Page 38 of Upside Down Magic

Imentally sorted through the peopleIknew. “Dorsey?”

“Thewitch is sick.”

TWELVE

Myheart dropped. “Sick?”

“Gethere now.”

Ianpushed aside the bead curtain. “Weneed to talk.”Aball of lead formed in my stomach at the gravity in his gaze.

“I’llbe right over,”ItoldDorsey, then cut the call and followedIaninto the back. “What’swrong?”

Iknew it in my bones that this was bad, bad news.

“Shaneis stuck again.”

Igasped in shock. “Asa wolf?”

“Alexfound him transformed in his room this morning.Hecan’t shift back.”

“Dorseycalled.Shesays the witch—LilianValentiis sick.”

Iwas going to be sick too.Eithermy potion had barely lasted two days or whoever had spelledShanehad managed to do it again, andLilianat the same time.

Andthere was only one thing they had in common—me.

Iantook my shoulders and squeezed gently. “Everythingis going to be all right.Focuson the present.”

Inodded slowly, trying hard not to go down the rabbit hole of doom. “WefixedShanebefore, we can do it again.Neversuccumb to despair because the best is as likely to happen as the worst.”

“That’sthe spirit.”

“Ineed to get to the bed and breakfast.”

“I’lldrive you on my way toShane’s.”

“Butyour job!I’llget the van and drive toShane’s.”

Heshook his head. “Thisis more important.”

“Okay.”

Iwent back into the front, and something in my expression must’ve toldDruandNataliathat something bad was going on because they didn’t pepper me with questions.Nataliawas happy to do her first solo shift whileI“checked on something real fast,” andDruagreed to open her shop late and stick around to supervise, knowingI’dupdate her later.

Bestfriend ever.

Aspromised,Iandropped me atDorsey’sbed and breakfast before speeding away towardShaneandAlex’sshared apartment.

Ihurried up the steps to the narrow front porch, then slammed the front door open.Anolder man sitting in an armchair in the lobby looked up from his phone, one eyebrow arched in question.

“Dorsey?”Iasked.

Hepointed toward the stairs.

Itook them two at a time, the memory of sneaking up and down withKeymomentarily flashing through my head.Wehad ended up investigating murder that time, soIcrossed my fingers and tapped the wooden banister that the current situation wouldn’t get to that.

Dorseystood in the hallway talking to someone inside one of the middle rooms.Shescowled at my appearance, her mouth firming.

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