Page 96 of Dream Weaver

“Liselle wanted a brazier. Aportableone,” I said.

Cooper’s jaw went hard. “Not just to barbecue, I take it.”

I shook my head slowly. “I think not.”

“Does that mean she can’t make fire?”

“You mean, like a pyromancer?” I shook my head. “I don’t think so. Why?”

“Just wondering,” he muttered.

Just wondering, my ass. What was he thinking?

Cooper went painfully quiet, and when he finally spoke, his voice was gruff. “What’s option three?”

I bit my lip, not sure if I liked it any better than the other two.

“That Liselle wasn’t the one kicking up that dust storm — or, at least, not alone.”

His face clouded. “Another witch?”

“Or warlock.”

“Great,” Cooper muttered again. Then he sighed. “Who else around here is capable of kicking up lightning, thunder, and a dust storm?”

Other than my sister and Mike, who couldn’t possibly be responsible? “I don’t kn—” I started, then froze.

Cooper tensed, waiting.

“Months ago, the ranch was attacked by a warlock,” I said. “Harlon Greene. Lightning, thunder, the works.” I flicked my fingers to illustrate.

And, yikes. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

Cooper stared at my hands, and I did too. Cause and effect or coincidence?

I stuck my hands under my thighs as he drove on. “Where were we?”

“Harlon Greene,” Cooper said a little hoarsely.

Right. “He was after our ranch.”

“You mean, to develop it?”

My mind spun. Development. Edelweiss Corporation. Could Harlon be involved? I made a mental note to ask Ingo. Then I replied to Cooper.

“Yes and no. Harlon wanted access to the vortexes there.”

“Vortexes?” Cooper’s tone stressed the plural.

I nodded stiffly. This was not going well.

“What happened?” Cooper finally asked.

I skipped over some of the details, like Erin throwing lightning bolts with help from Pippa and me, and said, “Harlon was arrested by the ADMSA and submitted to a restraining spell that overrides his powers.”

“For how long?” Cooper demanded.

“Forever, I assumed,” I said.

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