Page 14 of The Mating Magic
“Why did you steal Drust’s potion? Do you really think you can be as powerful as thewizard?”
Lacey glanced at Evie. “Drust has incredible powers of rejuvenation and the potion he drinks to maintain his immortality probably helps. I was hoping to use the Bloodmoon flower potion combined with other herbs to find a healing remedy for someone I care deeply about. A healing remedy that would fix a broken wing and make her acceptable to a certain family that brags about their distinguished dragonlineage.”
A flush suffused Evie’s pretty face. Instead of cursing her sister, he wanted to curse himself. Damnit, he should have taken care of her. Guilt flooded him. He’d been so obsessed with serving Drust and learning his trade that he’d failed to realize how much Evie’s deformity as dragon hurther.
“If I find the potion and return it to the Coldfire Wizard, he may grant you a small favor, but I will have to explain your reasoning behind the theft.” Chase studied the refrigerator. Perhaps they had kept it chilled? The potion required no refrigeration, but one neverknew.
“No.” This from Evie. “He can keep his smallfavor.”
Lacey jumped off the counter. “And shove it where the sun doesn’tshine.”
“I happen to live where the sun shines all the time,” a deep voicedrawled.
He knew, of course, that Drust was listening. Part of his apprenticeship included Drust mentoring him fromafar.
Evie and Lacey stiffened. Chase sighed. He did not want Evie hurt. Hell, she’d been wounded enough by hisactions.
“Tell me where the potion is and it will go easier for you,” he said gently, looking atEvie.
“I can’t.” But she kept looking at her sister, which made him wonder if perhaps Evie did not know. If that were the case, Evie would beinnocent.
Drust would not punishher.
But he’d go hard on Lacey, and that would hurt Evie deeply. After losing Lacey’s mother, Evie wasfragile.
“Cannot or you will not,” the same impervious, deep voiceasked.
They all turned toward the kitchen door. Drust materialized, his arms folded across his chest, his faceunsmiling.
“I came to see what took you so long, my apprentice. Are you failingme?”
The wizard’s tone was genial, but his ice blue eyes remained cold. Chase faced his uncle with an evenlook.
“No. I continue mysearch.”
“Perhaps those who stole it need a little nudging to reveal its location.” Drust fisted onehand.
When he opened it, dread curled through Chase. For in the wizard’s palm glowed a cobalt blue energy ball the size of a dime. It sizzled and crackled withpower.
He knew exactly how those tiny energy balls stung. Drust had the power to make coldfire freeze whatever it touched, or worse, incinerate instantly. Even a dragon’s scales didn’t offer enough protection. Chase had insisted on being hit with one himself while in dragon form to know the punishment Drust dealt out to dragons who committed minorinfractions.
Or needed…coaxing.
Chase stepped before Evie. “She didn’t do it. She doesn’tknow.”
Drust gently bounced the energy ball in his outstretched palm. “I have found that administering these to someone the transgressor cares about is far more effective than delivering punishment to the culprit himself. Orherself.”
Behind him, he felt Evie quaver. But Lacey faced Drust with a levellook.
Truly the woman had nofear.
Or not a lick of sense,either.
“You’re a turd muffin,” Lacey snapped. “Leave my sister alone. She’s innocent inthis.”
Drust frowned. “What is this turdmuffin?”
“Actually the proper term is turd blossom fromGuardians of the Galaxy, my favorite movie. But someone still stuck in the era of the Crusades isn’t hip enough to knowthat.”
