Read Monster Baiter (An Obscure Magic Book 6) for Free Online

home, you were stuck with him.
    She wished that he had come with an instruction book.
     
    Yawning her way through reports the next morning, she looked at the approaching cup of coffee with relief. “Thanks, Mom.”
    “Go home, Soph. We will take care of it.” Her mom handed it over with a grin.
    “I have the first quarter up to date, filed my reports from yesterday and am due for a visit to the estate shops.” She slurped at the coffee without hesitation. It burned slightly, but she gulped it down.
    “So, is that merman still living with you?” Her mom’s eyes were gleaming.
    Sophy wrinkled her nose. “Yes. He is now my official housekeeper. He’s going to run my errands and cook for me. Well, he will cook once he learns how. Fortunately, some of his new boyfriends seem to have useful talents in the kitchen.”
    “Does he do laundry?”
    “I find out tonight. The deal is set if he can get the slime and ectoplasm out of my outfit from yesterday. If he manages it, he can stay.”
    “Good. You need a roommate. He is as good as any, and he already knows about what you do, so it will be an easier transition for both of you.”
    “Mom, he is threatening to replace all of my bath products.”
    Lillian cackled. “Good. You make a ton of money. You should spend part of it on yourself.”
    “I do. I spend a ton on clothing.”
    “Stuff that gets destroyed doesn’t count. If you can’t nap, try and get a training session in.”
    “Yes, Mom.” She handed the empty cup back and cleared up her desk, standing slowly with only a little wincing.
    “What did you do last night?”
    “There was a spectral lash involved. It takes me longer to heal from those.”
    “Oh, baby. You have to be more careful.”
    “I was careful; it hit me and not the humans behind me.” She stretched and smiled again. “I will be fine.”
    She paused. “Mom, did you ever hear of a mage named Magnus who was arrested by the guild?”
    “No... not unless you mean Lord Magnus the soul hunter. He was a character and ended up in amber.”
    “What’s the story there?”
    Her mother scowled. “I am not sure. I could look into it if you want me to.”
    “No. I don’t think that will be necessary. I will get some more details before I go digging. It isn’t a time-sensitive project.”
    She walked around her desk, gave her mom a kiss and headed for the door, her purse over her shoulder.
    Despite her bravado, Sophy hurt, and her mom could see it. Soph could only imagine how it had been for her mother to be with her father during his missions. The DeMonstres were genetically programmed to be bait. Being the spouse of one would mean that the person you loved would constantly be in danger.
    Sophy didn’t date much and that guilt was the reason. You couldn’t kiss someone goodbye and have them waiting for you to come home bloody and torn up. It wasn’t fair.
    She got into the car and buckled up, wiping at the tear that had crept out of her right eye. Damn, she was in rough shape if she was crying.
    “Sophia, is something wrong?”
    “Nope. Where are you watching me from?” Her phone was in her purse.
    “Your GPS.”
    She pinched the bridge of her nose to stop the tears. “I am fine. I have my rounds today. You can go to neutral or whatever you do when I am not there.”
    “I am always waiting for you.”
    “That’s creepy.” She headed for the estate shop.
    “That is my existence. Though, I am happy that they assigned me to your service.”
    She grimaced. “I thought you were a ghost.”
    “I am a consciousness. Ghosts can’t travel from technology to technology.”
    Sophy grinned. She had been told. “Why did they send you to me anyway?”
    “Because they were tired of doing the referencing for you. Keeping an archivist on duty for hours was far from a desirable event. They decided that I could be trusted to act as your liaison. I have enjoyed it. You are the first person I have spoken to in centuries.”
    “Well, we have a