Lorenzo shrank back, looking as though he’d like to run away and disappear. Just as he was eyeing the stairwell as though about to make a break for it, the third cop tromped up the stairs, carrying a half-empty glass bottle of green potion. It bubbled and fizzed. “I found this under the sink.”
I looked to Elin. “Is that what you used to poison the lipstick?”
She nodded, “Yes,” and Daisy whined. True.
As the officers bagged the evidence and bound Elin’s wrists in golden handcuffs, Peter moved to my side and put an arm around my shoulders.
“Well done.” He grinned at me. “I can see you must’ve been a fantastic lawyer.”
I winked up at him. “I did alright.”
He hugged me tighter to his side.
Daisy turned around and whined. I thought you said I could bite someone.
Just as two cops were carting Elin away, she glared at her fiancé. “In case it wasn’t obvious, we’re over!” The cops marched her downstairs, their footsteps growing fainter.
Lorenzo didn’t wait until they’d even left the building before he slid closer to Tonya. “So… now that I’m single, you wanna…?”
Tonya, head in hands, split her fingers to look at him. “You have got to be kidding me.”
35
THE PLAN
After we left the Pierre Bakery, Peter made a call up to the palace to let them know we were ready. With my heart in my throat, I walked, hand in hand, with Peter down another level to the docks and then found the entrance to the sewers. A huge grate covered the tunnel entrance, though rusted-out spots in the lattice allowed shifters to come and go at will.
Peter, Daisy, and I sat behind a stack of crates as we waited for Horace, Francis, and the prince and princess. Even though we’d just successfully solved a murder and I was flying high on adrenaline, I did my best to rein in my energy. The night’s work wasn’t over yet—not by a long shot. I needed to focus, but between the satisfaction of getting justice for Polly and my nerves at what I had to do next, I could barely sit still.
The sea lapped at the docks, and wooden planks creaked, loud in the silence between us. Peter held me tightly in the chilly night air as I nibbled at my thumb tip, and even Daisy seemed on edge.
She sat, alternately gazing at the sewer entrance, then at Peter and me. She tucked her pointy ears back and let out a quiet whine. I don’t like this. No one’s even guarding the entrance? Seems too easy.
I shrugged and whined back. There are never guards… but after what I pulled the other night, stealing the potions records—I’m a little surprised, too. I don’t like it any more than you do, Days, but… you got a better idea?
She huffed. Any of my ideas would be better than yours.
Peter looked between us. “What are you guys talking about?”
I shot him a flat look. “Oh, just our usual exchange of compliments and flattery.”
He smirked and hugged me tighter, and I laid my head against his shoulder. I raised a brow at Daisy. I’m still waiting to hear this amazing plan of yours.
She shifted from one front paw to the other and growled. I could just storm in there, bite that Ludolf man’s neck, and drag him out.
I nodded and woofed. You could, but he has some pretty ferocious bodyguards. One’s even a lion.
She cocked her head. What’s that?
I growled. A really big cat.
She sniffed and looked off. Ooh. I’m so scared. I eat cats all day long.
I raised my brows at her and woofed. Oh, really? Do you, now? Because I thought your diet consisted mainly of kibble, croissants, and bits of my donuts you steal whenever you think I’m not looking.
Her eyes grew wide for a moment, and she flattened her ears. I don’t know what you’re talking about. “Woof!” She startled herself with a bark. Lie!
I bit back a laugh as she dropped her head and flattened her ears. She growled. Oh, shut it.
Footsteps thudded across the wooden planks, and Peter, Daisy, and I peeked up over the crates. Three dark figures walked toward us—and a fourth hovered a head above the others, floating. That had to be Francis the vampire.
Peter drew his wand and held it at the ready, just in case, as we stood and waved them over. The wispy clouds overhead parted, and the moonlight confirmed that it was Prince Harry, Princess Imogen, the slightly terrifying Horace, and thin, pale Francis. The princess waved back, her lantern in her other hand, and soon they joined us.
Prince Harry opened his wool peacoat and withdrew a vial of purple, bubbling liquid stoppered with a cork. “Evening.” He gave me a tight-lipped smile, then nodded at Peter and Daisy. The princess partially unshuttered the lantern, and Iggy, her magical flame, peeked out. She crouched down and scratched Daisy under her chin.
Prince Harry handed me the vial, and I held it in my palm. It cast a faint glow that lit everyone’s faces as they gathered around it.
The prince pointed. “The royal healers brewed this based on the files we stole from Ludolf.”
Peter’s hand tightened around my free one. “And they’re sure it’ll work?”
The princess winced and shrugged. “Well, they didn’t want to test it on any of the shifters.”
The prince nodded. “A few volunteered, but many are so weak and have spent so long trapped in their second forms that the healers didn’t want to risk any unintended consequences.”
I nodded. “Makes sense.” Still, my stomach twisted with nerves. This was an untested potion, and we were betting my life—as well as the chance for bringing Ludolf to justice—on it.
Peter’s grip tightened so much around my hand that I had to nudge him to get him to relax a bit. A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Maybe we should put this off until we can be sure
