It was the complete opposite.
The walls were painted a soft gray color with a chevron wallpaper near the ceiling in a deep royal blue. The accessories were all white and shiny, as if they were all new and barely used.
Portia sat behind her desk, tapping away at a computer. She barely looked up from the screen when she heard them come in. She smiled at them warmly and pushed away from her desk. “Hey, there, lovebirds. What can I do for you?”
“We’ve got a very important question to ask you, Aunt Portia,” Ruby responded, putting emphasis onaunt. Portia might not want to acknowledge their familial link in front of everyone, but it was just Ethan. He already knew, and he didn’t care. More than that, Ruby hoped that reminding Portia that they were related would help their cause.
Portia, sensing that this was serious from the stern look on Ruby’s face, stood and came to stand in front of her desk a few feet away from them. “What’s happened?”
“Well, see,” Ruby started. “Ethan came to the opening for a reason.”
“Did he now?” Portia shot back, aiming a grin at him. “And was it because he got a brochure and couldn’t help but book a week’s holiday here?”
“Not quite,” Ethan answered. He explained the Gus and Jazmin Lovelace situation. “Not too long after we were cursed, I got the brochure in the mail.”
“In themail,you say,” Portia repeated with a grin that made Ethan nervous.
“I think so. It was on my desk at work. My assistant said it came with the post. Why? Surely, it doesn’t matterhowI got the brochure, right? I got it. I’m here. And now, I need help.”
Portia nodded along as Ethan spoke. Ruby’s hand found itself on his back, and she ran her hand up and down his spine. It gave him the courage to go on.
“As soon as I saw that it was the grand opening, I knew I had to come. Where else would I be able to run into a witch or two?”
Portia shrugged. “Fair enough, I suppose. But you do know that succubi don’t have the same kind of magic as witches. We can’t help you break the curse.”
“But you know a lot of paranormal creatures. Can’t you give us the name of a witch or warlock who could help us break the spell?” Ruby tried to keep the pleading from her tone, but Ethan caught on. Portia would too. Ruby was her niece, after all, and they clearly had a very powerful bond.
“Us?” Portia repeated. “Us? You want me to helpbothof you?” The succubus’s smile widened almost comically.
Ruby rolled her eyes. “Of course, you would focus onthat.”
“Well, it’s not every day you hear your niece go from ameto anus. I’m well within my aunt rights to be excited.”
“We’d rather know if you can help,” Ruby grumbled.
“Why not ask one of the witches who are staying with us right now?”
“We’ve tried the one who is glued to the greed demon, but they both said no.”
Portia nodded. “Those two are here for a good time, and they are really leaning into my whole resort vibe. I like them. They’re doomed to end, of course. Not for the long haul, but good for some fun orgasms.” She wiggled her brows.
“Portia!” Ruby gasped.
The older succubus shrugged it off. “What? It’s true! You know I only ever speak the truth. If they said the witch and greed demon won’t help, we should believe them. Let me see who I could call.” She pulled a little red book from the top drawer of her desk and flipped through the pages, running a long, thin finger down each page. With every turn, her frown deepened. “Not much in here is there …”
Ruby didn’t believe her. “You’re telling me that you don’t know a single witch who would be willing to help?”
“You and I both know that witches don’t like messing with others’ magic. It’s not that easy. I need a sole practitioner who has enough juice to be on her ownanddoesn’t mind a little trouble.” Portia frowned and continued to look at her book. Suddenly, she pulled a face. “Hmm. I wonder.”
“Wonder what?” Ethan asked. “Not gonna lie, ladies. I’ve spent my whole life being the alpha heir and then the alpha. Whenever shit went down for the pack, I was always helping fix it, right in the center of the action. I feel a little bit out of touch right now. There’s so much from this world that I just don’t understand. Help a guy out. What’s going on?”
“Alice Gatlin,” Portia finally answered. “She’s a lone witch. She didn’t use to be, of course. That is a whole other story, but she is a lone witch. If anyone had the juice and the desire to break this curse, it would be her.”
“Then call her!” Ethan motioned his hands in the air as if he could make the succubus magically call the witch.
“Easy, there, Hot Blue,” Ruby tapped his shoulder. “It’s not that easy. If things go wrong in Alice’s life because Portia asks for help, then Portia is on the hook.”
Ethan frowned. “Wouldn’tIbe the one who is on the hook since I’m the one who needs help?”