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“Only just before we got here,” Claire said, sliding a look my way. Sebastian smirked. I reveled in the memory of what my hands had felt like squeezing the life out of the man. “What do you know so far?”
“I know there’s someone in a position of power who’s using Mystic Springs as a testing ground for a new drug that can force young witches into mating bonds. Newer than the ones they’ve been using and supposedly more powerful.”
“I thought you were in a position of power,” Claire shot back. Sebastian smiled.
“Let me reiterate,” Sebastian continued, reaching behind him and taking a bottle of Scotch from the sideboard behind his desk. He looked up at Claire and me with a raised eyebrow. Both of us shook our heads. Sebastian shrugged and continued to pour himself a glass, never moving from his seat.
“I think there is someone in this town who holds a great deal of influence. Either they’re pulling the strings on this operation or they’re covering for the person who is. This isn’t just happening here in Mystic Springs. It’s happening in larger cities and all around the world. But this is ground zero. We’re small enough that we’re off the radar, but we’re also full of young witches since so many witch families have settled here in the last 100 years. It makes Mystic Springs a fertile hunting ground, pardon the terminology.”
“But you must have some idea of who this person is,” Claire pressed.
“I have only theories, Ms. Landon. What I do know is that the bigwigs in this town aren’t talking.”
I knew Sebastian was ruffled by what was happening in Mystic Springs, but to the average observer, he appeared completely calm. Even in control of the situation. I, however, knew better. And the fact that Sebastian was worried about this worried me.
“You’re talking about Mayor Byrne,” Claire said.
“I see you’ve had as much luck talking to him as I have. Though, I’m surprised. I would have thought he would want to preen for the press since he has an election coming up in a year.”
“Apparently, he doesn’t need the press,” Claire groused. “Despite his low polling, he continues to win election after election.”
“Interesting,” Sebastian said, steepling his fingers before him on the desk. “Still, I don’t think he’s directly involved in the disappearance, so the point is moot. I simply think he’s not doing anything to fight it, which I find interesting given that he’s a warlock with a young witch daughter himself.”
“Right now,” I said, bringing the conversation back around to the missing witch, “we have a missing witch in trouble.”
“Who’s missing?” a female voice asked from behind us.
Sebastian’s head shot up, taking in the sight of the newcomer at the door. The man groaned at the sight of Rainbow Carmichael, stepping into the office as if she owned the place. Claire smiled.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Sebastian asked, his cool countenance now suddenly evaporating. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen the man so visibly annoyed.
It was refreshing.
“I texted her on the way over here,” Claire said, clearly enjoying the show. It was good to see that twinkle back in her eyes, even if only for a moment.
“Why in the hell would you do that?” Sebastian barked at Claire. “Loud Mouth Carmichael? You want the whole damn town to know everything that’s going on in this room before we have a chance to find this missing witch?”
“Fuck you, Cavanaugh,” Rainbow spat, leaning against the door frame. “You know godsdamned well I would never peddle any gossip that would hurt anyone.”
“Then I guess I have to wonder why you sometimes do. Don’t think I don’t know that you were the one behind that rumor about the ineffectiveness of my—”
Sebastian cut himself off, taking in the inhabitants of the room before continuing. “Prowess,” he finally added.
Rainbow smiled, a dark, sinister thing that made her truly look like a human would think a witch would. “Tempt me, Sebastian. And rumors about your ‘prowess’ will be the least of your worries.”
Sighing, I brought my fingers to my lips and let a shrill whistle scream throughout the room. Claire jumped at the sound and I winced. Rainbow and Sebastian merely stared at each other.
“There is a missing witch,” I said. “If you two don’t mind curtailing this weird foreplay you’ve got going on, I would like to find Darla before it’s too late.”
“Darla Randall?” Rainbow asked, the earlier snark now gone from her expression. “She’s only 15.”
Giving Rainbow a curt nod, I motioned for Claire to tell Rainbow and Sebastian everything we had learned at the heat lodge.
“Those glamours are the equivalent of a pair of Levi jeans,” Rainbow said once Claire had finished describing the scene. “They’re mass produced and everywhere. There’s no way to trace such a thing, unfortunately.”
Claire deflated.
“We’ll find her, Claire.”
Claire gave me a small smile, but I knew it was going to take more than weak promises to convince he
