Read Online The Babet & Prosper Collection I: One Less Warlock, Magrat's Dagger, A Different Undead, and Bad Juju by Judith Post - Free Book Online Page A

Rowan. I’ve endangered you
and our daughter. Jaleel got past me. I don’t know how. I’m
sorry.”
    Her mom went to him, leaned against him.
“He’s learned something new. He’s never been able to shift forms
before. We’ll have to trap him with magic before we can defeat
him.”
    “I didn’t want you involved in another demon
battle.”
    “And I didn’t like seeing you hurt.” She put
a hand to the burn on his abdomen where Jaleel’s energy bore into
his flesh.
    Gazaar shrugged it away. “We have to find him
before he regains his strength. I can deal with him as a demon. It
will take longer in his other form. The less time he’s here, the
better.”
    “Then quit picking on Babet and her friend,
Evangeline. You just met them, and without their magics, things
would be worse.”
    Gazaar’s lips pressed together in a thin
line. “Babet could have been killed.”
    “If she hadn’t drained Jaleel, she would have
been. He came here to look for her.”
    The other witches in the coven came
forward.
    Hennie held out a hand to greet him.
“Welcome, Gazaar.”
    His gaze swept the cul de sac as people
cowered away from them. Every fire was extinguished. “Your witch
power saved these mortals. Your magic is still strong.”
    “We’re honored to work with you.” Hennie
bowed her head in respect, and the other witches followed.
    Babet shook her head, confused. Who knew an
incubus could be honorable? She stepped back closer to Prosper and
jerked in surprise. The Were had completely returned to his human
form, and whatever she was touching was naked. She took a quick
step forward and heard his low chuckle.
    “No worries, witch. You’ve seen it all
before.”
    She could feel the heat rise to her cheeks.
Honestly! How could the man knock her off balance so often when few
other things did?
    Gazaar didn’t fret about niceties, though. He
got straight to the point. “We need to go someplace to talk. We
need a plan to capture Jaleel.”
    Her mother nodded. “Come with us. We’ll meet
at my school. There’ll be enough space for all of us.”
    An expression of yearning passed over
Gazaar’s face. “Your school for young witches? You’re a wonderful
teacher.”
    Mom smiled. “Shrink down to mortal size, and
I’ll give you a ride in my car.” She motioned to Prosper. “He’s a
detective. He can take care of this mess, and then he and Babet can
join us.”
    The frown returned as Gazaar studied Prosper.
His tone uncertain, he said, “He did risk his life to save our
daughter.”
    “He’s a good man,” Mom said.
    “But a naked one. Does anyone have a
blanket?”
    One of the witches from the coven ran to her
car and returned with a sweater. Prosper tied the arms around his
waist, but the material only stretched across the front of him. He
didn’t seem to mind.
    Mom shook her head. “Come on. We have plans
to make.”
    Gazaar shrank to his mortal size—nearly seven
feet. His leather pants shrank with him. Must be a demon thing. He
followed her mother to her car. When he opened the passenger door,
Morgana bolted out of it and slithered toward Babet, giving her an
accusing stare the entire way.
    “Sorry,” Babet said, bending to stroke the
snake’s chin, “but there was too much magic and fire bouncing
around. I didn’t want you to be hurt.”
    Morgana hissed, still unhappy, and wrapped
herself around Babet’s ankle.
    They remained with Prosper while he called in
backup and explained what had happened. It wasn’t until their drive
to her mother’s school that he asked, “You doing okay? It had to
come as a shock to meet your father the way you did.”
    She gave a quick nod. “Maybe it was for the
best. Dad didn’t stay away because he didn’t care. Mom and Dad were
trying to protect me. I might not agree with their decisions, but I
understand them. And he seems pretty neat…for an incubus.”
    Prosper barked a laugh. “That’s what I like
about you, Babs. Always practical. Most girls would be