Page 97 of Upside Down Magic

Andit actually felt good.That’swhatIwas here for, after all—to help the paranormal community when they got into a mess.

Istrode purposefully toward the back gate,Rufustrotting silently by my side.Afamiliar metal clang echoed in the distance, and whenIpeeked into the alleyway,Isaw a figure standing by my back gate.

“Overhere,”Isaid, waving my hand.

Thefigure turned my way andIrecognized them instantly—LilianValenti.

Sheclosed the distance and tilted her head to peek inside theCornerRose’sbackyard. “Havinga party?”

“Wecame up with a new plan.Ithought you were sick?”Hoperose suddenly. “Areyour powers back?”

“Nope.Justhigh on painkillers.Iwanted to check on your progress.What’sthe new plan?”

Iexplained my new theory about the harming spell being in theCornerRosein as few words as possible while she listened intently.

“That’snot a bad thought.Haveyou talked with the owner?”

Iwinced. “Notexactly.He’snot a paranormal.”

“Isee.Doyou have a key?”

“Wehave a lock picker, but…”

“But?”

“We’renot sure how to disable the alarm.”

Liliangave me a wide smile. “Iknow how.”

THIRTY

So,there we were: me, the stray, the seedy paranormal bar owner, the mean crone, the demon, the happy zerker, the local pack’s alpha, and the broken deus ex machina witch, all grouped around the pick-locker friend as she played with the back door’s lock.

Iwas tempted to snatch a group selfie to mark the moment.

“Ithought the spell got you sick,”Lilianwhispered toHutton, who was standing as far from her in the group as possible without it being suspicious.

Huttongrunted.

“Badtacos,”Itold her, sending a silent mental apology to theMexicanfood truck inBoltonSquare.

Huttongrunted again.

“TheTacoTuesdaytruck?Noway,”Aprilsaid, her hands covering her stomach. “Iate there today.”

“Maybeit was something else,”Isaid soothingly. “Don’tworry about it.”

AnotherHuttongrunt.

“Gotit,”Susywhispered.Therewas a snick, and the door opened.

Lilianslipped inside, andIfollowed, phone flashlight at the ready.Welocated the alarm box, andLilianopened it carefully.Shepressed her hand to the blinking display and keypad, and raised her magic.

Sparksflew in the air, and the display died with a single beep.

“Italmost makes me want to keep it,”Lilianmurmured, studying her hand.

“Wegood?”Huttonasked from outside.

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