Page 29 of Once Upon a Curse for True Love
“Are we talking about fossilized blood?”Andromeda asked hopefully.“From an ancient artifact?”
Dr.Oakheart shook her head, her expression grim.“No, Miss Swan.The blood is fresh.”
Donatello swore under his breath, running a hand over his face.“How is that possible?All texts on how to create a lich were burned.”
“Knowledge has a way of surviving, detective,” the forensic witch replied.“Especially forbidden spells.It calls to certain types of practitioners, whispers promises of power and immortality.”
“But still,” Andromeda interjected, “only a handful of wizards would have both the skill and the knowledge necessary.”
“Precisely.”Dr.Oakheart nodded.“We’re looking at a small pool of potential suspects.Old families.Purists.Those with access to ancient grimoires and forbidden texts.”
Andromeda’s brain translated Dr.Oakheart’s words into search parameters.“I could build a program to cross-reference the civil registry with magical habilitation records and online activity.Filter for advanced necromantic capabilities, access to restricted materials, connections to Arcanet…”
Donatello turned to her.“How long would that take?”
“A few hours, maybe less if—I can bypass bureaucratic tape.”
Dr.Oakheart snorted.
“Do it.”Donatello nodded.“I’ll get you access to whatever databases you need.”
The way he trusted her abilities without question sent a strange flutter through Andromeda’s chest, but before she could examine the reaction, Dr.Oakheart cleared her throat.
“One more thing,” the forensic witch said.“We also detected traces of time-sand on the hard drive.”
“That’s a regulated substance,” Donatello noted.
Dr.Oakheart nodded.“The amount used is minimal—not enough to trigger any red flags.But still, anyone purchasing it would need to get a permit specifying the intended use and quantity.”
“Yeah, even small quantities require a permit.I’ll request the purchase records right away.”Donatello typed a message and glanced up at Andromeda.“We’ll cross-reference those with the results from your program.”
He took charge, commanding the room.A man who knew what to do—and didn’t hesitate—was dangerously captivating.Even if that man had once blown off her door and arrested her.
He held her gaze, and heat flashed in his eyes before he masked it with cool professionalism.“Let’s get you to a computer.”
From the way her spine melted, he might as well have said, let’s get you naked.
Chapter Thirteen
Definitely on the Menu
DONATELLO
Donatello’s headache pulsed behind his eyes like a living creature, feeding on spreadsheets and bureaucratic nonsense.He blamed the beanie squeezing his skull, the lilac disaster underneath it, and most of all, the witch responsible for both, now seated beside him—typing with infuriating efficiency, the clacking keyboard making his migraine even worse.
“Are you planning to glare at me all day or do something productive?”Andromeda asked without looking up from her screen.
“I’m multitasking,” Donatello replied, shifting his attention back to the request forms.“I can despise you and still be productive.”
That earned him a genuine laugh—a sound that coiled low in his gut where someone had replaced his organs with warm honey.He cleared his throat and focused harder on the forms.
“I need access to the Magical Habilitation Registry and the Restricted Components Database.”Andromeda finally looked up.“And whatever you’ve got on Arcanet’s personal connections—friends, colleagues, rivals…”
Donatello nodded, grateful for the professional conversation.“I’ve already requested access.Should come through within the hour.In the meantime”—he pushed a USB stick across the desk toward her—“here’s what we have on Arcanet’s known associates.”
Their fingers brushed as she took the flash drive, and despite the cliché, there was definitely a spark—whether from static or something more complicated, Donatello couldn’t say.But it left his fingertips tingling—not because of any spell, but because of the woman sitting too close to him.
If the spark hit her too, Andromeda gave no sign.She plugged in the drive and began cross-referencing the lists.
