Talking to Odin, though, wasn’t something I wanted to attempt again. Monica showed up at the shoot. She grinned at me. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“You seem…”

“I finally managed to get a certain person to leave me alone, but I know it won’t last.”

“Ugh. And how many times have you heard to take it as a compliment.”

I shuddered. “Can’t count that high. Of course, if he was better in bed, he could get a girlfriend who actually wanted him.”

Maybe that was one thing he couldn’t change. We were doing casual stuff for a catalogue. Fall stuff – hats and scarves. And we had to do it outside. People didn’t realize just how far ahead we did these things. I was fine, but I was pretty sure the others were roasting.

I liked fire. And I wasn’t sure what that fire flicker had been. I hoped not another fyrhund after I’d got the last one killed.

I didn’t want that to happen again. But then, supposedly, the angels had dealt with the spirit bombs. Supposedly, it was safe.

“Want to join me for…I know you can’t drink, but I know a place that won’t card you unless you order,” Monica invited.

I considered, then nodded. “Sure.”

“You can call your girlfriend if you want?”

I thought about it, then decided I wanted to talk to Monica alone. I might not be able to tell her, but maybe I could find out more about her. More about why she might have attracted a certain person’s interest.

I had promised to tell Tyz’vel, and I’d keep that. He wouldn’t try to mess with her again. Whatever else, he had never come over to me as stupid and, well, only a stupid demon would try and take on somebody under Odin’s protection.

A stupid and very dead demon. I was sure Odin could put Tyz’vel into the deepest depths of Hell.

Maybe. Maybe he couldn’t. Hell wasn’t a place we had authority over, I’d had that made clear to me.

Monica took me to a little pub type place. I followed her inside.
“So…I was…” She took a deep breath. “Hoping to find out more about magic, but I’m afraid to read books or go on the internet.”

I laughed. “That’s smart. The internet is full of idiots and most of the magic books out there are fluffy wiccan stuff. Won’t hurt anyone, won’t really teach you anything either.”

“Love spells?”

“Love spells are actually kind of not a wiccan thing. It’s against their religion.”

Monica blinked. “Really?”
“Yeah. And Kanesha once told me that she’s pretty sure Medieval “love potions” were actually usually viagra.”

She blinked and again and then laughed. “You mean…”

“I mean there are herbs that are pretty good for helping people, uh, perform better in bed, and that’s probably what people went to Medieval herbalists for that got written down as love potions. That it’s probably a euphemism. But a spell to actually make somebody fall in love with you? That’s mind control.”

Monica nodded. “And thus wrong.”

“Well, that and it would wear off and then they’d hate you.” I shrugged a bit. “Wiccan stuff is more, trying to cast healing spells with varying degree of success. Real witches can be very powerful, but most people who try witchcraft aren’t that good at it.”

“Kind of like most people who try to sing.”

I grinned. “Exactly. Now, if you really wanted to learn, I have a coven that you could talk to. No guarantees, but…”

But they might be able to help her.

“No. I more want to know about demons and things.”

“I know just the person for that too.” Was this wise? Well, if Odin had an interest in her, it would be unwise not to give her advice…