He bowed. “You are very welcome. I expect now that you all will owe me your lives, be indebted to me for eternity, name all of your no doubt destined to be gorgeous children after me, and always be available to get drunk with me and go bowling every Saturday night.”
“You expect wrong,” she said flatly. “And remember, we’re not doing that binding agreement thing anymore that you fae always tie people to you with.”
King Rudolf nodded. “It was worth a shot. And no, we’re not. I do things for you because you’re my friend. I’m always at your beck and call, Sophia Beaufont.”
She couldn’t help but smiled at him fondly. “Same to you, Ru. Same to you.”
Chapter Six
When the pair entered the Rose Apothecary, Bep was holding a bundle of smoking sage and waving it at a corner.
“Just a regular day in the insane asylum, I see,” Sophia muttered, mostly to herself.
“Oh, it’s Tuesday.” Rudolf slapped his forehead. “I forgot and totally didn’t sage the penthouse.”
Sophia wasn’t sure why, but this surprised her. “You sage your Las Vegas penthouse?”
“And the yurt in Pismo, if you can believe it,” he answered at once.
“I can,” she said dully.
“Would you two be quiet? I need to concentrate to clear out the energies from that evil spirit, Tatiana.” Bep swooped by them while wagging the smoking sage in the air. The smoke made Sophia cough right away.
The potions expert gave Sophia a sideways look as she passed and continued to wave the sage at the other corner of the shop. “Oh, I know why the sage affects you like that.”
Sophia coughed a few more times as her eyes watered from the smoke. “Because I have lungs.”
“Because of Tatiana’s curse,” Bep countered and strode elegantly to the next corner. Her long black gown billowed as she moved.
“Yeah, that’s why,” Sophia retorted sarcastically. “Any remedy for that?”
“I told her the mark on her soul made her look cool.” Rudolf waved his hand to clear the smoke from in front of her face. “A real bad girl appearance.”
“You would say something like that.” Bep’s disappointment showed as she regarded the fae. She then directed her eyes at Sophia, and they softened. “And no, dear. I can’t help you. Neither can the healing elixir. But for every problem there is a solution.”
“And for every season there is a scarf,” Rudolf added.
Sophia blinked at him. “Are you drunk?”
He nodded. “Since 1981. Steadily. It’s a gift.”
“Impressive.” She returned her attention to Bep. “About the healing elixir—”
“I did ask you two to be quiet while I cleared the negative energy from my shop, didn’t I?” Bep scolded.
Sophia considered going on holiday right then and letting the entire world go to shit since everyone she had to work with made her doubt the whole mission of preserving the planet, but she decided that it would probably backfire on her. She’d pick a resort that was the first one affected by some apocalypse that she was meant to stop, and it would put a damper on the whole “escaping her problems” thing. The only option was to stick around and manage a business that healed magical creatures, remove the mark on her soul, and go on to save the world through various means. Very day-to-day stuff.
Having decided that the saging had worked, Bep blotting out the smoking herb and glanced up at the pair. “Now, what are you here for?”
“The healing elixir,” Sophia answered without inflection. It wasn’t too late to turn evil and murder the whole world, she thought. The curse on her soul must be responsible for making her think so darkly…or her patience had waned to that point…
“Yes, King Sweetwater, do you have the dragon egg shells that I require?” Bep strode forward, and scratched her arms as she did.
He snapped his fingers, and a large box materialized on the table in the center of the room. “They’ve been ground down to fine dust as you requested.”
“Very good.” Bep continued to scratch.
“Nice work,” Sophia told the fae, glad that she could rely on him in this way. He had proven himself quite reliable lately, but then again, he was drunk, so it wasn’t like she would count on him for too much.
“Oh, did you roll around in the grass and get chigger bites too?” Rudolf scratched his arms as well.
“No. I just finished washing the salt crystals from my skin and my body is already reforming them,” Bep replied, irritation heavy in her voice.
Sophia blinked at the potions expert. “Why am I getting this information?”
“Because,” she answered simply. “It’s a result of living by the sea.”
“Or of being a dirty hippie,” Sophia remarked under breath.
“The waters affect everything,” Bep went on, and swept her hand through the air in a broad motion. “They affect the way we feel, how our bodies function, and our minds.”
Something about that phrase struck Sophia oddly. She gulped. Closed her eyes to think. Then realized something profound.
“The sheep!” Sophia exclaimed as her eyes popped open with excitement.
Chapter Seven
“Goat!” Rudolf exclaimed, his eyes dancing with excitement.
“Donkey,” Bep stated, not at all as enthusiastic.
Sophia shot them both confused stares.
“Your turn again,” Rudolf encouraged. “Name another animal.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s about the sheep. Now I think I know why they’re exploding. At least, I have an idea.”
Rudolf nodded like exploding sheep were perfectly normal. “I remember in the summer of 1745 when crows kept exploding.”
“Oh, really?” Sophia wondered if he had a clue for her on the subject. “Why?”
“I fed them explosives,” he replied.
She sighed with defeat. “Anyway, Bep gave me an idea.”
“I’m prone to that,” the potions expert said at once. “It’s because of my esoteric nature. It provides inspiration.”
“Okay.” Sophia drew the word out. “Anyway, I think the water at the Gullington might be contaminated. I can at least look into it and cross it off the list.”
“Speaking of things to cross off lists, let’s go get a cookie.” Rudolf grabbed Sophia’s arm and hauled her toward the door with surprising strength.
“Do you work out?” she asked, impressed and allowing herself to be led off.
“No, fae don’t have to. We’re naturally ripped. I have a six pack and everything.”
“Of course you do,” she muttered. “And why is getting a cookie on your list?”
“Because that’s how I think best, and we need to discuss the business plan for the healing elixir. I’ve got ideas.”
Sophia nodded. She could use something to eat since her protein bar breakfast left her wanting. Then hopefully she’d be ready to take on whatever challenge removing the mark from her soul would entail. It would no doubt be dangerous and convoluted and probably leave her with a new scar. But as long as she didn’t have the curse anymore, she’d endure whatever she had to.