Page 86 of Upside Down Magic

However,Dorseywas nowhere to be seen.Thereception counter was empty, as was the sitting area and the breakfast room.Wasshe in hiding?

“Ms.Dorsey?”Icalled loudly.Whenno response came,Irang the bell on the counter.

Nothing.

“Let’ssee ifLilianknows,”ItoldRufus, then led him upstairs and knocked on her door.

“Whois it?” came her voice, a little raspier than usual.

“It’sHope.”

Thedoor opened right away, andIdid a double take.Herplatinum blond hair hung limply around her face, and her skin had taken on a sickly pallor.

“You’reworse,”Iblurted.

“Nokidding.Didyou figure out who’s behind the spell?Whydidn’t you call?”Hergaze dropped toRufus. “Nicedog.”

Rufuspreened at the compliment.

“Thanks, he’s a good boy, but, no,Ididn’t figure out who made the spell.ButIdo have an idea of how to break it.”

Hereyebrows arched, then she blinked and pressed a hand against her forehead. “Explainfast.Ineed about a truckton of painkillers and to lie down.”

Itold her of my plans, and she nodded once, then winced in obvious pain. “Soundsgood.Yougo do that, then report.”

Shemust be really feeling awful if that was all her interest. “IneedDorsey.She’sa low-power air mage.”

“Dorsey?”

“She’snot downstairs.Doyou know where she went?”

“Shementioned it was girls’ night out or something.Maybeshe went to that bar street.Now, go do the thing and bring me that potion when you’re done.”

“Iwill.”

Twominutes later we were on the way toGuilesandRomary.Thetraffic was absolutely awful,Alex’smage friends weren’t answering, andIcouldn’t get the image ofIansick on his couch out of my head.

“Thiswill work, right?”Alexasked, all seriousness.

“Itwill.”Itwill,Irepeated to myself.Ifwe couldn’t findDorseythen we’d grab someone else.Soniawould know of someone, and she’d be more than willing to help.

Asif the universe had realizedIwas nearing my breaking point, a parking spot appeared right in front of us.Islid in, ignoring the outraged horns of other cars, and we piled out.

“Divideand conquer?”Isuggested.

“Surething, boss.Willtext you ifIfind her.”

Weeach took one side ofGuiles, looking into every bar we came across.Someweren’t too happy withRufus, but luckilyIwas able to see from the entrance.

Ichecked my phone to find a text fromHuttonand nothing fromAlex.I’dread it later.NowIhad to findDorsey.

Rena’sneon-pink sign caught my attention, andImade a beeline through the growing late evening crowd toward it.I’dbeen there a few times, and it was the perfect spot for girl hangouts and bachelorette celebrations.Theyalso didn’t mind dogs.

Dorseysat at one of the round tables with an elderly woman with bright blue hair.Shespit her drink when she noticed me barreling toward her.

“Whatare you doing here?” she demanded.

“Ineed your help.”Iturned to the other woman. “Hi,I’mHopeAvery, nice to meet you.Ineed to stealMs.Dorsey.”

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