Page 32 of Real Fake Hauntings

“Not very modern, is it?” Dru asked dryly, also reading some of the information.

“It’s very modern compared to the dinosaurs.”

She pointed at a fossil on top of a stand.

“It’s very modern compared to the birth of the universe,” I amended smoothly.

“Uh-huh.”

We stopped by a huge wolf’s head, waiting for the trio to leave us alone in the room. The original Garreth the Hound’s head, according to the label.

I really hoped this wasn’t someone’s shifter ancestor.

“Have you ever heard of a shifter mating a non-shifter?” I asked in a whisper.

“Sure. Doesn’t it happen all the time?”

I was startled by the fast, easy answer. “It does? I thought it was rare.”

“Sure. It’s like a serious significant other kind of deal.”

My cheeks heated up with embarrassment, remembering all my panicked thoughts when talking to Madeleine. “I see.”

“Or do you mean real mating?”

“I’m not sure. How can you tell which is which?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t you ask Ian?”

My gaze snapped from Garreth the Hound’s fake wolf’s head to her to find her shaking with silent laughter.

“You’ve heard something?” I demanded.

“Absolutely nothing,” she said, but her lips were still twitching.

I wanted to stomp my foot. “This is not funny.”

“Says you.”

Sweat gathered on my lower back. “Will… Will you tell me if you hear anything about us?”

“You do realize I don’t go out of my way to hear about your love life, right?”

The thumbs down emoji she’d sent to my latest text about having dinner with Ian had told me as much. “I know, but this is important.”

“No, world peace is important. This is your own telenovela.”

I frowned. Ian and I weren’t that bad.

“Feeling any bad mojo?” Dru asked as the trio ahead of us moved into the hallway.

Concentrating, I breathed in and opened myself to all the magical possibilities. All I got was dusty, stale air and a slightly unpleasant smell. “Nope.”

I walked up to the closest bit of open wall and set my hand on the black wallpaper. My magic tinkled down my arm and against the wall, but I got no feedback back. If the building had been used for magic, it hadn’t been done often enough to leave any kind of impression.

“Nothing,” I told Dru, wiping my hand on my jeans. “Let’s try the next room.”

Dru scrunched her nose. “There’s more?”

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