Page 28 of Sugar, Spice, and Magical Midlife

Gus crossed his arms, leering down at Ric over his piggish nose. “That’s not what his poor, distraught grandmother says. She said a giant winged lion burst down her door and ate her grandson.”

“When?” Ric demanded.

“Last night,” Gus said.

Last night? But Ric was with me all night. This had to have been a mistake. My legs began to twitch. Any moment and my tongue would work again.

Gus motioned toward his Anubis goons. “Bring him to the wagon.”

Ric fought them to no avail as they roughly hauled him up and dragged him out of the bathroom.

No, no, no!I couldn’t let them take him!

Gus leaned over me, unlocking my chains. “The stunning spell should wear off by the time we’re gone,” he said on an oilywhisper. “Return to your son and don’t cause any trouble if you know what’s good for you.”

My blasted tongue still didn’t work, so I gaped at him in silence as he walked out of the bathroom. Had Gus just threatened me? Oh, hell no! That son-of-a-siren! This had to have been a setup, and that pastry-pilfering little troll was behind it. I put all my concentration into moving my legs, focusing on each muscle until I finally felt the feeling return. I had barely managed to crawl to my knees when my purse flew into the room and landed on the floor with a bang. I looked up and saw nothing but flickering lights.

“Fanks,” I slurred, my tongue still not fully working. I heaved myself to my feet and stood, then grabbed my purse, noticing that the zipper was open and my lipstick wand was poking out of the top. I gripped my wand and, despite the wet robe clinging to my legs, found the strength to climb down the stairs, though I had to hold onto the railing.

I shivered when I threw open the door and was hit by a gust of cool autumn air. Damn. I should’ve had the ghosts find my clothes. I shook again as water dripped down my legs and pooled on Ric’s tile floor.

Gus was standing beside a van parked in the circular driveway while talking on his cellphone, the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains looming behind him. His goons immediately jutted their big feet toward me, their nostrils flaring as they kicked at the dirt. I noticed the ‘Tate’s Pool Cleaning and Repair’ logo painted across the back and realized how Gus had found his way onto Ric’s property. He was invited by the owner himself. How had Ric fallen for the old Trojan horse trick?

“Wait!” I called, clasping my wand like a lifeline as I trudged forward. I could take them down easily enough, for they all had dull auras, and I knew without a doubt my magic was superior. But then what? Would I become an outlaw on the run, too? Whatwould happen to me? To Des? I dropped the wand back into my purse. Hopefully, the troll would listen to reason. If not, I would appeal to his superiors.

“He didn’t do it,” I said to Gus as he hung up the phone. “He was with me last night.”

Gus crossed his arms, flashing a condescending smirk. “You expect me to believe you?”

“You know me, Gus.” I slowly approached him while clasping a hand across my heart. “Why would I lie?”

His beady eyes nearly crossed. “I had the coffee cake analyzed. There was no Stevia.”

“Really?” I scratched the back of my head, feigning ignorance. What did the coffee cake have to do with this? “Well, it’s a sweetener like Stevia, and that has nothing to do with Ric.”

My heart clenched when I could hear Ric’s shouts and banging coming from inside the van.

“Ric,” I called to him, hoping he could hear me. “I’ll appeal to the Tribunal and tell them you’re innocent.” The Tribunal was a group of appointed striga leaders who oversaw the American Supernatural Society. They were the ultimate ASS-holes.

“You won’t,” Gus snickered while motioning to his goons. “His Tribunal isn’t even in this country.”

I chased after him as he walked toward the cab of the van. “Where are you taking him?”

One of the goons opened the passenger door and flipped open what looked like a child’s step stool. “I’m handing him over to the Tribunal that handles sphinxes.”

Gus made the ascent up the stool.

“Where is that?”

He turned to me with a snarl when he reached the top step. “None of your concern.”

I refused to let him intimidate me as I prayed it wasn’t a European Supernatural Society. They were even more unjustthan the American one. “Itismy concern when I’m a key witness. Please, Gus!”

Gus sat down on a child’s booster seat as an Anubis strapped him in. Any moment and I expected the canine creature to hand him a bottle and a binkie.

Gus waved the Anubis away with a sneer before leering down at me. “You won’t be able to afford the plane ticket to Europe, because I’m shutting down your bakery.”

All moisture evaporated from my mouth as the sound of Ric banging against his prison walls faded into the background. Gus couldn’t do that, could he? How would I support my son? Colin’s child support payments barely covered my mortgage. “Seriously?” And Europe? There were half a dozen Tribunals in Europe.

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