Page 15 of The Mating Magic
Drust hurled the small ball of power at Lacey, who ducked. It landed on the cabinet, melting thedoor.
“Missed me,” shetaunted.
Quick as lightning, he summoned another and threw it at Lacey, who ducked once more. The energy ball sailed into the cabinet, melting the sagging silverhandle.
“Missedagain.”
Was that a smile curling his uncle’s face? Chase couldn’t believe it. Serious, scowling Drust was … playing withLacey?
“The next time I shall not miss, mortal. For now, I enjoy toying withyou.”
“If you’re done playing, I’ll need money to repair the damage. I just put new handles on thosecabinets.”
Chase couldn’t believe Lacey’s bravado. He was even more astonished when Drust waved a hand and the cabinet repaireditself.
“Thanks, wizard.” Lacey looked amused. “If you’re in the mood, how about a remodel of the entire kitchen? Bring up the value of myhome.”
The smile dropped. “I am finding my patience beginning toerode.”
He waved his hands and all of them dematerialized, appearing in the back yard. Evie’s breath hitched. His lover had never seen the power of the ColdfireWizard.
Lacey looked around. “Nope, I don’t see any potion here.Satisfied?”
The wizard summoned another blue fireball and lobbed it at Lacey. With a quick twist, she dodged it. It landed in her neighbor’s yard, freezing a child’s playhouse and turning it intoice.
“No, uncle Drust.” Chase stepped forward, his chest tight. “It’s too risky out here and you could hurt the Skins and their children. They’re innocent. Give me more time and I will findit.”
Relief flooded him as Drust stroked his beard and nodded. He waved a hand and the playhouse turned back to normalagain.
Stunned, he watched dragon wings erupt from Drust’s back, wings of silver and blue, as sleek as those of a mythicalangel’s.
Except this wizard was no angel. He was a deadlyimmortal.
“Very well. I will honor my nephew’s request. Tell Chase where the potion is, and perhaps I shall spare your life. Unless you wish to become turned into toad stew Lacey McGuire, find that damnpotion.”
His wings beating the air, Drust rose into the sky and soonvanished.
Blood drained from Lacey’s face. “Guess he’s notjoking.”
“Please Lacey, do as he asks.” Evie tugged on her sister’s sleeve, her pretty face scrunched in worry. “I can’t lose you aswell.”
“Do it,” Chase snapped, his own patience gone. “Tell menow.”
Lacey gave a helpless shrug. “It’s in a safe place. Trustme.”
Safeplace…
What could be safer than a room filled with junk that no one would botherinvestigating?
Racing down the hallway, he hooked a right into the spare room, and flipped on a light switch. Chase began combing through the stacks of boxes, magazines, books andcans.
A few minutes later, his spine tingled, indicating the presence of power. He followed his instinct, and the tingling becamestronger.
In a carton labeled “Old Herbs” he found the vial, glowing cobaltblue.
Lifting the bottle, he uncorked it and smelled the familiar aroma of warm cookies and crackling fires. Chase clutched the bottle and wended his way through the clutter of boxes and stacks ofjunk.
As he reached the doorway, he failed to see the vintage roller skates on the floor. His left foot hit one and he went sailing forward, the potion flying from hishands.
