Page 30 of Ancient Magic

Skye sucked in a sharp breath, shock jolting through her as she easily recognized that soft drawl.

“Lynx,” she hissed.

“You remembered my name. I’m flattered.”

“Don’t be.” Fear pounded through Skye. She didn’t have to be a seer to know that Lynx was currently at The Lunar Pathway and that he had poor Clarissa physically tied up. But the least helpful thing to do was panic. She had to keep a clear head if she was going to save her friend. “What do you want?”

“Nothing more sinister than a conversation.”

“We already had a conversation and I told you I won’t be a slave to demons.” Skye’s fingers tightened on the phone, but her voice was steady. “Never again.”

He clicked his tongue. “And I assured you that I have no need of a slave.”

“As if I would believe anything you say,” she scoffed.

In the background, Skye could hear the sound of grumbles, as if Lynx’s companions were outraged by her lack of respect. Lynx, however, merely chuckled.

“Do you not trust me because I’m a demon?”

“I don’t trust you because you tried to kidnap me last night,” she snapped.

“Fair enough. Let’s start over.”

“No.”

“I really am going to have to insist.”

Skye’s mouth felt as dry as a desert. She wasn’t fooled by Lynx’s casual amusement. Beneath his banter, he was deadly serious.

“And if I refuse?” she demanded even as she shoved her feet into a pair of comfortable shoes.

“I’m betting you care more about the welfare of Madame Clarissa than you do your father,” he drawled.

Skye ground her teeth in frustration. “If you hurt her.”

“Her fate is in your hands.” There was a short silence before Skye heard Clarissa cry out in pain. “Join us at this lovely establishment. Oh, and come alone,” Lynx continued. “If you tell anyone about me, you won’t like the consequences.”

The connection was abruptly ended and Skye dropped her phone back on her desk. She wasn’t going to bother taking it with her. The demons would only destroy it. Just as she wasn’t going to take any traditional weapons. They would be a waste of time.

And she most certainly wasn’t going to tell anyone where she was headed.

Maya would lock her in her room if she knew what was happening, while Peri would march down to the magic shop and destroy anyone who threatened Skye. It wasn’t that they wouldn’t care if something happened to Clarissa, but their first loyalty would be keeping Skye safe. Even if it meant sacrificing the fortune teller.

Not that she intended to go into the meeting without some protection.

Opening the lower drawer of her desk, Skye pulled out a wooden box carved with hexes. This was where she kept her most precious possessions, including a faded picture of her mother, a necklace that Maya had given her their first Christmas together, and a collection of charms that Peri had left for her when she’d moved out of the Witch’s Brew to be with Valen.

The charms weren’t loaded with common spells. Skye could easily prepare those for herself. These were Peri’s specialties. Charms that exploded. Some that could blind an enemy. And a couple of nasty curses that would disable an enemy for days. Peri had brewed them for Skye in the unlikely event that she was in danger.

That unlikely event had just arrived.

Placing the box on the desk, Skye pressed her hands against the top and breathed the words that broke through the hex. There was an audible click and the pungent stench of rotten eggs before the lid popped open and Skye reached in to grab the charms. Quickly she exchanged them for the regular ones on her bracelet, then closing and locking the box, she returned it to the drawer. She didn’t know how long Lynx would wait before hurting Clarissa, but she wasn’t going to test his patience.

Once she was prepared—or at least as prepared as she was going to get—Skye headed for the window that was at the back of the building. She pushed it open. Then, slipping onto the fire escape, she paused, listening to the loud chatter coming from the front of the building. It was the noon hour and the coffee shop was packed, but luckily there was no way to see into the back alley. There was no one to tattle on her as she scurried down the metal steps.

Jogging past the empty building behind the shop, Skye’s thoughts were focused on how she could possibly convince Lynx to release Clarissa and then overpower him—

“Hickory dickory dock. The mage crept through the dark.”

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