Page 29 of Captivating Magic

He sobered. “No, Sweet. We were mocking the show and how much they got wrong.”

“Nothing was right?” Her disappointment was keen. She loved the paranormal.

“Some,” he admitted with a twinkle. “Wands can be useful tools, and grimoires exist. Only the most talented can cause someone to fly through the air, because it takes a major energysurge to accomplish it. Freezing people can only be done by Travelers or those as powerful as Alastair, but never for long.”

As she absorbed everything he’d revealed, along with the indulgent expressions of the other men, Ebba grinned. “That’s badass.”

“You seemed frightened earlier,” he reminded her.

“Not me. Chickenshit Spencer was in charge.” Sighing, she crossed her arms. “I wish I’d have known sooner. I’d have loved the extra time to learn all about what you can do.”

“I’m happy to answer what I can.”

“Time’s running out,” Alastair reminded them. “We need to get Ebba back to her body and find a way to subvert her ultimate death.”

“You still intend to help us?” Lo’s voice and face revealed his surprise. For one with such a close-knit family, why did he behave like every kindness was shocking?

Alastair seemed thrown by his disbelief, too. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I? We’re family, son.”

The Adam’s apple in Lo’s throat bobbed repeatedly as if he were struggling with deeper emotions. Her lack of physical self thwarted Ebba’s desire to hold him. Hoping to change the subject and allow him time to recover, she peppered Alastair and Castor with her questions.

“Do vampires exist?”

“I’ve only met one man who made me believe they could. His name was Lucian. He had an old-world air and an impossible-to-place accent,” Castor said with an exaggerated flare of his eyes. “I could sense his power, but he wasn’t any type of witch or warlock I’m familiar with.”

“Really?” Ebba leaned in. “What happened when you encountered him?”

“Not much. We were both at a fundraising gala in New York about ten years ago or more. Our eyes met and held across thedistance of the ballroom, but I felt his presence from where I stood.” Castor shrugged. “There have been very few instances when it felt as if someone walked across my grave. That was one.”

“Did you speak to him?”

He chuckled. “No. My companion was eager to, though, and I abandoned her to her pursuits to find other entertainment for the evening.”

“What?!”She punched his chest—and missed. “How can you leave a woman with a strange and potentially dangerous man? What’s wrong with you?”

“I assure you, Ms. James. Lily was thrilled with the idea and highly capable of caring for herself.”

“Lily?” Alastair grinned. “Not Lily Townsend?”

“That’s the one.”

With an amused snort, he tugged his cuffs. “She likely ate him up and spit him out.”

“My thoughts exactly, Al,” Castor replied.

Glancing between them, Laszlo joined in the conversation. “What about shifters? Are they real?”

“Shifters?” Castor and Alastair shared a disconcerted glance.

“Like werewolves,” Ebba said, nodding in her curiosity. “Do werewolves exist?”

“Not that I’m aware. Al?” Passing the question off to his friend, Castor collected the pillar candles.

“I’m not certain I’d call them werewolves. Not as you’d see at a cinema, anyway. But perhaps the creatures from the Netherworld dimension could technically be classified as shifters.”

“Netherworld dimension?” Aware her voice was piercing in her excitement, Ebba moderated her tone to ask, “What are they like?”

“Their snouts are elongated, their teeth able to rip a man—or woman—to shreds, and their saliva is acidic. The Aether created them to guard a child trapped in the Netherworld.”

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