Flipping the Bird (Shift Creek #1) - Carrie Pulkinen Page 0,57
going to kill us if we stay.”
Donovan drummed his fingers on the table, and Marty hopped to his shoulder to whisper in his ear.
“I had the same idea.” Donovan ground his teeth. “But which one?”
“Which one what? You guys wanna keep the lady in the room informed?”
Marty climbed down his arm to stand on the table. “It’s gotta be this one.” He tapped the bracelet on Donovan’s wrist.
Donovan closed his eyes and let out a slow exhale. “You’re right.” He turned to Alice. “I don’t have magic of my own to sacrifice, but I do have magical artifacts. I’ll offer the one I hold most dear.”
He slipped the bracelet off, laying it on the table, and the deep-orange glow of his aura faded to the color of a pearl, barely shimmering at all. Alice squeezed her eyes shut, blinking as she opened them again, but the magic in his aura had all but faded to nothing.
“It’s my aura-cloaking coin. It’s what I use to fake the appearance of magic. Most of the time, objects like this are used to infiltrate a pack or coven, but I use it to make myself into someone I’m not.”
“Didn’t you say it was a gift from your father?”
“It was.” He laughed dryly. “He forced me to wear it at all times to avoid bringing the family any more embarrassment should my true lineage ever be discovered. I could have stopped, but everyone I know believes I have magic.”
She took his hand. Seeing the pain in his eyes was unbearable. “I’m sure a different artifact would work, right? Is there something else that would be a sacrifice for you to give up?”
“It must be this. I have a chance at a new life here, and I will start it with honesty.” He clasped her hand between both of his. “Besides, I would gladly give up all my magic to save this town. Having you in my life is all I need.”
Marty cleared his throat.
Donovan laughed. “And you, old friend.”
“Do you think it will work?” Alice asked.
“It has to.”
She pursed her lips, trying to ignore the doubt rumbling in her stomach. Or maybe that was just hunger pangs. A growl rose up from her core. Yep, she was hungry. “You’re right. It does. You have Rainecourt blood; you’ll be making a sacrifice. It’ll work.” She rose to her feet. “I’ll let the committee know we’ve found the solution. They’re going to be so thrilled.”
His eyes tightened. “I would prefer to perform the sacrifice without an audience. If it doesn’t work, I… Living my life as a mundy will take some adjustment.”
She giggled at his use of their word. “Baby steps. Got it. I won’t tell them until it’s done. They’ll be up at the springs that night, so we can do it where the creek cuts through your property.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Sounds like we’ve got a date beneath the full moon. In the meantime, let’s grab lunch. Talking about Meatloaf has made me hungry.”
Chapter Seventeen
The full moon hung high in the sky, not a cloud in sight to obscure it from view. It taunted them as Alice walked by Donovan’s side toward the creek with Marty clinging to his shoulder. As if they needed a reminder this was their absolute last chance to restore the magic and save the town.
“I really hope this works.” She stumbled in the grass.
Donovan caught her by the arms, holding her steady, and looked into her eyes. “It will. My heritage alone was enough to allow me to read the book. Until that day in the library, I hadn’t removed the bracelet since I was twelve years old. It’s as much a part of me as the nose on my face.”
“Is it your real nose? It looks too perfect to be your real nose.” It was flawlessly straight, not a single bump or scar in sight. Heck, even his pores were nearly invisible, which was so unfair. “You didn’t have some kind of magical plastic surgery to change your looks?”
“I’ve faked a lot of things in my life, but my appearance is mine alone. I’ve done nothing to alter it.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What else have you faked?”
He laughed. “Nothing with you, aside from my magic.”
Her brow arched as she studied him. “Nothing…bedroom-wise? You promise?”
“Never. You can light me ablaze with a simple look. I’ve told you my truth, and I will never deceive you again, especially in the bedroom.”
“Or on the kitchen counter? Or over the bathroom sink?”
“I promise.”
Marty covered