AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Liam flung my body to the side, cushioning my landing with his substance. I murmured a spell and flung it at the raging beast. And suddenly, the ogre was swaddled like a giant baby in a massive blanket. A gigantic pacifier appeared in his mouth. It struggled, but the blankets held tight.
Prax looked at it wide-eyed, then at me, then he dissolved into laughter.
“It was the only spell I could think of,” I said defensively. “It worked, didn’t it?”
But we had bigger problems now, because the door flung open and Nastafar stood glaring at us. He flung his arm out and both Liam and Prax were hurled against the wall. They struggled but were pinned in place. He took in the smashed urns and the swaddled ogre.
“You little bitch!” he roared. “What have you done?”
.
Chapter 36
Eamon
Amritaopenedthedoor.Stuck in Dean’s magicless body, she didn’t notice my disguise. She also didn’t recognize Seth, who had spelled himself into a cop’s uniform, pretending to be my partner.
I made something up about the neighbors calling in to complain about strange people they didn’t recognize at the home and a car that didn’t belong. We apologized, saying the people in this neighborhood were nosy like that and we were used to useless calls like these but still had to investigate.
“The car’s mine. I’m visiting my Uncle,” Amrita explained, still not letting us in.
“Of course. We get anonymous complaints from someone in this neighborhood all the time. Unfortunately, we still have to come in and ask a few questions. It’s standard procedure after a complaint.” I looked past Dean. “Just let Abbados know it’s us again. He’s used to this song and dance.”
I was banking on the fact that Amrita hadn’t dealt with the police in the other body and had to go off Dean’s knowledge, which probably only included them taking him in for loitering.
“Abbados isn’t here right now. But I can answer your questions.” Amrita had let us in, most likely not to seem suspicious.
“Of course,” I stepped inside the home, and no magic stopped me.
Seth followed behind, closing the door behind him. Once we were inside, we followed Dean to a sitting room. The home was quiet. There were no servants. Not even any of Dean’s goons. They would’ve really drawn attention in a swanky neighborhood like this. Nastafar probably didn’t want them stinking up his home.
Tansy was here though. I could smell the faint scent of her, as well as the barest trace of her magic. Her magic was unique, and I could recognize it anywhere. I gave Seth a nod and we doffed our disguises, which had also conveniently hidden the sword strapped to my hips.
Amrita took a step back and opened her mouth but Seth was ready with a spell, silencing her. I overpowered her with my strength—Dean was not very strong—and trussed her up for later. She slammed her body hard against the floor, banging on it and alerting the wizard upstairs.
Fuck. So much for being quiet.
Seth threw a blanket of silence over us and we dragged her down the hall to the broom closet as Nastafar pounded down the stairs. I closed the door just in time behind us and held my breath. The tiny closet was cramped for the three of us, but I dared not phase out. Nastafar might sense the change in magic. As it was, I worried he’d notice the blanket of silence if he got too close.
We wanted the element of surprise on our side. According to Seth, Nastafar had gotten stronger in his absence. Most likely from consuming the magic of unsuspecting creatures.
He didn’t come down the hallway though, going to the door instead. He opened it and looked outside. “Fucking cops,” he muttered under his breath. Then louder, “Dean?”
He continued calling for Dean but his voice sounded more distant. Had Nastafar stepped outside? I snuck a tendril of my essence under the door and formed an eye. The wizard stood outside on the steps leading to the entrance.
Sounds carried through the ceiling above us, like vases being smashed onto the floor of the next level. Was that Tansy? What was happening up there?
I started to send a part of myself up through the ceiling to check, but Nastafar turned around and I pulled all parts of myself back into the broom closet. Fuck. That was close.
I focused on the sound of the door closing, then on the wizard as he stormed through the house looking for Dean. Something big thunked loudly on the floor upstairs and he swore, then stomped back up to the second floor.
We left Amrita tied up in the broom closet.
“What’s your brilliant plan now?” Seth asked in a low whisper.
I shrugged. I hadn’t thought through much more than getting in the house.
“I’ll get some spells ready. We need to try to catch him unaware. I can’t hold him long but if you aim for the head...”
