Page 33 of Minnie

I still haven’t managed to find a job, despite two days of active searching. I’m so desperate, I may actually go apply at The Magical Rooster—and I’m sure Juniper will be dying to hire me once she finds out I’ve never used a sex toy, and probably never will. Hard to fly solo when any time I try to think of anything sexual, the curse forces me to picture Julian.

Just the thought alone makes me want to throw up. And the fact that I’m thinking about sex and Julian in the same sentence while his fated mate is literally standing in front of me only makes things worse.

No job it is.

Which also means that Peppermint’s friend is my best chance at solving all my cruise-money problems. And if this doesn’t work it’ll be just another painful disappointment in a string of painful disappointments. And I do mean that literally, since testing the curse hurts more than getting your heel caught in a crack in the sidewalk, having a wagon crash into you, and then falling face first onto the concrete.

Been there, done that, do not want to repeat it again.

I examine my nails. “Whatever.”

Amber isn’t fazed by my lack of excitement. She grins and stops closer, lowering her voice so no one else in the cafe—including Natty—can overhear. “Pepp made me promise we won’t tell anyone about null witches. Delphine doesn’t want anyone to know she is one. That’s the name by the way. D-E-L-P-H-I-N-E,” Amber shows me her texts with Peppermint. “Do you think it’s still pronounced Dell Fin or Dell Fine? Or maybe Dolphin with an E? What if I get it wrong and offend her?”

I yawn. “Who cares.” Even though I care. At this point, Delphine is my only hope.

Amber worries her lip. “I guess I’ll just let her introduce herself. Yup. That’ll work.”

I really hope it does. “I’ll be back in a few, okay?”

Amber nods, and I walk off down the street. By the time I double back, fully invisible, she’s back inside. I walk up to the cafe to check in on Natty—because I’m paranoid guardian of the year, and it’s not the first time I’ve checked in on him without anyone knowing—and then go back to the bakery to grab Snow. Then, I get Natty settled back in the wagon and head across town to Zoe’s.

Zoe and her guys invite us for dinner a few times a week—usually after I blatantly lie and tell her Snow is sad and wants to visit. It’s a win-win, since Snow does miss her former pet-parent, and Zoe loves cuddling the fluffball. And did I mention free food? But it is a relief not to be the one inviting myself over this time.

“Finally,” Zoe cries when she throws open the door. “Guys, Minnie and Natty are here!”

She scoops Snow up for a quick hug, then repeats the process with Natty, before setting both of them free to race around the living room.

Zoe’s three mates trickle in a minute later. Fiery turquoise-colored ropes of magic connect her to each man, and I yawn.

Sometimes, it feels like every woman in town has fated mates except me. Perpetually single Minnie who will never find a man. Unless…

I zero in on Xavi—not because I’m interested, since he’s clearly taken—but because he’s a journalist turned supernatural blogger, and he knows everything that goes on in Silver Springs. “Have you heard of any new fated mate groups in town?”

If he has, then chances are I’ve found a fated mate. And while three is better than one, I’ll take what I can get.

If he hasn’t, then I’ll know it’s another trick of Maude Montgomery’s—one last ditch effort to steal Julian from Amber now that she’s pregnant. It’s cruel and heartless and exactly the sort of thing the woman is capable of.

Xavi pulls out his phone. “Who? When? I need facts.”

Disappointment courses through me. Nothing gets by Xavi, and if he hasn’t heard anything, that’s all I need to know. I examine my perfectly-manicured nails. “I haven’t heard of any either. I was just making small talk.”

“Oh,” Xavi’s face drops.

Zoe squeezes his hand. “Sorry, Xav. But we don’t have time for fated mates. Well, except you guys, obviously. Minnie, we need to talk.”

Worry rolls around in my gut but I act totally nonchalant. “I bet your mates totally freak out when you say that.”

Xavi nods. “Oh, we do.”

“Our Wynter is a force to be reckoned with,” Leith adds affectionately.

Ghost grins. “He means that Wyn’s scary when she’s mad.”

Zoe shoots her guys a mock scowl and they all grin down at her, their gazes filled with a sort of love no man will ever aim at me.

I can’t stand watching them be all lovey-dovey. “So what did you want to talk about?”

“Right.” Zoe’s face turns serious. “We need to figure out a way to stop Reddy.”