Page 63 of Magic's Rise

I groan. “You didn’t tell them about the glowing thing, did you?”

Levi smiles. “No I did not, ma’am. But I’m not the only one who saw the light.”

“Our pack has been told not to speak to anyone about what’s happening.” Griffen grimaces in apology. “But rumors have a way of spreading.”

Tris chuckles and leans in close, tapping the tip of my nose playfully. “Don’t worry about it, my amazing little spark.”

A tiny blue spark drifts into the air as he pulls away. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one people are gossiping about.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” Ezra lifts his mug to hide his smile. “A witch mated to four different races of the paranormal world… There’s been a lot of speculation about all of you.”

Laughing, Tris reaches past me to punch Haut’s bicep. “Hear that? We’re famous.”

“Great.” The corner of his lips twitch. “Even more reason for women to flock to you.”

A gasp of realization escapes me, and I twist to glare at Tris. “You’re staying in the house. We are not having another kidnapping attempt on our hands.”

“Kidnapping attempt?” Ezra moves his empty plate to the side and refills his coffee. “That sounds like a good story.”

“It is.” Tris leans forward. “It all began when I was cursed to be a wolf shifter, and Rowe and I were on the run during our honeymoon…”

As we bounce down the dirt road in Levi’s Jeep, driving into town, a thrill of excitement fills me to explore this new place. Sure, we’re here on a dire mission to save this small part of the world, but there are cat shifters here. How cool is that?

The dirt road gives way to a paved one lined by trees that opens into a village of charming cottages plucked straight from a storybook. Flowers bloom in every corner, their sweet scent wafting through the air. We pass a tall, two-story building with a literal shingle hanging over the sidewalk announcing the local library.

Tris leans forward to peer through the windshield. “This town is seriously cute.”

“This is the historic district.” Levi chuckles. “It’s more modern up ahead.”

I turn from the picturesque view. “Isn’t the pack compound the historic district?”

“Well, technically, I suppose you’re right.” He gestures to a row of colorful cottages. “This is where the coven made their home. The library was originally their gathering space, and the coffee shop was a communal place to share meals.”

“That sounds a lot like the compound,” Haut says.

“Yeah, except they evolved, so we didn’t have to. This is the clinic.” He parks in front of a single-story building that looks more like somebody’s house than a medical facility.

“I’m so jealous.” Tris practically drools when he sees the sign for a proper doctor’s office and not a vet clinic. “No more sharing examination rooms with wolves!”

I nudge him. “You wouldn’t be allowed to work there as a nurse if we had a real clinic.”

He smirks at me. “I’d make a hot secretary, and you know it.”

“Should have left him at home.” Haut hops out of the front of the Jeep. “Clinics mean nurses.”

Every image of a hot nurse uniform pops to the forefront of my mind, and I glare at Tris.

“What did I do?” He opens his door. “He’s pressing your buttons, you know.”

“I’m aware, but it doesn’t mean it’s not true.” I scoot across the bench seat to slide out on Tris’s side and latch onto his arm. “You stay with me. No wandering off.”

“Gladly.” He bends to kiss the top of my head. “Nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Having heard all the gossip of Tris’s bad habit of attracting evil women, Levi chuckles as he leads us into the doctor’s office.

A pretty receptionist greets Levi and waves us to the back, where we find Aspen in a hospital bed, his leg bandaged and attempting to pull on a pair of scrub pants.

A stern-looking doctor hovers next to him. “Really, I must advise you to keep your leg elevated. The lacerations?—”

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