Page 27 of Dead Last

“All over. Most recently I lived in London.”

“What did you do there?”

“I tracked down lost heirs.”

He made a noise of interest. “And were you good at your job?”

“Very.”

“That’s a transferable skill. Have you opened a business here?”

“No, I wanted a change.”

“Then you’ve come to the right place. Changing lives is what I do best.”

Since he seemed chatty, I decided to ask questions. “What happens if I drink the elixir and get the qualities you were hoping for?”

“Patience, Miss Clay. We’re still enjoying our food.” He raised his glass of wine in salute and drank.

Dusty stuck her beak in a goblet of white wine and slurped. Any sense of shame had flown out the window at the sight of an expensive vintage. She was her brother’s sister.

“I hope dessert is tiramisu,” I said. “It’s my favorite.”

Magnarella’s dark eyes lit up. “We should dine together again soon.”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether you let me take Dusty’s place.”

His gaze skimmed my face, down my neck to my cleavage. “You’ll enjoy another meal with me if I agree?”

I lifted my glass and offered a demure smile. “Anytime, my liege.”

“Business first.” He snapped his fingers, and a staff member delivered his phone on a silver platter. “I have a firm policy regarding no devices at the table,” he explained as he tapped the screen. “Benito, I’ll need to amend Miss Saxon’s contract to include Miss Clay as her proxy. Can you make that change and send it directly to the dining room? Thank you.” He set the phone back on the platter, and it was promptly whisked away.

“You’ll change Dusty back to a mage now?” It couldn’t hurt to ask.

“Not yet. First, we must make sure you’re a viable candidate. That requires an assessment. Then you need to drink the elixir without complications and complete the experiment.”

A man hurried into the room with a document and set the contract beside my plate.

“You’re welcome to have your attorney review it before you sign, of course,” Magnarella said.

I accepted the proffered pen. “I know how to read a contract.”

“I like a woman with intellectual confidence. Very appealing.” He dabbed at the sides of his mouth with a linen napkin. “I think you’ll do quite well in Miss Saxon’s stead.”

“Let’s hope,” I said.

“You’ll meet with Albert in the morning for a physical exam. If you have any underlying health conditions, now would be the time to admit them.”

“I’m in good shape.”

His gaze raked over me again. “Yes, that much is clear.”

“And if I pass the physical?”

---