Page 40 of Christmas Magic

“Maybe the magic’s from an antique in the shop?” Petunia suggested.

“That’s possible.” Molly frowned. “Lucian’s pretty thorough, though, about checking every item that comes in for supernatural properties.”

“Unless the magic was inactive and got activated somehow?” Petunia mewled.

With a heavy sigh, Daisy flopped down on the floor. “It all sounds rather complicated.”

“Now I wish I hadn’t snoozed.” Galahad, sitting to the left of the laptop, looked forlorn.

Molly stroked his back. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Is it? The Experts will have been alerted to the magic.” Galahad shook his head. “Julius might come to Cat’s Paw Cove and investigate.”

“Or The Dealers,” Rose muttered.

Molly’s stomach whined. Months ago, when she’d been possessed, Agnes had worked with The Dealers. If they learned what had happened—

“I hate to share bad news,” Galahad said, “but Lucian sensed a Dealer in town yesterday.”

“Oh, no.” Molly bit down on her bottom lip. At least one of The Dealers held a grudge against her fiancé.

What if they took advantage of Lucian being spellbound and attacked the store?

What if they attacked him?

She drew a deep breath and told herself not to panic.

Rose’s eyes gleamed. “I hate to ask, Molly, but I must. The medieval sorceress. The one who caused so much havoc and is contained inside you—”

“She’s still locked away, “Molly said. “She isn’t responsible for what happened today, I promise.”

The gray tabby nodded. “Good. I felt it best to check.”

Molly returned to the reports. “With our six minds working on the problem, we’ll figure out what to do.” She sighed. “One thing’s for certain: Whatever magic’s involved, it has brought out the medieval in Lucian.”

Leaning against the lamppost outside Black Cat Antiquities, Dennis typed a text: Done.

Thanks to his magical shield, he’d been able to follow Cora to the shop. He’d watched through a front window as the enchantment had claimed Lucian.

Dennis smiled. He wouldn’t soon forget the look on Lucian’s face: a mix of recognition and shock when he’d realized he’d been caught in a spell and couldn’t stop it.

The burst of magic—the instant the enchantment had been triggered—had registered on Dennis’s device. His superiors would have noticed it, too.

So would The Experts, but they’d not be able to break the curse.

Dennis eased away from the lamppost and merged into the people walking along Whiskers Road. Only a very powerful and unique kind of magic would be able to end the spell—and after today, that would be rare indeed.

The magic on the sprinkles had been designed to seek out all threads of Lucian’s romantic relationship with Molly—his memories of courting her, his love for her, his hopes and dreams for their married life—and block them.

Molly would be no more to him than a friend and colleague at the antique store. She’d watch, confused and stricken, as his relationship with Cora became a passionate tryst.

Dennis indulged in a smug chuckle. With Molly and Lucian at odds, never again to be a couple, The Dealers wouldn’t have to worry about their combined powers—or the abilities of any children they might have had. The Experts would be weakened by the conflict in their organization. The Dealers might even be able to lure evil Agnes out of her imprisonment within Molly—and all would trace back to this late November day and Dennis’s victory with the sprinkles.

His phone pinged. Stopping by some large potted poinsettias, he paused to read the message.

Observe. Document. Send updates.

He grinned. Gladly.

Since the sprinkles had never been used on anyone but Lucian, Dennis’s superiors clearly wanted to know if there were any unexpected side effects. By tasking Dennis to get this information, not someone else in the organization, they showed confidence in him.

The day just got better and better. Not only would he excel for his superiors, but he’d get to watch Lucian Lord’s life fall to pieces.