Magic Misled (Lizzie Grace #7) - Keri Arthur Page 0,90

enough about magic to unpick the alarm spell around the café.”

“She didn’t touch the rest, though.”

“Which was no doubt due to the presence of the wild magic.”

“If she can sense it. There’s no evidence that she can.”

“She’s been marked by a dark practitioner. She can sense it.”

Aiden cleared his throat. “Can you two argue about this on your own time? We really need to lock down this area and collect evidence if we’re to have any hope of getting home at a decent hour tonight.”

“Sorry,” Monty said, though the amusement in his eyes suggested he really wasn’t. “I’ll wrap an alarm around the capture spell; even if she does dismantle it, I’ll get a warning that she’s here.”

“Thanks.” Aiden’s gaze returned to mine. “Do you need a lift home?”

A smile tugged at my lips. “In other words, shove off, my love; you’re no longer needed now that Monty is here.”

“I’d personally choose you over Monty, if only because you’re far prettier. However, he’s head witch, you’re only part time, and I think you’ve done more than your fair share of work over the last few days.”

Though it was lightly said, concern glinted in his eyes—not surprising given he could probably smell my weariness. In truth, I was damnably glad to be getting the heave-ho; right now, I wanted nothing more than to zone out for several hours with Belle and Ava and talk about anything other than death for a while.

I rose up on my toes and dropped a quick kiss on his cheek. “I’ll walk back to the café—it’s not far.”

He gently brushed his knuckles down my cheek, then stepped back—just in case temptation got the better of him, I thought with amusement.

“I’ll catch you at home.”

I said my goodbyes to Jaz and Monty and headed out. Dusk’s flags of pink and orange were already giving way to darkness, and the air held the promise of rain. I zipped up my coat, shoved my hands into the pockets, and followed the old road out of the complex. I detoured around to the Chinese café to grab dinner, so by the time I arrived at our café, darkness had well and truly set in. But the downstairs lights were on and music was playing. I unlocked the front door and entered, discovering not only had a table been set, but also Belle pouring drinks.

I walked over and dropped the bag of food in the middle of the table. “I take it you’re hungry.”

“Starved. It is close to seven, you know.”

“And this old woman,” Ava said, as she came out of the kitchen with a selection of tongs and serving spoons, “is very used to eating dessert at around this time. The stomach is not amused, let me tell you.”

I chuckled and began pulling the lids off the various containers. “I’ll remember that for next time.”

“Good.” She sat down and handed me one of the serving spoons. “I’ve been trying to convince young Isabelle here to come back to Canberra with me to see her dad.”

A smile twitched my lips. Ava only used Belle’s real name when she was displeased. “I absolutely agree that she should, but I’m not sure now is the right time.”

Ava’s eyebrows rose. “Why would you— Oh, your father.”

I nodded. “I wouldn’t put it past him to make a grab for Belle when she’s up there.”

“Even your father wouldn’t be that desperate—especially when your mother is already displeased with him.”

“And yet she won’t divorce him.” I scooped up some fried rice and dropped it with a little more force than necessary onto my plate. “She values her position and standing in the witch community far more than she does her daughter.”

“That’s a trifle unfair,” Ava admonished. “Granted, she was never what I would call a good mother, but she was never neglectful, either. I have no doubt that, in her own way, she really does love you.”

“You’ll have to forgive my skepticism, if only because she hasn’t even bothered to contact me since Clayton’s death and the investigation into my father’s actions deepened.”

“Perhaps she fears an approach wouldn’t be welcome.”

“It wouldn’t, but that’s beside the point. She hasn’t even tried.”

And that hurt, more than I really wanted to admit.

Ava caught my hand and squeezed it lightly. “Not all mothers are as perfect as me—”

Belle laughed, and Ava gave her a severe look, though the effect was somewhat spoiled by the amusement in her eyes.

“But your mother never needed to be, Liz. She was well aware you were