Page 72 of Upside Down Magic

“Wewill spray the potion everywhere in the shop,”Tammysaid. “Onceactivated, it’ll be as potent as fumigating a house forbugs.It’llpermeate every crevice and kill whatever dark magic is at work.”

Icouldn’t decide if the image of my shop being overrun by bugs was any better than having an undetectable black magic spell at work.

No, the spell was better.Definitely.

“Tomake this potion,”Tammycontinued, “we’ll need the blood of the most powerful local paranormals and local community leaders.”

Myattention snapped toHutton, but he pointedly ignored me.Didhe not realize how bad this was?They’dnotice something was off with the potion once his blood was in, even if he kept his aura under wraps.

Tammychecked her phone. “Wehave a representative of the bounty hunter guild, also an alpha wolf shifter?”

Everyonelooked atIan.Henodded once.

“I’llstand in as the witch andCouncilrepresentative,”Tammycontinued.

Icouldn’t help but look atSonia.Wouldthis be the dayIfinally learned what kind of paranormal she was?Thatwas almost as exciting as getting this curse lifted.

“ThelocalPBOApresident?”Tammyasked.

Soniastood a little straighter.

“Thelocal pack’s alpha?”

“Present,”Keithsaid cheerfully, pointing atHutton.Huttonsimply grunted.

Isighed in disappointment.I’dbeensoclose to figuring out whatSoniawas.

“Thatshould be it for the representatives,”Tammysaid. “Asfor paranormal types.I’mtold the most local powerful fire mage is one of the people affected so we can’t use him, and there are no local air mages powerful enough to help with the potion.”

Takethat,Ms.Dorsey.Assoon as the thought came,Ifelt immediately contrite.Mostly.

“However, the potion doesn’t need all four types of mages to work, and we have two mages present with enough power.”

Atthis rateTammywas going to impart more magical knowledge explaining this potion than she had in my whole two-year magical internship with her.

“Thatwould be me,”Boskosaid proudly. “Water.”

“Andwe have an earth mage as well?”Tammyasked.

Keylifted her hand shyly. “Present.”

“Berzerker?”

“Rightover here,”Marksaid with a grin.Ihad seen his zerker side in action duringHalloween, and it didn’t surprise me he was on top of the zerker chain inOlmeda.

“Demon?”

Prestonstood and adjusted his tie. “ElijahPreston, at your service.”

Myeyebrows shot up, andIglanced atDru, but she appeared unbothered by not being top demon for the potion or havingPrestonbe considered more powerful than her.

“We’reall here then,”Tammysaid. “Iwill prepare the circle and the herbs, then we will use everyone’s blood to?—”

Someoneknocked loudly on the front door’s glass.

Weall turned toward the door.Normanstood outside, hands cupping his face as he peered inside.

Elevenpairs of eyes swiveled to stare at me.