet caress over her skin: Oriel. As soon as he’d enunciated the final syllable, the glow on the bindings ebbed away.