“Do you not want your freedom?” asked Julia Huntington.
“I somehow doubt that you’re letting me out so easily.”
“Your belief in yourself isn’t required. Although, this self-condemnation is beneath you. I have something for you,” she said.
She whistled and a black blur raced past her before launching itself at my jail cell.
“Muffin!” I shouted.
He tore at the bars, which was utterly useless. They were reinforced with magic. I was surprised he could even touch them without being shocked. Muffin whined when he couldn’t get to me and I felt a stabbing in my chest. He missed me as much as I missed him.
“If you can settle the beast down, I can get you out,” said Miles.
“I’ll settle him. Marty certainly can’t do it when she’s behind by bars, silly man.”
Miles mouth dropped open. And he thought I was the only one that would mouth off to him. Think again, buddy. She was a steamroller that flattened anyone in her way and being Julia, she usually got her way.
To me she said, “When I gave him to you, I expected a change in social status, this was not what I meant. You need to do better to not lose him. I’m very vexed with you. Please try not to lose him again.”
Miles finally got the cell open, when in reality it had probably been seconds, it felt like an eternity. Muffin launched himself at me, bowling me over and licking my face. I happily accepted the saliva bath. I never thought I’d see him again. Once he let me up, I hugged him hard, putting my face against him, so no one would see my tears.
“If you can pull yourself away, then we can get you on the case.”
“I didn’t agree.”
“Didn’t you?” said Julia.
“I guess there’s not really a choice.”
“There never was,” said Miles.
“I want the tag removed and can I get these off?”
“You’ve got to be kidding. No, both stay on or this deal is off,” said Miles.
“You expect me to stay magicless.”
I was a hypocrite. I’d spent most of the past five years without magic and now I was insisting on having the very thing back that destroyed our city.
“I take it back. You’re right. I don’t need magic to crack a case.”
“I hope you’re ready,” said a sexy voice that I longed to hear and dreaded at the same time. My stomach knotted up, seeing Lochlan’s beautiful face.
“Don’t tell me that you’re my partner?”
“Who else would work with the most deadly mage since the Crimson Fiend?”
I flinched. It was true. I was a pariah and as deadly as he suggested I was.
“Okay, so where do we start.”
“I’ll brief you on the way. We’re going to Corbana. They have several cases of animal mutilation.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me? You’re letting me out to investigate some torn up animals.”
“I wish I was. There’s been other activity at this location, but the locals are unusually tight lipped. I’m assured that your brand of motivating witnesses will get them talking,” said Miles.
“All right. Let’s get going then.”
“Before we go, can I?” asked Lochlan.
Miles nodded.
Lochlan approached me and ran his hands along my arms. I felt his magic dance across my skin and my view blurred. Nothing was clear and it was like seeing through muddy water.
“You’ve been glamored and your voice will be different. It’s for your protection.”
I looked down and saw caramel colored skin and long nails. My feet were smaller. What other changes had he wrought?
We walked out of the jail and into the dreary day. Even the sky was crying at the travesty of my early release.
To be continued
35
It was a sick joke. I stared at his smug face from the other side of my jail cell. Miles was a bastard for dangling my freedom in front of me. Even though I deserved it, it was the principle of the matter. I was a murderer a few hundred times over and this was where I belonged. Offering me a chance to get out was just cruel.
“Do you not want your freedom?” asked Julia Huntington.
“I somehow doubt that you’re letting me out so easily.”
“Your belief in yourself isn’t required. Although, this self-condemnation is beneath you. I have something for you,” she said.
She whistled and a black blur raced past her before launching itself at my jail cell.
“Muffin!” I shouted.
He tore at the bars, which was utterly useless. They were reinforced with magic. I was surprised he could even touch them without being shocked. Muffin whined when he couldn’t get to me and I felt a stabbing in my chest. He missed me as much as I missed him.
“If you can settle the beast down, I can get you out,” said Miles.
“I’ll settle him. Marty certainly can’t do it when she’s behind by bars, silly man.”
Miles mouth dropped open. And he thought I was the only one that would mouth off to him. Think again, buddy. She was a steamroller that flattened anyone in her way and being Julia, she usually got her way.
To me she said, “When I gave him to you, I expected a change in social status, this was not what I meant. You need to do better to not lose him. I’m very vexed with you. Please try not to lose him again.”
Miles finally got the cell open, when in reality it had probably been seconds, it felt like an eternity. Muffin launched himself at me, bowling me over and licking my face. I happily accepted the saliva bath. I never thought I’d see him again. Once he let me up, I hugged him hard, putting my face against him, so no
