Page 81 of Perfectly Perplexing Zombie

“Before,” Stover gritted, patience obviously waning.

Hamish moved away from Wendall, directing him to stay where he was. Wendall’s protests went unheeded by both of us. I would not risk him further, and neither would Hamish.

“You have gotten me into the most troublesome situation, Hellfire. I’m afraid we will need to renegotiate my fees when this is over.” I appreciated Hamish’s levity but couldn’t share it.

“I regret to inform you that I do not believe compensation will be possible.”

“Don’t be so glum. The evening is not over yet.” The corner of Hamish’s lip tilted in a parody of a grin.

I wasn’t certain what he found humorous, and then I felt it—magic. All around us. It was a wall of protection separating us from Aurelia. She walked forward, tapping at the air. The protection would have been invisible to humans, and Stover was nothing if not painfully human.

“What are you waiting on?” he demanded.

“This.” Aurelia tapped a finger against a seemingly invisible barrier. Magenta lines spiderwebbed out and away from her digit. “Warlock-made and witch-supported.” Again, Aurelia spat the namewitchfrom her mouth, more curse than description.

“Thought it was time we joined in on the fun.” Vander Kines exited the back room, quickly followed by Parsnip and Mattie. “It was kind of getting boring and cramped back in that room,” Vander joked while shoving one hand into his pants pocket and wrapping the other arm around Parsnip.

“Itwasgetting a little stuffy,” Mattie added with far less humor.

Her eyes danced with worry, and when our gazes connected, she frowned and shook her head apologetically. I wasn’t completely certain what the apology was for, but given the fact Aurelia was still under Stover’s control, I could only guess they hadn’t been able to dismantle the magical ties connecting her to the amphora. I wasn’t sure if there simply hadn’t been enough time or if the task was more impossible than they’d imagined.

The point was moot. Our plan was dead in the water. Aurelia either couldn’t be freed, or it would simply take too long to do so. Either way, we were little more than sitting ducks, waiting on Stover’s next wish.

“Magic?” Stover stared around him with wide, wild eyes. “I don’t see anything.”

“Of course not,” Wendall said. “You’re human. I don’t see it either, but I kind of feel it.”

Wendall was right. There was a buzz in the air, as if the molecules were charged and waiting for something to act upon. My fairy fire didn’t affect Aurelia or her amphora. Hamish’s abilities only worked because they formed a solid barrier that human-made knives couldn’t get through. Witch and warlock magic seemed more effective.

“Magic,” Stover repeated, this time with a note of distaste. “Those that have it act so damn superior. You think you’re so much better than the rest of us.”

Considering all species but humans had some level of magic, therest of usreferred to a lot of other species.

“Bet you wouldn’t feel so superior without it.” A new, dangerous gleam lit up Stover’s eyes.

“Hellfire,” Hamish cautiously said. “He wouldn’t.”

“I think he would,” I answered, my tone hushed.

“We need to leave. Now.” Hamish raised a hand, ready to rent the air, but it was already too late.

“Aurelia, I wish for you to strip everyone in this room but yourself of magic. Now.” Stover sounded immensely pleased with himself. I wasn’t sure if he understood the true repercussions of his wish. Out of all the scenarios I’d imagined tonight, this possibility had never entered my mind.

Gasps of disbelief rang through the room, along with worried chatter. The din of noise was nearly overwhelming.

Head hanging, Aurelia’s shoulders slumped before she shook herself and raised her head. Her eyes blazed, and every visible tattoo shimmered. For the second time, she offered a verbal apology. “Forgive me” was all I heard before pain tore a scream from my soul. My knees hit the floor, tears flowing like rivers. I grasped my chest, willing the pain away, but it didn’t diminish. It grew. I was being hollowed out, stripped of my magic. It would kill me. Hamish too. Death magic kept vampiresalive, so it would take Lucroy and his nestmates. Vander and Mattie would survive for a time. But even if Stover didn’t kill them today, they’d fade and die horribly. Peaches would die soon after Lucroy, and Parsnip would fade with Vander.

And Wendall…I wasn’t sure what would happen to him, and my brain could no longer think past the agony ripping through me like uncontrolled waves. Those waves continually rolled outward, taking my very essence with them.

Everyone else’s screams were little more than muffled background noise, impossible to parse out and separate. We were all dying. None of us would live long enough to warn Queen Silvidia. None of us would live long enough to do a damn thing.

When relief slammed into me, I was no longer on hands and knees but lying completely on the floor. My cheek pressed to the cool, welcoming wood. The pain receded, leaving behind pinprick shocks tingling here and there.

I gulped, taking in heaping breaths of soothing air. My head spun, and my ears rang. Despite that, Wendall’s precious voice managed to make it through.

“Enough, Professor.” Wendall sounded far away and yet close by at the same time. “It’s enough,” he repeated, voice immensely sad yet steady when he said, “Aurelia, I wish for you to please give back the magic you’ve taken.”

He wished?The relief I’d felt magnified tenfold as the tide changed and my magic flowed back into me. When I was steady enough to raise my head, I found the most magnificent sight. Wendall stood there, the amphora gripped within his hand, Aurelia by his side, and Trinket’s still-limp body cradled to his chest.

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