Magic Misled (Lizzie Grace #7) - Keri Arthur Page 0,34

itself be faulty, causing them to morph between sizes as well as shapes?”

Tala wrinkled her nose. “Unlikely, but I’m no expert on these things.”

“Is there an expert we could consult?” Monty asked.

“The boss has already been in contact with her.” She rose. “Let me mark this off, then we’ll keep going.”

We got out of her way. By the time we made it back to Jackson’s body, the storm had finally eased. Which didn’t make the night any more pleasant, especially given the lower half of my body was wringing wet and water now squished out of my boots with every step. To say I was cold would be an understatement.

I think it’s one of those cases of being careful what you wish for, Belle commented, mental tones amused. Especially with winter coming in hard and early.

Yes. And why are you following my thoughts rather than talking to your mom?

She’s on the phone to Dad. This is the first time they’ve been apart more than a day for decades.

Why didn’t he come down with her?

They can’t—one of them has to be there. It’s a recent alteration to their contract conditions.

Her parents had been in charge of the Psychic Advisory Commission—a government-sponsored service designed to help and advise psychics on all matters, be they legal or personal—for my entire life. I’d been under the impression that they could run it as they saw fit, but that obviously wasn’t entirely the case. That makes no damn sense.

When did governmental decisions ever make sense?

But your parents are getting on—why wouldn’t the government have a succession plan in place? One that involves possible replacements getting experience in the top seat while your mom and dad are still there to guide them?

Because again, that would make sense. Anyway, I thought you’d like to know that the luscious Samuel Kang left a message on the café’s phone. He’d like to talk to you tomorrow at two, if that’s convenient. And he didn’t leave his number, so you can’t actually refuse.

I snorted. I wonder what he wants this time?

The man’s in lust with you, Lizzie. What do you think he wants?

I slapped her mentally. Her laughter ran down the line, bright and sharp. I dare say it has something to do with his recommendations to the council.

Probably. I glanced around as a twig snapped and saw Ciara and Maggie—who was the office receptionist and a ranger in training—emerging from the trees. I’ve got to go. See you tomorrow. Out loud, I added, “How bad was the car crash?”

“Don’t know,” Ciara said. “Luke’s dealing with it.”

Luke was her assistant and a recent addition to the team.

“So they’re still out?” Tala said.

“Yeah. There were four cars involved. At least two deaths, from what I heard over the radio. People just won’t learn to slow down in shitty weather.” She stopped beside me. “Is it okay to go down there, or do you need to detangle a spell or something?”

“The latter. Give me a few minutes.”

I collected my spell stones, then stood in the shadows of a tree, cold, miserable, and wishing I was home. Be careful what you wish for indeed.

It was close to midnight by the time we finally left. I’d had no message from Aiden, so I presumed he was either still dealing with the car crash or now home waiting for me.

Sadly, the latter proved not to be the case. I had a hot shower to chase the chill from my body, then climbed under the mountain of blankets and went to sleep.

Only to have my dreams filled with the bloody rampages of a ghost-like creature who was neither wolf nor demon but a brutal mix of both.

The storm came back with a vengeance the following morning, so café traffic was almost nonexistent. Sam arrived at two on the dot, this time wearing a long black coat that emphasized the width of his shoulders while somehow defining the long and rather glorious length of his body.

He closed his umbrella, popped it into the stand, and then gave me a polite smile of greeting. “I do hope you don’t mind meeting me like this again.”

“It’s not like you actually gave me a choice.” I waved him across to the table in the corner near the window—one that had a conversation-muting spell already layered around it. “Would you like coffee and cake?”

His bright smile stirred inner warmth to life. I might be very happily involved with Aiden, but that didn’t mean I was dead to the charms of other