Брайан Макклеллан - Blood Tally

Lucky for me, Olivia went full steam at those questions. She opened her mouth, hesitated a minute, then laced her fingers into those of my right hand. “So,” she said pointedly. “There are a few things we didn’t talk about. Like, if you can’t take the ring off, and she can’t leave, what exactly happens when you’re, you know?”

“Getting busy?” I asked, deadpan.

“Right.”

The cast on my left wrist was suddenly very itchy. I could feel the sheets beneath the small of my back getting sweaty. “She goes and reads a book.”

“Oh?”

“Aaaand … she sometimes watches.”

It’s boring in here! Maggie protested.

Olivia screwed her lips up, looking toward the ceiling for a moment as if deep in thought. Finally, she nodded to herself. “Look, I’m a witch – sorry, a nondenominational practitioner of witchcraft – so it’s not like it would be my first threesome. Things get kinky in coven internships.”

It was my turn to turn red. I cleared my throat. “Well. I suppose that’s cleared up, then. I, uh … it’s probably going to be a while until I’m physically fit for duty, as it were.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I heard troll-bloods heal quick.”

“Quicker than humans, that’s for sure.”

“Good.” She leaned over me, and I noticed for the first time just how low-cut her shirt was. She brought her lips right up against my ear. I felt my heart quicken. She whispered in a husky voice, “Because, reaper boy, I really need someone to put the second coat of paint on my kitchen wall.” She pulled away, patted me on the cheek, and headed for the door. “That wasn’t a euphemism, by the way. Really need to get that painted before the new stove arrives. Want me to sneak you in some Steak-N-Shake for dinner?”

I chuckled softly and closed my eyes. “Yes,” I said. “That sounds like the best thing in the world right now.”

Shen Fey – cover artist

Shawn King – cover design

Kristy Stewart – copy editor

Special Thanks to Michele McClellan, Charlie N. Holmberg, David Wohlreich, JS Lenore, Adam Pfeiffer, Becky Cook, Brian Walters, Bronwyn Prew, Chris Frederick, Christine Thorn, David Olson, Dawn Davis, Don Sims, Joel Burke, John Baker, Jon Seiglie, Josh Arcelo, Kate Fisher, Katelyn Pare, Kristina Pick, Leticia Lara, Mark Atley, Noah Tharp, Richard Willey, Robert Hall, Rushikesh, Ryan Senese, Sam Baskin, Travis Billingsley, Tucker McKinzie, Zac Gordon-Smith.