Page 81 of Hounded

Sully squinted. “What about him?”

I chewed my lip. “He does things, and it’s like nothing’s changed. But everything’s changed, and it’ll change again.” The words eked out, leaving me feeling empty. I met Sully’s gaze, wearier than ever. “And you can’t say I don’t adapt. It’s all I ever do.”

“Not well,” she replied too readily.

My expression turned stormy as I glared at her.

She reached toward my hand on the tabletop, but I’d been touched too much by too many people lately, and the thought of more physical contact made me want to peel my skin off.

Withdrawing from her advance, I propped both elbows on the table and let my head fall into my upturned palms. I scrubbed my fingers over my face, then up into my hair, pinning it against my scalp.

When I looked out again, Sully wore a look of concern. “I haven’t said anything because I’m pretty sure you’ll say no,” she began, “but I’ve been doing some research.”

“No,” I grunted.

Sully rolled her eyes. “Hear me out. I found a spell—a recipe, really—for a memory charm. Like a magical knock on the head for your average amnesia patient.” A tentative smile curved her lips as she said, “It might helpIndy get his memories back.”

The statement was as jarring as a slap. I straightened as my heart drummed up tempo.

“Why would I say no to that?” I asked.

“Because Indy isn’t your average amnesia patient. I’m not sure what he is.” She hesitated, and her already weak smile flagged. “It might not do anything, or it could make things worse.”

The wave of hope receded as quickly as it rose. Still, I had to ask, “Worse how?”

The server passed by again, peering at our coffees and finding them full enough before he returned to the kitchen.

Sully heaved a breath. “Without testing, I couldn’t say, and I don’t have many forgetful phoenixes around to try it out on.”

Her attempt at levity fell flat, and my voice was subdued as I questioned, “You want to do magic lab testing on my boyfriend?”

Sully tittered a laugh. “I love to hear you calling him that again.”

I grit my teeth. It was a response to her comment and her offer when I said, “No.”

“Shouldn’t we ask Indy about it?” Her voice leaped up an octave, becoming more insistent as she carried on. “I’m sure he wants to remember things, too. He’s lonely, and he’s missing out on the best thing in his life.” She shook her head. “Lives. Whatever.”

“No experimentation. No making things worse.” I slid out of the booth and stood.

“It could make things better!” She clambered to herfeet after me, then waved to the waiter loitering on the other side of the kitchen pass-through window. “Check, please!”

He came around with a sheet off his order pad, which Sully met with a folded twenty-dollar bill. She declined his offer of change while I headed for the exit.

Sully trotted up beside me and seemed ready to continue protesting before I cut her off.

“I have to go.” I hit the glass door of the diner with my shoulder, swinging it wide. While Sully passed through, I asked her, “Where’d you say Joss was staying?”

On the sidewalk outside, she stopped and folded her arms across her chest. “I didn’t.”

“Do you know?” I asked.

Her expression was a tick shy of irritation as she snipped, “Maybe.”

I sidestepped her, calling back and trusting she would follow. “I need to catch him before he skips town, or I’ll end up chasing him across the country.” She came alongside me as I asked, “Where’s he from, anyway?”

“Indiana,” she replied.

I scoffed. “Fuck that.”

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