Page 88 of Upside Down Magic

“Good.Ineed a berzerker.”

“Sorry,Hope, you can’t afford me.”Hewinked.

Ifelt my cheeks redden. “Azerker with less power than you.Thepotion we made didn’t work, andIwant to recreate it.”

Hesobered immediately. “Isee.”

“Needpeople who are at bottom of the paranormal barrel, pretty much.”

“Hey,”Dorseysnapped straight, which considering how curved her spine usually was,Iwas impressed it remembered how to do that. “Whatdo you mean with that?”

“Weall do what we can with the powers we have,Ms.Dorsey.”

Shesent me a mean glare.Rufuslet out a low growl of warning, and she shuffled to my other side.

“YouwantApril,”Marksaid.

“April?”DorseyandIrepeated.

“That’sright.”Hecrossed his arms in his usual bouncer move. “Aprilis a quarter zerker.Willthat work?”

Boy, would it ever. “Perfect.”Igestured forDorseyandRufusto follow. “Let’sgo,Ms.Dorsey,Rufus.”

“I’mnot your dog,” she muttered but followed, her spine thankfully back to its usual candy cane shape.I’dgotten worried for a moment there.

“Oh, wait.”Iran back toMark, eliciting a surprised yip out ofRufusas he changed course to keep up with me. “Doyou know of any elemental mage that’s around?”Ileaned toward the door of theCrawler. “Maybesomeone inside?”

“NoneIknow today, sorry,” he said apologetically. “I’lllet you know if any of our usuals drop by.”

“Thanks.”Iwasn’t defeated, not yet.Plentyof mages around, even if they were in hiding today.We’dfind one.Iglanced atDorsey. “Isyour friend a mage, too?”

“Low-key witch,” she said gleefully. “Expertin curses.”

“Cursesdon’t exist,”Isaid out of habit.

“Yourpresence in this city begs to differ.”

“Lowblow,Ms.Dorsey.”

“Wedo what we can, child.Wedo what we can.”

Okay, she’d won that one.IcalledAprilon the way back to theSUV, and she was delighted to help since it was closing time anyway.

“IsthatWyattwith your stray?”Dorseyasked, squinting ahead.

Ialmost dropped the phone. “What?”

Shewas right.TherestoodWyatt, right next toAlexby theSUV, looking like the personification of doom and retribution.

TWENTY-EIGHT

“Ifound us a mage, boss,”Alexsaid, all smiles.

“You?”Ipointed atWyatt.

“Whatof it?” he snapped.

Rufusgrowled and pushed forward butIheld him in place. “Isthis something to do with theChristmasevent?”Iasked, immediately suspicious. “BecauseItold youIcan’t have bars in it.It’sfamily friendly.”

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