Page 84 of Bewitching the Wolf

“Oh.” I frown. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine.” Sally smirks. “Just her appetite’s a bit off. And she’s taking a rest.”

I nod. I guess Clem is as worried about her brother as I am.

“I’ll bring you both a cup of tea shortly.”

I smile my thanks, then knock on the office door and when Otis rumbles, “Come in,” I enter.

“Hey, Tippy.” Otis swings around from the computer monitors and takes off his headphones.

“Any news?”

“Yeah. He’s placed devices in Devine Tower and he’s gotten into Marsha’s office.”

“Are you getting any feedback yet from the devices?”

“Not yet.” His face tightens slightly. “I’m having a little trouble getting the signals to read accurately on my system, but that’s fixable. We’ll have the sound up and running in the next couple hours. I’m getting the cape’s location from the rune readings. According to Silas, the books are very active. They’re communicating with the cape with no glitches at all.”

“That’s a relief.” I manage a watery smile. “Where’s the next place Jax has to go?”

“DV Medical and Biotech on the other side of Sparkle.”

“Cool,” I say. I’m so not cool. I’m sweating with anxiety, and it seems to be getting worse as time goes on. “So is that Jax’s last stop?”

“Yes, if everything goes according to plan.” He glances at me and says quickly, “Which it will.”

“I just wish it was over.”

“Of course you do.” Otis glances at the screen again. There are graphs with lights that move up and down on them, but it means nothing to me.

There’s a sharp rap at the door.

“Come in,” Otis says.

I’m expecting to see Sally with a plate of newly baked gingerbreads, but instead in sashays my aunt, all jangling bangles and golden ear hoops. She’s followed closely by a big wolfman. Traggar.

I stifle a smile.

This is very interesting. Especially after my conversation with Mom earlier, and learning that my aunt has long had a connection to Traggar.

“Hey there.” Otis rises, hugs my aunt and claps Traggar on the back.

“We’re here for an update.” My aunt comes and strokes my shoulder lightly with a long, elegant claw. “How is your mom, darling?”

“She’s well. We talked about Jax. It went… okay.”

“Excellent.”

“And I think I’ve healed her knee.”

“Ah, that arthritis has really been plaguing her. Well done.”

“Hello Tippy,” Traggar says, smiling warmly. He pulls a chair up for my aunt and she sinks gracefully into it, rearranging her silk skirt. Traggar moves to look at the screens, hands on hips.

“What’s all this?”

“This graph is mapping what’s going on in Sparkle,” Otis explains.