Portia considered this for a moment. “I want to, yes, but I’m not entirely sure how Icanhelp you. We can try to look at the security cameras and see if someone tried to break into my office to get access to the portal.”
“Would they be able to mess with the unstable magic from your office?”
Portia nodded. “Yes, but what I am about to say cannot leave this room.” The succubus waited for both of them to vow their secrecy. “This office is actually a bit of an odd space. It’s not quite in the resort and not quite in Hell. It’s kind of an in-between.”
“Because this office is actually the container for the portal,” Alice gasped, her eyes going wide. “That’s why this place smells like high magic. Because it is.”
Portia smiled at her. “You really are so intelligent, my darling girl. Good for you for figuring it out. Now, let’s see if we can spot the culprit.”
Portia sat on the couch and turned her attention to the massive screen where the resort was being monitored. With a click of a few buttons on a remote control, she brought up one freeze-frame after another on the screen, but there was nothing.
They combed the footage for so long that at around two in the afternoon, Una brought in a charcuterie board for them to share over their task. It was nearing five o’clock when Alice jumped to her feet, causing Cooper to do the same. He was ready to fight, but of course, there was nothing and no one to fight in the office.
Alice pointed to the screen, particularly a small little corner off to the left. Cooper had to squint to see what had his wife in such a state, but even with his shifter eyes, he couldn’t make out the person’s face.
“I would know that bitch anywhere,” Alice growled low. The air in the office turned sulfuric, and Cooper was quick to envelop his wife in a hug.
“Hey, love, easy. There is nothing you can do to that footage, but youcantell us what the heck is going on here.”
“That witch on the screen? That’s the witch who killed my mother.”
“Well, smack my ass and call me Portia,” the succubus gasped. She clicked away on her remote until the massive screen was filled with the still frame that had caused Alice such anguish.
“That’s Priscilla Hughes,” Portia grumbled. “I do not like her, but I will admit that I am not entirely shocked that she could do unspeakable things to gain power.”
“Do you know her?” Cooper asked.
“By reputation only” was the sour answer. “Are you sure you don’t want me and Lou to talk to Lucifer on your behalf? You would be a much better choice to lead a coven overthatwoman.”
“And have Priscilla’s people following me around for the rest of my life? I will not fear for myself or my husband or any children we might choose to have.”
Cooper’s head snapped in her direction, his jaw agape. “Wanna run that by me again?” he whispered, too in awe to say anything else.
“Well, we haven’t talked about kids, exactly, but …” Alice's eyes cut to Portia, and she blushed. “It’s not like we’ve been very …you know.”
Cooper frowned, but it dawned on him. She meant that they had barely used protection. Not exactly the smartest move, given that they were an arranged and possibly temporary union. Cooper would never want Alice to think he had trapped her with a child, but he wasn’t that kind of man.
She had to know. She had to suspect, or else why would she bring up the topic in Portia’s office right in front of the perceptive demoness who was…after all…responsible for their match?
“We need to check if Priscilla is still on the resort grounds, and if she is, we need to figure out how she got here.”
“Astral projection,” Alice answered. “That wasn’t the real Priscilla in the portal. It was her, but she was projecting. That’s probably why she couldn’t get her hands on me.”
“I think you mean talons,” Cooper grumbled. “I didn’t like that whole experience, so if it’s all the same to you, I’m going to find this Priscilla person.”
“I’ll help,” Portia nodded. “You, dear Alice, you stay here and go through the footage. I want your most meticulous focus.”
Alice narrowed her eyes at the succubus. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing. You want me to stay in here, in the relative safety of your office.”
“Makes sense to me,” Cooper nodded. “Even if Priscilla was in the portal with only her astral projection or however that works, she is on that screen. It means she has to be here physically.”
Portia winced. “Actually, no. Priscilla could show up on the screen even if shewasn’ton the resort grounds with an actual physical body.”
Cooper gaped. “How is that possible?”
“There are a whole lot of spirits and ghosts and all other kinds of creatures. I can’t stop them from coming with magic. They exist beyond the realm of what I can control.”
“I’m not sure I understand, but we’re wasting time,” Cooper headed for the door, shook his head, and returned to Alice to kiss her. “Be safe, love. Don’t leave the office until I come back and tell you it’s safe. But no matter what happens? You can bet your ass that I am taking you home as soon as I can.” He kissed her again, and this time, when he headed for the door, he left for good.