Page 22 of Upside Down Magic

IsentKeya text informing her that the potion had worked onBrimstone, then we made our way to an up-and-comingSouthernfood restaurant close to the heart ofOldOlmeda.Itwas normally filled by tourists, butIanhad done some renovations for the owner and he found us a table right away.

“AndMissFluffytoo?” he said, scratchingFluffybehind her ears.Fluffylet out a low yip, conscious of being inside, and stared at him in doggy adoration.

Wewere taken to a nice table by the windows and made our selections—bakedMacandCheesefor me and pork with potatoes forIan.Aswe waited for our drinks—soda for me, beer for him—Itoyed with my napkin and glanced around us.

Iloved this place.Iloved sitting acrossIanat the small table and getting lost in the warmth—and dareIsay love?—in his green eyes.Neitherof us had said theL-word yet, but there was no doubt in my mind that it was what we had here.

Love, friendship, companionship.Asoul-deep connection that made me wonder howIhad lived all these years without it.

Isighed dreamily, and his mouth kicked up at the corners.

“Whatare you thinking?”

ThatIwant to reach over and kiss you senseless.

Butthat’d knock the bread basket and half the cutlery over, so probably better to think about other things.Moreimportant things.Likethe fact thatBrimstoneandShanehad something bad happen to their magic at the same time, and that the blood witch was in town.Wereboth things related?Itdidn’t make much sense, but weirder things had happened inOlmeda.

Way, way weirder.

Ichecked everyone around us was busy with their meals and conversations and leaned in. “Ihad a strange visitor today.”

“Oh?”

“BackwhenHuttonwas having his issues,Icontacted a witch expert in blood magic and asked her about paranormal blood illnesses.”

Ourwaitress arrived with our drinks andIwaited until she was out of earshot to continue.

“Sheshowed up today at theTeaCauldron.Shesays she got curious about my questions and decided to check out the shop.”

Iantook a sip of his beer. “Youthink it’s related to what happened toShaneandBrimstone?”

“It’stoo much of a coincidence.Sheshows up inOlmedaand at the same time bothShaneandBrimstoneget sick?Whatif she’s likeHannah?Whatif she’s in league withBagley?”

“Howwould making random paranormals sick help her orBagley?”

“Maybethey want me out of the way.”

“ShaneandBrimstonegetting spelled isn’t your fault.TheCouncilwould have no reason to remove you from the shop.”

“Theywould if…”

“If?”

Irubbed my face with my hands. “IfShaneandBrimstonegot sick because of me.”

Thewords hung heavy in the air, andIwished they didn’t make so much sense.Ilooked atIan, searching for his usual realistic streak to shoot my idea down.

“Didyou giveShaneany potion lately?”

Ishook my head. “No.”

“Thenhow can it be your fault?”

“Theshop is the only thingShaneandBrimstonehave in common.Whatif they got hurt because of it?”

“Theshop is not the only thing they have in common,” he pointed out in that reassuring way of his.

“No?”

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