Page 34 of Minnie

Stop ready? I frown… well, on the inside, anyway. “What?”

“Not what. Whom. The mad scientist.”

Which makes zero sense.

“Minerva Montgomery, don’t tell me you don’t know who I’m talking about.”

“Actually, it’s Minnie Alexander now.” I open my Birkin and start to search for my wallet, which has my brand spanking new, shiny ID.

“Not now,” Zoe shouts. “I mean, congratulations. We’ll celebrate… later. Right now we need to talk about the mad scientist.”

I instinctively look past her, as if a man with Einstein hair and a laboratory have somehow materialized in her living room. But all is safe—except Natty.

“Stop. Get down from there. Natty!” I sound bored despite the fact that the boy is busy jumping on one foot on top of the coffee table. I swear I can’t look away for one second!

Luckily, Zoe recognized Bored Minnie for what it truly means—panicked, freaking out, help me Minnie. She spins around to look just as Natty loses his balance and starts to fall.

My insides scream.

Luckily, Zoe’s on it. She flicks her wrist, and three pillows zoom out to soften Natty’s fall.

Before Natty can reach them, Ghost raises his hand in the boy’s direction, and he starts to float in mid-air.

“Higher, higher!” Natty cries like it’s all a game.

“Children,” Ghost mutters, but complies. “You know, I won’t always be around to catch you.”

Zoe scowls at her mate. “You mean I won’t always be around to catch him.”

Ghost smirks. “Are you telling me you’re the one holding him in mid-air?”

He raises his arm, and the giggling Natty flies higher.

Zoe frowns. “I had him.”

He raises an eyebrow.

She crosses her arms in front of her chest. “Show off.”

Leith snorts. “Since this is clearly going to take a while, I’ll go get dinner. How does Anthony’s sound?”

I normally can’t have pizza, since Formula M likes to keep it classy, and anything that isn’t healthy or gourmet is a no-go. But when the potion’s effects start to wear off around dinner, I can usually sneak a few bites… so long as I use a fork and knife.

“Pizza,” Natty shouts before I can reply. He stomps his feet excitedly… on the ceiling… since Ghost has him floating upside down. “Yay, pizza!”

I swear, if it was me up there, I’d be having a heart attack while yawning non-stop, rolling my eyes, and examining my nails all at once. But three-year-olds have no fear—or maybe just my three-year-old. I’m kind of impressed.

“Pizza’s great,” Zoe tells Leith. “Any chance you can take Natty with you? Minnie and I really need to talk.” And the way she says it tells me it’s not going to be good news.

Leith nods. “Not a problem. Come on, men. We’re going hunting.”

And with that, the three of them march off, a giggling Natty floating behind them.

“Bye, Minnie!” the little boy shouts, waving wildly, but even that amusing sight isn’t enough to cheer me up. Because, if the look on Zoe’s face is anything to go by, something is seriously wrong.

Especially since a mad scientist is involved. But what does that have to do with me?

I haven’t heard of any mad scientists popping up in Silver Springs. Even if I had, there’s a perfectly competent police force Zoe could turn to. And if she were in need of a witch, there are plenty far more powerful than me. Like Juniper, who runs The Magical Rooster, or Zoe herself.