Page 64 of Christmas Magic

Chapter Eleven

At just past six o’clock, Molly’s cell phone rang.

Julius.

In the midst of running a bath for Tim in the kitchen sink, she quicky switched off the taps and answered the call.

“I apologize for not getting back to you sooner,” The Expert said. “I’ve been training a new recruit. In your message, you said something had happened to Lucian?”

She told The Expert, in as much detail as she could, about the flare of magic and her fiancé’s change in behavior.

“I had no idea,” Julius said. She pictured the older man’s brow creasing with a frown. “The Archivists noted the surge of energy. They sent the details to me, but I told them to disregard the incident.”

“Why? Wasn’t it a significant enough anomaly?”

“Actually, I thought you’d been having a magic lesson with Lucian and it, well, got out of hand.”

Molly’s puzzled gaze shifted to the six cats eating nearby at their lined-up bowls. Judging by their pricked-up ears, they were at least partially listening to her side of the conversation. “What made you think the magic was my doing?”

“I asked The Archivists to double-check their analysis. They did—and confirmed the magic had elements in common with yours.”

Shock tightened her grip on her phone. “Even hallmarks?”

“Yes.”

Lucian had told her that hallmarks were unique to each sorcerer or sorceress and as personal as a signature. “Did someone steal my magical identity? Is such a thing even possible?”

“Magical identity theft has happened before, but not often. After a bit of research, the inconsistencies are usually fairly easy to detect. The similarity between your magic and the anomaly’s, though, is…startling.”

Her head pounded. “How—?”

“I don’t want to speculate; not until I have more information. The Archivists are doing in-depth research now, and I’m awaiting their findings.” Even as her mind reeled with the implications of Julius’s revelation, she heard the click-click of his pen engaging and retracting. “Frankly, I wondered about Agnes,” he said.

“I swear, she’s still securely locked inside me.”

A wry chuckle sounded on the line. “I know. I double-checked.”

Of course, he had. While she didn’t know him all that well, in her dealings with him, he’d always been thorough.

“I also went through all the data from Cat’s Paw Cove for the past couple of days,” Julius continued. “I didn’t see any other concerning readings. I trust that means that even though Lucian’s enchanted, he’s not abusing his magical powers?”

“No. He’s too busy doting on Cora.”

“I see.” Click-click. “If I had to guess, I’d say the spell on him is somehow connected to The Dealers.”

“They want to persuade him to join them?”

“Perhaps—although if that’s their end goal, I’m surprised their tactics have been so subtle.” Click-click. “I’m guessing there’s another agenda here.”

“Lucian and Galahad did sense a Dealer in Cat’s Paw Cove the other day. They weren’t able to locate him or her.”

“That, too, is perplexing. The bastards may have found a way to circumvent our detection devices.” A troubled sigh. “I hope that isn’t the case.”

Molly fought a keen sense of misgiving. “Lucian might be able to tell us more if we broke the spell on him.”

“In their analysis, The Archivists are trying to define the spell’s origins. Since we don’t know how Lucian got spellbound—for example, whether the enchantment came from powder he inhaled while inspecting a cursed antique—it might take a little while. In the meantime, we’re monitoring him twenty-four-seven. I’ve also decided to come to Cat’s Paw Cove.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”