Flipping the Bird (Shift Creek #1) - Carrie Pulkinen Page 0,54
“Who did this?”
“I think you know.” He placed his hand over hers, holding it against his chest.
“Marcus.” She shook her head. “But why?”
“He thought he could bring out my powers by threatening my life. I was supposed to defend myself as he hurled magic at me. This one nearly killed me.”
“How old were you?”
“Twelve.”
“That’s downright awful. I used to feel bad for hating a man I’ve never met, but not anymore. He’s the stain on your family name. Not you.”
“Considering what he’s done to this town, I have to agree.” He closed his fingers around her hand. “Do you understand why I was hesitant to tell you who I really am? I was afraid you’d dismiss me immediately if you knew whose blood I carry in my veins.”
“I’d like to think I’d have given you a chance, but I probably wouldn’t have.” She shrugged. “I can be a little judgy where the rich and powerful are concerned. I’ll try to work on that.”
“May I stay the night?”
“Will Marty be okay alone?”
“He’ll be fine. I’ll go home in the morning and bring him with us to the library. He has his own apologies to make.”
Chapter Sixteen
Alice leaned on the counter in the library as Daisy rotated her wrist. Shifters healed faster than mundies, thankfully. She’d removed the cast this morning and, by tomorrow, she would be right as a rainstorm.
“This is the longest I’ve ever gone with an injury,” Daisy said. “I really hope Donovan can read the book, because pain is not fun.”
“I hear you.” The five minutes it took Alice to fly to the creek after her squabble with the trap were excruciating. She couldn’t imagine dealing with the agony for days.
“You told him what the other warlocks said, right? About how the magic is tied to the family? I still don’t get why he didn’t say something sooner.”
Alice ran her finger over the binding of the book that could save them all. “That’s mostly my fault. I didn’t have anything nice to say about his dad, so I should have kept my mouth shut. But, you know me…”
“Well, we know who he is now. That’s what’s important.” She opened the book return bin and took out a stack of novels, setting them next to the computer. “And you two are an item. It’s funny how it’s come full circle. A powerful warlock blessed the creek and married a crow shifter…and now it’s happening again.”
“I don’t want to count my chicks before the eggs are even laid, but…it is romantic, isn’t it?” Of course, Daisy didn’t know the secret about Donovan’s magic—or lack thereof—and Alice wasn’t about to spill it. Their stories didn’t run exactly parallel, since Alice’s warlock couldn’t fix the creek himself, but he was her warlock now. And that made her heart sing.
Daisy scanned the barcode on the back of a book and cut her gaze toward the entrance as the door chimed. “Oh, is that him? He’s cute!”
Alice smiled as Donovan strode toward her, and a thousand butterflies flitted in her stomach. He wore dark jeans and a lavender button-up that contrasted with his dark eyes in an oh-so-sexy way. He kissed her on the cheek and rested a hand on his satchel. “Hello again.”
“It’s been a minute, hasn’t it?” She laughed. “This is Daisy. She’s a possum shifter and the town’s head librarian.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Daisy.” He shook her hand, and she giggled like a schoolgirl.
Honestly, Alice couldn’t blame her. Donovan had that effect on people. “Can you lock the doors for a bit? I’d hate for a mundy to walk in just as magic shoots from the pages.”
“Good idea.” Daisy grabbed a key ring and padded to the door.
Donovan opened his satchel and lifted Marty from inside. “I believe you have something to say to Alice?”
“I’m sorry,” he sulked.
Alice fought her smile.
“Continue,” Donovan said with all the authority of a father making his son apologize for throwing a baseball through her window.
“I shouldn’t have blamed you for taking the necklace, and I’m sorry for trying to keep you apart.” He climbed up Donovan’s arm and balanced on his shoulder. “You make him happy, and that makes me happy, and I’m sorry for making you unhappy.”
“For a familiar, you’re very good at apologies.”
Donovan patted his head. “He learned from the best.”
“You’re forgiven,” Alice said. “I hope we can become friends.”
“Me too.” Marty bared his teeth—which must have been his attempt at a smile—but the sharp, jagged line of white reminded her more of