Page 102 of Christmas Magic

Molly started typing. Lucian—

“Take a step closer,” Rose meowed, “and we’ll—”

He turned his fingers. The felines rose from the ground.

“Please don’t hurt them,” Molly cried.

“Why would I?”

Because you’re not yourself.

Molly’s hand shook. She had to quickly finish the text.

9—

Lucian swept his hand to the shelves under the counter. The cats, kicking and struggling, flew over to the bottom shelf. He caged them behind a mesh of light.

1-4—

No!

Molly frantically hit the back space.

1.

She hurried to press Send—

The phone wrenched from her hand and flew across the room.

Silver light wrapped around her; secured her arms to her sides and bound her legs.

“Molly!” Rose, Petunia, and Marigold meowed. They ran back and forth on the shelf behind the mesh of light.

A tremor ran though Molly. She could only watch, a lump in her throat, as Lucian neared.

Such controlled fury etched his features. He stopped, loomed over her, stared down into her face as though to find the truths he sought.

“Who were you messaging?”

She bit down on her bottom lip, but there was no reason to deny him the answer. “Julius.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Lucian’s gaze hardened. “Don’t lie. You contacted The Dealers.”

“I don’t know how to contact any Dealers.”

A menacing growl rumbled from him.

“I don’t!” she insisted, refusing to break his gaze. The way he stared at her, though, his expression filled with suspicion…. Her heart threatened to crack into a thousand shards.

“Why lock me in the room with a spell,” he demanded, “if you are not working against me and The Experts?”

Tears welled along her lashes. She blinked to get rid of them. “I’m not working against you. I’m trying to help you.”

His lip curled. “Another lie.”