Page 92 of Upside Down Magic

Dorseypointed a gnarled finger atHutton. “Heseems fine.”

Huttontensed and glowered at me like it was my fault he was here being doubted when he’d invited here himself.

“He’sa special case,”Isaid. “Eitherway,I’mhoping that if we make the potion with our blood, it’ll be strong enough to kill the spell but not strong enough to feed it.”

“I’msoexcited,”Aprilwhispered again, bouncing on her feet.

“Youreally think that will work?”Huttonasked.

“Yes,”Isaid firmly, meeting each of their gazes. “Youdon’t need to be the most powerful paranormal to save the day.”

Theyall blinked at me for a few seconds.

“Hellyeah, boss,”Alexsaid.

Dorseyhumphed, butIcould tell she was pleased by my pronouncement.

Wyattscratched the back of his head, a look of confusion on his face, whileHuttonsighed and stared at the ceiling.

Drutook another bite of her muffin.

“Whatdo we have to do?”Aprilasked eagerly.

“I’llprepare the potion, then we’ll all give some blood.”

“Dowe have to?”Wyattasked, rubbing his arm. “That’snasty.”

“Haveyou seen your own bar?”Dorseyasked.

Wyattglared at her. “Thehell do you mean?”

Dorseysnickered.

“Hey, no fighting,”Isaid. “We’rethe power of good, remember?”

“Speakfor yourself, lady.”

“Doas she says,”Huttonwarned menacingly, his alpha aura suddenly clogging the room.

Theyall shrank back and nodded in silence.

Honestly, it shouldn’t make me feel all choked up, but it was so sweet of him to back me up like that.Nextthing you knew, we’d be havingSundaydinners together withIanand the strays.

“Thankyou,Hutton,”Isaid.

Theaura lessened; the silence remained.

Istudied them again.Wouldthis be enough paranormal blood?Ithad to be.Andeven if it wasn’t, what did we have to lose?

Myshop was making people sick.Ihad to try anything and everything to fix things.Itwasn’t just my customers who were in harm’s way—what if it started to affectDru’sshop and theCornerRose?

TheCornerRose.

Mygaze fell on the connecting wall with the art gallery next door, and for the second time that day, a huge realization punched me in the solar plexus.

“Oh,GoodMotherEarth.”

“Boss?”Alexasked, concern in his voice.

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