required to create such a delicate, unbreakable web of misfortune. He was fascinated by it, admired it, and wanted, above all, to learn how to master it.
“I promise you,” he said, “that the witch will not live. But before she dies, she will serve our purposes well.”
“If you say so. Well, what crazy-assed thing do you want me to do now?”
He smiled, drew big, dumb Lennie away from the table, away from the magic they’d stolen, and told him what to do next.
“Well, now. Here you are,” said a female’s Jamaicantinged voice. A tall, voluptuous black woman stood in the foyer. She was draped in shades of purple and black, her beringed hands clasped in front of her.
“I’m sorry,” Gray said. “Were you expecting me?”
Her deep-throated laughter threw him off guard. Unsettled, he watched as she slapped her thigh and hooted. “Expecting you. Oh, da Goddess, She has a sense of humor, dat one. Expectin’ you.”
“I’m afraid I don’t see the humor,” said Gray.
“No,” she offered, her merriment tapering off, “you wouldn’t. When’s the last time you found anything to smile about, Guardian?”
It seemed no one in this town, not even the new residents, respected his position. He’d admit he hadn’t exactly been the best Guardian, but he was determined to do better. The town and its citizens deserved no less. Still. His ego was taking a bruising today—and he had no one to blame but himself.
“Oh, now. Don’t you worry,” she said, stepping forward to grasp the crook of his elbow. “Everything works out for a reason. Just not always the reason you like. Or want. But sometimes, you can’t see what’s best for you.” She tapped her left temple, which drew his attention to the blackened side of her strange eyewear. He sensed the magic of the lenses, but he also realized that she had shields up, too. He reached out, trying to figure out what was so odd about her power, but she made a tsk ing sound and waved a finger in a you’re-being-naughty gesture.
“Now, now. You stop dat. I promise I only bring good juju to Nevermore.”
“You’ll forgive me if I’m a bit skeptical.”
She chuckled. “Not so skeptical dat you didn’t come to meet me and my Rilton face-to-face. Not so worried then, were you?”
He noticed her accent strengthened every so often, sorta like a radio station that kept fading in and out. He didn’t like that she was right about him skipping her intake interview. He’d let Taylor handle processing the new magicals. But Taylor was a thorough bastard, even more skeptical than Gray, and hated change, especially when it included adding new people to the town’s roster. If Ember and her husband passed his inspection, then they must’ve impressed the hell out of the sheriff.
“So. You lettin’ her stay.” Ember’s statement startled him into realizing she’d been leading him toward the back of the tea shop. She hadn’t phrased a question, and he had no problem figuring out “her” meant “Lucy.”
“She’s here?”
Ember stopped in front of an empty booth and looked down at it. Gray offered a cursory examination, but noted only that the table was wet and there were lingering smells of rain and earth. He opened his senses wider, and emotions filtered through his shields: desperation, relief, panic.
Lucy.
“Where did she go?”
“Don’t know.” She shook her head. “Sometimes, when people are damaged, dey view tings from upside down.”
Gray’s brows went up. “What does that mean?”
She sighed, as if he’d disappointed her. Irritation flashed through him. He wasn’t a damned novice, and he hated that she made him feel like one. Battling his own impatience, he kept his gaze on her and waited.
“You ever play the opposite game?” she asked.
“Sure,” said Gray, “when I was a kid.”
She nodded. “Right. So everything you say and do during the game is the opposite of what you mean. But for Lucy, it’s no game. She freed
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