A sign above the door readCharmsmithsin a bold calligraphic font, and a little bell rang as soon as we went through.
There were glass displays from top to bottom with rings, necklaces, bracelets and watches galore and my senses tingled at the magic charging the air all around us.
"Do you feel that?" I asked.
Sett nodded with a smile.
"I feel way too poor to be in here," I said.
Sett laughed. "So do I!" he said.
I raised an eyebrow. "You're a god!"
Sett shrugged and flashed me his gorgeous smile again.
I was about to say something when a beautiful Black man walked in from the back wearing a monocle on one eye and holding a butterfly.
When he stopped in front of us did I realize it was not a real butterfly, but a creature made of glass and gold. That didn't stop it from fluttering its wings or from flying from the man's hand into its glass case.
"Welcome to Charmsmiths," he said.
"Hi. I'm Drew," I said.
He took the monocle off his eye to shake my hand. "Nice to meet you, Drew. I'm Frankie."
"This is Sett," I said. "Tomasz sent us."
Frankie shook Sett's hand and ushered us to the counter at the far end of the shop where he offered us both a seat.
"What can I help you with today?"
All eyes turned on me as I studied Frankie's face and took courage in knowing he was a friend and not a foe. "I'm looking for something that will keep me from being compelled by a god."
Frankie raised an eyebrow and leaned in closer. "Tell me more," he said.
So I did.
I told him everything. All these years I'd kept the truth from everyone, unable and unwilling to tell them how fucked up my life was and now, it seemed I couldn't stop sharing my story with anyone willing to listen.
Frankie licked his lips when I was done and sat back in his chair. "Wow. I'm so sorry you went through all that Drew?—"
"Thank you. Do you think you can help?"
Frankie sighed and looked down at his desk.
It took everything in me not to deflate right on the spot.
"I don't know if I'm powerful enough to defy a god. Without knowing the specifics of his power it's all a guessing game…"
I squeezed the armrests, bracing myself to throw the chair back and march right out.
"What about what you did for Loki?" I asked.
Frankie pursed his lips.
"What I did for Tomasz and Loki was simpler. I do it all the time. Binding sets are not hard to make. Kinky jewellery is a niche of mine, but…this is different."
"What if…" I glanced at Sett and bit the inside of my cheek. "What if you made a binding set for me and Sett?"
