Page 74 of Plus-Size Mate

“If he leaves us no choice, we may have to,” Will said, glancing around the shop. “Do you have anything around here that might help us?”

A lightbulb went on so suddenly in Winter's head that it was almost painful.

“Why didn't I think of it before?” she exclaimed, already breaking into action.

“Winter, what are you doing?” Eddie asked as he followed her through the beaded curtain into the storeroom.

Already rummaging through the books on one of the shelves, Winter explained, “There’s a locator spell in one of my mom’s grimoires. I can't believe I didn't think of it before now.”

Placing her hand on the right book, Winter pulled it from the shelf and started to search through the pages.

“Here it is. I just need a map of the town, a scrying crystal and something of Christopher’s for it to work.”

She placed her hand on the crystal around her neck. “I already have a crystal.”

“There should be plenty of maps of the town back at the manor,” Will put in, standing in the doorway, holding open the beaded curtain.

“What about something of Christopher's?” Eddie asked, looking a little defeated. “That won't be easy to come by.”

“Maybe he left something behind in the basement we can use? It doesn't need to be much, just as a piece of clothing, a hair, even a fingernail would do.”

She cringed at that last one. Fingernails had always creeped her out a little when it came to clippings.

“What are we waiting for?” Will demanded. “Let's get back to the manor so you can witch it up.”

***

It was odd entering the basement. The place was dark and silent, nothing but concrete.

The room itself was bare save for a single bed in one corner, a bucket next to it.

It was certainly no place to live, and yet the perfect place for a prisoner.

“How did he even get out of here?” Winter asked as they descended the stairs. There was no window to climb through, no other door to escape through, only the door at the top of the stairs.

“I have no idea,” Eddie said, sounding as if he spoke through gritted teeth.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Will commented. “Let's just find what we need and get out of here.”

“I don't see anything we can use,” Winter said, sighing deeply, but the two werewolves were already sniffing about the place, searching high and low.

“There has to be something. Werewolves shed like crazy. There has to be a hair around here somewhere,” Will said, making for the bed.

Winter watched them curiously. They were bound to have more luck than she ever would with their senses.

“Got something!” Will announced after only a couple of minutes.

Winter looked with curiosity as he produced a small strand of dark hair.

“Can we be sure it's his?” Winter asked.

Eddie approached and gave a loud sniff. Wrinkling his nose, his green eyes blazing, he said, “Certainly smells like his.”

Winter couldn't help but wonder exactly what it smelled like. What it must have been like to smell a scent on something that minuscule.

“We'd better get up to the library and find a map,” Eddie suggested as Winter took the hair from Will.

Nodding in agreement, they all headed back up the stairs.

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