Page 74 of Autumn L.A.W

Sahara sighed. “I can see why you’re glowing with self-awareness.”

Lioness grinned. “Which is why I hired help.”

Sahara blinked. “You what?”

“A nurse,” Lioness said, smug now. “Licensed. Calm. Immune to charm. She arrives at noon.”

Cal grimaced. “She already told me that if I try to stand without clearance, she will narc on me to everyone.”

Ezra’s lips twitched. “Excellent boundaries.”

Sahara studied Lioness carefully. It seemed as if her defensiveness had given way to competence.

“You didn’t tell us about the nurse,” Sahara said.

“I wanted to have an actual plan first,” Lioness replied. “Not a panic spiral.”

“That’s new,” Sahara said.

“I’m evolving.”

Sahara exhaled slowly, something in her chest easing. “So, you’ll stay here sometimes. And at the mansion sometimes?”

Lioness shrugged. “I’ll commute if you need me. I can handle that. Brianna can help if I need to be there yesterday.”

Ezra tilted his head. “That’s not leaving.”

“No,” Lioness agreed. “That’s scheduling.”

Sahara laughed. “You know our schedules can be blown to hell at any time, right?”

“I know.”

Cal looked between them. “You witches negotiate like a union.”

“We have bylaws,” Sahara said.

“Mostly unwritten,” Lioness added.

Ezra glanced at Sahara. “How do you feel now?”

She considered it. “Annoyed. Relieved. Still a little worried.”

“Good,” Ezra said. “That’s honest.”

Sahara cocked her head. “You’re very calm about this.”

“I trust her,” he replied simply.

Lioness blinked. Cal watched Ezra with new interest.

“Well,” Cal said, “for what it’s worth, I appreciate the compromise. And the nurse. And the fact that I’m not being haunted.”

Sahara stepped forward and hugged Lioness carefully, mindful of the nearby immobile limbs. “You don’t get to disappear.”

“I won’t,” Lioness said. “I promise.”

Ezra checked the time. “We should go. The nurse deserves first impressions that don’t involve magical politics.”