“Hey, there. I’m Ruby, and this is Ethan. Isn’t this place neat?” She sat beside the witch and patted the other seat on her other side for him.
“It is,” the witch answered, tightlipped. “You’re a succubus.” There was an accusation in the tone.
“Yup, I am. On holiday, though.” She winked to make it clear that she wasn’t after anyone’s man. Clever, really. “Ethan here, my new friend, was just wondering about curses. You’re a witch. You must know all about curses.”
“Like you said. I’m on holiday. I don’t really want to discuss magic right now if it’s all the same to you.”
“Oh, sure. Sorry about that. Do you know anyone whowouldbe willing to talk to us about curses?”
The witch clicked her tongue. “To put one or to remove one?”
Ethan’s heart was in his throat. This was the question he was dreading. “Removal.”
The witch shook her head. “Nope. Sorry. If one of my sisters saw fit to curse, I am not removing it. Do you know how much trouble that could cause?”
Ethan frowned. “No, sorry. I don’t actually know how much trouble that would cause. I’ve only ever met the one witch, and she …” He sighed. “She was really sweet, but someone in my pack hurt her. She cursed all of us because of him.”
“And?” The witch’s eyes flashed with anger. “A pack is a family. If one of you is an asshole who can hurt a witch, then you all can.” She turned toward Ruby. “You know, you should really take that as a warning. If one of his pack has been hurtful to a witch, he can do the same to a succubus.”
The demon beside the witch clicked his tongue, obviously bored. “This is so tiresome. We’re on holiday. You, beast-man, if you wanna fix your pack problems, take it to a council. Your kinddoeshave a council, right?”
Ethan shook his head. “I’m basically it. I’m the alpha. There are elders. Older shifters that I seek advice from, but … I’m basically the law.”
The witch snorted. “The law. You’re basically responsible for whatever terrible thing that pack member of yours did.”
Ethan clenched his jaw hard before he could say something really terrible. Noticing it, Ruby placed her hand on his forearm and gave it a good squeeze.
“So sorry to bother you with this. Have fun today!” Ruby stood, and because he didn’t know how else to plead to the witch for help, he followed along. Once they were on the other side of the boat, Ruby leaned against the railing, looking out at the water. “I told you. Witches are pretty strange creatures like that. They stick to their own kind. They don’t help outsiders.”
“So that’s it? There is nothing I can do for my people? I just gotta let them suffer and lose their livelihoods and businesses?”
Ruby shook her head. “No, of course not. I’m sure we can think of something.”
“But I’m at a loss, Ruby. I don’t know this world. Obviously!” He gestured back to where they had just been with the other couple. “I need help.”
“And I’ll help. I’m right here.”
“You know, I don’t knowwhyyou’re helping. I keep thinking that …” he stopped, his nostrils flaring in frustration. “I don’t know why you wanna help. You have your own issues you’re trying to deal with.”
“Yeah, but mine are hopeless.” She gave him a sad smile. “I can’t quit without having a kid to offer up as a replacement, and I amnotletting a child of mine do this work for centuries on end.”
“That’s really commendable. I respect you a lot for not putting an innocent child between you and a career you dislike.”
“My mother did it to my sisters and me. I won’t let it happen again.”
He nodded, his heart heavy. “I wish there was something I could do to help you beyond faking this relationship to keep your aunt off your back.”
“Thanks.”
“She’s related to Lucifer, right? Can’t she approach him on your behalf?”
“If that would’ve worked, Portia would have kids of her own.”
“Oh. Oh, damn.” Ethan took Ruby in his arms and held her close. “We make a sad pair.”
“We sure do.”
“I guess I’ll check out in the morning. No use staying here. I need to go out in the world and find answers.”