Page 85 of Protected By Her Mate

A thought strikes me. “My brother, King Lock, is flying in today to speak at the UN assembly about diversity programs for integrating wolf shifters with human communities. He must be a target.” Anger surges through me. How dare ASHRA go after my brother?

“That’s what they want,” Charlie says desperately. “They want you to hate humans for killing your king. They want you to strike out at us, to sink the peace treaties.”

Sherilyn tips her head at Charlie. “Good job, small hu… Investigator Lopez. That is exactly their mission. To restart the Human-Shifter war. I was able to get it out of another of your detainees. They pursue an end to what they perceive as an ever-encroaching shifter dominance.”

Unable to sit any longer, I stand, pacing. “We’ll get Charlamagne to alert the authorities in the places you mentioned. See if they can get units to the bombs we know about. We’ll need a list of the other potential targets.”

Charlie stands abruptly. “I need to get to the UN building now. I need to call my chief and warn him.” Her mind is racing over the supplies she’ll need to diffuse a bomb.

I reach out, gripping her hand, holding her in place. I want to tell her she can’t go, that I won’t let her anywhere near a building with a bomb in it. My wolf is barking his agreement in my head, but I won’t do it. Charlie is uniquely suited for the job of dismantling a bomb. It would be criminal to stop her. “We’re going to need help,” I say. “We might be able to diffuse one bomb but if the others go off; ASHRA may succeed in their mission.”

“Did someone call for an impeccably timed entrance?” A pool of green light appears on the wall behind Sherilyn, who jumps away from the desk. A short, blond witch steps into the office and grins at us. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go diffuse some bombs!”

“Magdalene.” My voice holds warning.

Charlie is staring at her in a way that suggests she’s never seen a witch step through a portal before, which of course she hasn’t. Lucky her.

“What are you doing here?” I add.

“Oracle sent me,” she says, straightening her sleeves and dusting her hands as though she’s been on a long journey rather than a split-second teleportation. “I was told to wait for the soothsayer to give her prediction, then to come to your aid.” Her gaze lands on Sherilyn and she grins toothily. “Sherilyn Good Witch! Girl, how long has it been? We should really plan a get-together sometime and enact some magical mayhem.”

“Under no circumstances will that happen, Rage Witch.”

Magdalene pretends to pout. “I’m no different than I was before I became a Rage Witch. I can still drink a batch of Merlin’s Toilet Tequila and dance a line disco while floating through the Nether Realm.”

Sherilyn is unmoved. “You fuck with dark magic and that’s something I won’t condone.”

Magdalene’s gaze sharpens and she lifts her hands, her blackened fingers curving into claws. “No one tells me what to do with my magic.”

Sherilyn glares, then snatches up her bag and says to me, “You’re on your own with this crazy witch,” before slamming out of the office.

“We need to move,” Charlie says urgently. “We don’t know how long we have.”

Magdalene sighs and drops her hand. “Yeah, specific instructions are not one of Oracle’s strong suits. All I know is what you’ve found out about the plot. The bombs meant to rock our human-shifter alliances are set to go off some time this morning.” She waves her hand and conjures another portal. “C’mon, let’s go.”

Charlie hesitates, glancing toward the door. “What about Luke?”

“He’s safe here,” I tell her. “Sherilyn will update the Captain and I’ll text him along the way. Let’s go.”

Charlie looks torn, then nods decisively and steps bravely toward the portal.

Magdalene takes her arm and pats it. “You’ll be fine. Teleportation is fun! Like being squished through a tiny tube. Remember when you were born? Just like that. It’s very relaxing.” She stops, thinks, then adds, “Unless you’re the one giving birth.”

“Wait, that doesn’t sound – ” Charlie’s alarmed sentence is cut off as she’s dragged into the portal.

I dive after them, expecting to find myself inside the UN building. Instead, we’re in Charlie’s fire station and Charlie is hurrying off.

At my confused expression, Magdalene says, “I’m not taking her to diffuse a bomb without the proper equipment. It wouldn’t be safe.”

Five minutes later, Charlie and Chief Dale Rochester rush toward us, their arms full of gear. Dale helps Charlie into an outfit that resembles a padded suit of body armour. “It’s a blast outfit,” she explains.

I do a quick introduction. “Magdalene Rage witch, Chief Dale Rochester.”

“How do you do?” Magdalene says politely, staring up at a fire engine with longing. “I wish we could take one of those. I’ve seen them on TV when the lights and sirens are going.”

Dale stares at her as he bends to help pull protective boots on Charlie’s feet, her hand on his shoulder as she balances on each foot. “You’ve never seen one in person?”

She shakes her head. “I grew up in a swamp.”

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