Page 17 of Knight of the Sword

The slight movement of Sophie flexing her fingers drew Michael’s eye. His warlock senses saw the bright bits of violet sparks still pulsating from her fingers. She had saved the pup from being crushed by using her powers. Was she even aware of it? His gaze sought hers, but she was already rushing over to the small ball of fur that Princess was fussing over.

Taking the pup gently, she felt its leg and paw. “I don’t think there is anything broken, but I’ll stop by tomorrow afternoon when I’m through with work and check on him,” she said.

Mr. Smith nodded gratefully. “Thank you.”

“I must apologize also,” Caldwell said as he moved gingerly into the room, keeping an eye on the dogs. “I’m not usually that clumsy.” He gave Sophie an appreciative look and held out his hand. “Alan Caldwell.”

She took his hand. “Sophie Cameron.”

“She’s my veterinarian,” Mr. Smith interposed. “And she fences. I was hoping you two would meet!”

Michael did not care for the matchmaking tone in Smith’s voice. In spite of his near fall, Caldwell exuded a kind of cockiness that came from someone used to getting his own way. And Michael definitely did not want the guy having his way with Sophie. And he was holding Sophie’s hand way too long.

“We really should be going, Sophie,” he said to her.

Caldwell gave him an assessing look, one that any male recognized as a challenge. Michael crossed his arms and widened his stance. Caldwell smiled slightly and released Sophie’s hand. He looked back at her and inclined his head. “Perhaps we could discuss fencing sometime?”

The air around Michael fairly crackled and he pulled the energy back before its force planted Caldwell squarely on his ass—which was where he belonged, but Michael had been a warlock too long not to heed the first rule to “Harm None” with personal use of his magic. Sophie gave him a strange look and he wondered if she had felt the potent charge he retained. She turned back to Caldwell.

“Perhaps if we meet again, we can have that discussion, but I really must be going now.” She gave Michael another odd look and moved to the door.

As they left, he wondered again if she had felt the magic he’d almost used—and if she truly was unaware of her own powers. How could she deny magic when she had it?

Chapter Five

Morgan tossed her shiny black hair behind her and folded her hands primly in her lap, watching the woman who sat across the desk, rubbing her temples. It seemed that Dr. Cameron was stressed out.

Perhaps because Adam had been relentless in siccing the media on her. Not that the media had needed any prodding after the second sighting of the dragon, for a day or two, but between a few discreet calls to people Adam knew in the AP and the various aliases he used on the social networking sites, there was a continual crowd now surrounding the clinic and her home. All of which made easier what Morgan had come to do.

“Your resume shows several years of public relations work with television stations across the nation,” Sophie said. “Quite impressive, but my partner and I have a rather tight budget. I don’t think I can hire you.”

Morgan smiled benignly. “If I may ask, has your business declined since this all started?” She waved her hand toward the window. “I can’t imagine anyone wanting to face that crowd with a sick animal in tow.”

Sophie reluctantly nodded. “We’ve had some cancellations.”

“And that, of course, hurts your bottom line,” Morgan replied. “Since I have the experience, let me deal with these people. I can give them little tidbits of information at regular intervals and they won’t be standing around bothering your customers all day.”

“Clients,” Sophie said automatically. “Clients and patients.”

“I am sorry. My mistake.” Morgan put a contrite look on her face. “But your poor assistant is doing nothing but handling questions via both the phone and email. I can take that over as well, so she can help you.”

Sophie leaned back in her chair, this time rubbing her right shoulder with her left hand. “Your plan might be good, but I don’t have any tidbits of information to give out. I have no idea why this creature has shown up twice, nor do I know if it will show up again.”

“Well,” Morgan said quietly, “that’s the reason those people are all out there waiting. They aren’t going to go away. You’ve worked hard to build your clinic, I’m sure. Do you want to insure its continuing success?”

“Of course I do.” Sophie hesitated and then gave a deep sigh. “All right. I’ll try you for two weeks. If you can keep that mob from interrupting my business, I’ll keep you on.”

“Fair enough,” Morgan said. “I can start right away.”

“Good. Janie!” Sophie called out just as her assistant appeared in the doorway. “This is Morgan Fontaine and she’s going to be handling all the phone calls and media requests from now on.”

The front door slammed and, a moment later, a deep voice from behind Janie asked, “Morgan?”

She spun around. “Michael? What are you doing here?”

He looked momentarily confused and then his face became impassive. “I’m giving Sophie a ride to the car shop.”

“My car wouldn’t start yesterday afternoon when I was out on a call,” Sophie said to Morgan. “I had to have it towed.”