Page 71 of Upside Down Magic

Myjaw fell open.Howhad he heard about that? “I’mnot.It’sa family-friendly event.Nobars.”Anddefinitely notWyatt’s.

Fromhis expression, he didn’t believe me. “Areyou sure?Iwas told he wanted in.”

“Wantingand getting are two different things.”Isaid primly.

“Hmm.Well, just don’t put him next to my shop on the card, okay?”

“Theparticipants put the stickers wherever they want as long as they’re on the tree.”HadBoskoeven listened to my initial explanations at all? “Buthe’s not part of the event.”

“Sure, okay, lady.”Heturned and walked toward the shop. “Goodluck getting people to visit his bar to get stickers.”

“He’snot part of the event!”Irepeated, stamping my foot this time.

Bosko’sresponse was a wave of his hand.

Ianpeeked in after he’d gone through the curtain. “Everythingokay?”

“Yep.”Iwent to stand by his side. “Boskowants in theChristmasevent.”

“Ithought he refused.”

“Hereconsidered afterDorseywormed her way in.Hethinks we should do badges, not stickers.”

“It’syour event, not his.Hecan think whatever he wants.”

Ibeamed atIan, my irritation atBosko’sbossy manners disappearing in an instant. “That’sright.”

Moodmuch elevated,Itook stock of the shop.Asecond cloud of gloom and doom had joinedHuttonin the far corner whileBoskoandIwere having our conversation.Prestonsat on the wall bench, arms crossed, staring daggers atDruandMarkover at the counter.Theylooked very cozy, leaning into each other, whispering and all but giggling.

Notonce in all my time knowingDruhadIknown her to come anywhere near giggling.Thefast glance she shotPrestonbefore laughing at somethingMarksaid like it was the funniest thing in the world had me begging the universe for mercy.

Ihad no doubtDru’sinterest inMarkwas real, but leave it to her to dig in the knife that extra inch deeper if she could.SheandIwere going to need to have a talk about letting past grievances go and the power of being kind to those who were already down.

Laterthough, becauseIwas still irritatedPrestonhad tried to blackmail me into telling him about howDruhad gotten the money for her shop.

Maybewe’d have the talk onChristmas.Ormake it aNewYearsresolution.

“WhyisPrestonhere?”IaskedIanin a whisper.Asfar asIknew he wasn’t any kind of community leader.

Sharp, loud clapping stole my attention.Tammystood in the middle of the shop, all sleek, professional confidence.

“Nowthat we’re all here, we shall begin.”

TWENTY-THREE

Theroom immediately quieted,all focus onTammy.

“Pleaseeveryone, do call meTammy.Aseveryone is aware, there is some sort of hidden spell at work at thePeaPorridge.”

Therewas a loud clatter asSonia’scane hit the floor.Herusual stern expression didn’t change but she blinked slowly asKeithretrieved the cane and handed it back. “Sorry.Pleasego on.”

Tammydidn’t appear irritated by the interruption, probably because she recognized a fellow apex predator, and was happy to continue. “Myfriend and esteemed colleagueLilianValentiandIhave run some tests on the blood of those affected, and we have come up with a potion that we are confident will nullify the original spell as well as return the affected paranormals to their original state.”

Keithlifted a hand halfway up. “Dowe know who made the spell?”

Ianstraightened away from the wall. “Notat this point.”

“Thenhow can we be sure it’ll work?”

---