Page 14 of Upside Down Magic

Acrash came from upstairs.

Weboth looked at the bead curtain.

“Acouple of friends are moving some furniture,”Isaid apologetically. “Whatwere you saying?”

“I’mwondering if there wasn’t more to your ‘case’ back inSeptemberthan?—”

Asecond, louder crash reverberated through the ceiling.

Weglanced up.Ohno, there was a small spider web in the corner.IhopedLilianwouldn’t notice.

“Theblood case you consulted me about.”Lilianspoke fast, as if afraid a third crash might bring the house down on us. “I’mvery curious about it, andIthink you hid some details from me.”

Iopened my mouth to deny the accusation, but then a new thought struck me—what if she could help withBrimstone’sissues?Ididn’t want to notify theCouncilabout it, since so far it was a personal matter, but since it had nothing to do with the shop, would it be so bad to ask for her professional opinion?

Shewas a high-ranking witch with a ton of knowledge, and whatever was wrong withBrimstonemust be happening at a blood-deep level.Iwas sureBrimstonewould not mention dark magic coming from the shop, so it should be somewhat safe to ask her about the situation.

BeforeIcould make a decision,Alexappeared in the doorway to the back, shoving the bead curtain aside.Hewas strangely pale and his usual carefree attitude was gone.

“Erm, boss?Hope?” he said in a strangled voice.

“Yes?”

“Canyou come upstairs?Wehave ah, uh”—his gaze shifted toLilian—“situation.”

Thatdidn’t sound good.Notgood at all.

FIVE

IsentLilianmy brightest smile. “Ifyou’ll excuse me again?”

Notwaiting for a response,Islipped from behind the counter and followedAlexupstairs.

“It’sShane,” he whispered.

“Whathappened?”

“Heshifted and now he can’t shift back.”

“What?”

Wearrived at the second-floor landing area andIgaped at the giant wolf pacing in circles behind my new sofa, which was now stuck in the middle of the doorway into the living room.

Shanestopped his pacing at our arrival and let out a low whine.Hiswolf was a beautiful dark gray, missing his right eye, as his human form did.Theremains of his clothes lay tattered all over the hardwood floor.

“Whathappened?”Iasked, gaping.

Alexran a hand through his long surfer brown-blond hair. “Wewere moving the sofa into the living room when he randomly let go.”Thatmust’ve been the first crash. “Hesaid it was nothing, so we tried lifting it again and then he just shifted.”

“Didhe say anything?”Ilooked atShane. “Didyou say anything?”

“Nope.Hejust,poof!Shifted.”

Shanewhined again and butted his head against the door frame of the bathroom.

“Andyou can’t shift back?”

Hebutted his head harder, whichItook as a no.

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