Page 67 of Upside Down Magic

Hehugged me back. “Good.Thewitch in there?Noissues getting her here?”

“Nonewhatsoever.StrategizingwithLilian.”

“Hey, boss,”Alexsaid, winking at me.Helooked uncharacteristically haggard this morning, with dark circles under his eyes and his surfer brown-blond hair falling limply over his shoulders.

“Howare things withShane?”

Hemade a face. “Same.”

“Willhe be okay alone?”Iasked, worried.

“He’sstuck as a wolf, angel,”Iansaid, tugging my green hair streak, “not reverted to being a toddler.”

“Younever know.Hecould get stuck in the doggy door trying to get outside, and who would be there to save him?”

Alexlaughed, andDorseyshushed him. “Bequiet, young man.”

“What’shappening?”Alexasked me in a whisper.

“We’retrying to listen in the witches’ meeting,”Keysaid.

Ianwalked up to the door and pressed his ear against the wooden slab for a few seconds. “They’rediscussing herbs,” he told us.

Oh, shifter hearing wassounfair. “Showoff.”

Dorseypouted. “That’sit?”

“Yes.”

Behindus,AlexandKeykept up a murmured conversation,Shane’sname coming up here and there.Fromthe gist of it,Keywanted to go to the cemetery right away, butAlexwas advising her to giveShanesome alone time.Iagreed with him but said nothing—they weren’t asking for my input.

“Whatelse,Cavalier?”Dorseywas asking whenIrefocused on her andIan.

“Idon’t spy on private conversations unless it’s part of a job.”

“Areyou blackmailing me?”Dorseybristled.

“I’msaying it’s none of your business.”Fromthe slight amusement inIan’svoice, he was enjoying the exchange.Nothingrevitalized your spirit like a good back and forth with an evil old crone.

Ialmost missedBagley.

Ianlifted an imperious finger, andDorsey’smouth snapped shut.Amoment later, the door opened to revealLilianandTammy, all confident smiles.Excitementbubbled up in my chest.Thishad to be good news.

“Faith, go convene the local paranormal leaders at yourPeaPot,”Tammysaid with cool confidence. “Makesure there’s a powerful one of each type.”

Ianarched an eyebrow—he really should’ve believed my tales aboutOh-call-me-Tammy.

“Isthat a good idea?”Iasked. “Won’twe risk the spell affecting someone new?”

Tammydismissed my worry with an airy wave of her hand. “Ofcourse it’s a good idea; otherwise, we wouldn’t be asking you to do it.”

“Therewon’t be a reason for anyone to be affected,”Liliansaid, a note of smugness in her tone. “Weknow how to break the spell.”

TWENTY-TWO

Afew panickedcalls and a very uncomfortable ride inIan’sSUVlater, he was parking in the alleyway behind theTeaCauldron.

Ijumped out first, then watched in fascination asTammyextended her hand and shook it imperiously untilIangrabbed it and helped her step out of the vehicle.

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