Page 84 of Upside Down Magic

“That’sright.TammyusedBoskoandKeyfor mages, so we should get two types at least?Doyou know what kind of paranormalSoniais?”

“Nope, sorry.”

Oneday.OnedayI’dfigure it out. “Maybewe should get a third mage just in case?Ora second shifter.Theoriginal plan was for bothIanandHutton.”

“Themore the merrier,”Alexagreed.

“Butnot too many or we might make the potion too powerful.”

“There’sno shortage of crappy magic users inOlmeda,”Alexsaid cheerfully.

“Underdogs!”

“Sure, boss.”

IignoredAlex’samusement and started theSUV.Iknew exactly where to find our first crappy—underdogmage.

AsIdrove to the bed and breakfast,IcalledKeyon speaker.

“HiHope,” she answered, her voice full of worry. “Didyou find anything yet?I’vebeen searching but there’s nothing.”

“We’retrying a new approach.HowareShaneandIan?”

“Hi,Key,” piped inAlex.

“Hi,Alex.ShaneandIanare the same.”Therewas a strange, high-strung quality to her voice that raised the hairs on my arms.

“What’swrong?”Iasked sharply, instinctively leaning toward the phone on the dashboard.

“Nothing,” she asked in a definitely oddly-pitched voice.

“Key?”Alexasked, concerned now too. “What’sup?”

“It’sall good.ShaneandIanare good.Well, not worse.”

Therewas a sudden crash.

“Key?”

Morethuds came through, and thenKeyspoke again. “Sorryabout that.Idropped the phone.”

“Whydid you drop the phone?”Iasked.

Therewas a long pause. “My, uh, right arm stopped working for a moment there.”

“Key!”AlexandIshouted in unison.

“I’mfine.It’sfine!”

“You’rebeing affected by the spell,”Isaid.

“I’msorry.Ididn’t want to worry you.”

Shesounded defeated andIhated it. “It’snot your fault,Key.Isyour magic working?”

“Notreally.”Therewas a loud bark in the background, whichItook to meanShanewas emphatically saying her magic wasn’t working at all.

“It’sokay,Key.I’vegot a new plan, andIthink—no,Iknowit’s going to work.”Becauseit was.Thetheory was solid, and putting it into practice was going to take a lot less time than chasing down the coven families. “I’mgetting everything together now.”

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