Page 36

Dawn came and went, and Duncan barely stirred on my couch.

After climbing out of the ravine, putting his pillaged van back in order, and finding clothes to wear, we’d had to hunt all over to locate his keys and my phone.

We’d been lucky they hadn’t disappeared into the ether during our unplanned changes.

For a while, I’d thought they had. Between the explosions, the partial collapse of the building, and the dead bodies that the bipedfuris had left behind, it had been a difficult and gruesome scene to search.

At least, that far into the wilderness, nobody had reported the noise to the police, so we’d been able to poke around undisturbed.

Well after midnight, we’d driven home and finally arrived at Sylvan Serenity. After a quick bite to eat, we’d both passed out. I would have offered Duncan a spot in my bed, but he hadn’t asked, simply collapsing on the couch, unconscious before he fully settled.

This morning, he lay in the exact same position.

I might have worried about him, but his aura was stronger to my senses than it had been before the medallion’s healing—than it had been in more than a week.

Besides, he’d fallen asleep with his head scrunched sideways against the armrest, resulting in snoring.

I believed them to be the hearty snores of someone who wasn’t dying.

Once he recovered, maybe we could engage in some of the activities he’d suggested—innuendoed—when he’d been dying.

The thought left me feeling optimistic as I fired up my espresso machine.

I had little doubt that numerous troubles remained that would plague me—even if Radomir was dead, Abrams might prove the vengeful sort—but we’d found the sword, and we’d healed Duncan of his malady.

Correction: he’d proven himself to the medallion, and it had healed him.

I almost laughed at the realization that we might not have needed to go up there and endure all that.

Maybe he could have gotten into a bar fight to prove he was worthy to be an alpha.

No, probably not. Whatever sentience guided these artifacts was smarter than that.

Besides, we wouldn’t have found the sword in a bar.

Leaving it on the floor next to the couch for Duncan to sleep-guard, I took a latte and stepped outside, intending to head to the leasing office to catch up on work.

A recently marked rhododendron in front of my apartment made me pause, my nose keen enough to pick up a scent that hadn’t been left by one of the tenant’s dogs. A wolf had been by. One I’d met before.

Izzy.

I sighed, certain she’d peed on the bush to leave a message specifically for me.

I stepped back into my apartment and grabbed the bracelet we’d found in Abrams’s underground office.

Since it was magical, it had been easier to locate than my phone.

If I sent it back to Ivan, would his sister leave me alone?

“Let’s hope,” I muttered, though I had a feeling I would see her again.

In the leasing office, I poked through drawers until I found a box suitable for shipping the bracelet. If I delivered it in person, Ivan might hit on me, and I wasn’t in the mood for that.

Bolin arrived while I was addressing the box.

“I’ve got good news for you, Luna,” he said.

“Good news? For me? I didn’t know such a thing existed.”

“It’s about our putative buyers.”

“Oh?” I asked warily.

“Yup. They pulled out, just like you thought they would. My parents think they got cold feet.”

“They got cold… something.”

The memory of Radomir’s mangled body at the bottom of the cliff came to mind, legs dangling in the stream. Had the authorities or his minions found it yet? Did Abrams know what had happened?

“I’m glad it turned out that way,” Bolin said.

“ Especially after that farce of a building inspection, I believed everything you said about them, that they weren’t legitimate buyers.

I tried to tell my parents, but…” He spread his arms. “They didn’t want to listen.

They’re bummed that the deal fell through, but I’m glad. ”

“I suppose they’ll put the listing back on the market.”

Even though I was relieved Radomir wasn’t in the picture any longer, nothing had changed as far as my future work and living arrangements were concerned. Another seller would come along, and I’d have to uproot my life and figure out something new.

“Yeah, sorry. I know you would prefer that things stay the same, but…”

“Is there nothing that could change their minds about selling this place? What if— Well, I can’t promise anything…

” Especially not with Abrams still out there.

“Still, what if weird things stopped happening here? That was what prompted them to want to sell in the first place, wasn’t it?

The increased crime and, uh, paranormal activity in Shoreline? ”

“I think it’s what put the idea in their minds, yeah.”

Not sure my actions at the movie theater would ensure the local thugs didn’t come around anymore, I didn’t promise that, but I hoped I’d made my point and that things would quiet down.

“It was going to happen sooner or later anyway, though,” Bolin added.

“Like I told you, they’ve been starting to talk about retirement plans.

Or at least simplifying their portfolio and handing off only the really good properties to the next generation to manage.

” He touched his chest. “They said they’re waiting for me to be more experienced and mature but that they want me to one day run everything. ”

“More experienced and mature? So we’ve got, what, twenty years?”

“Ha ha. Do you want me to get you into any more networking events? Jasmine said she would try again. She’s still job hunting.”

“Oh, right. How did non-alcoholic espresso-martini night go?”

How had their date gone? I didn’t say that.

Bolin twisted his lips. “The recipe I found basically made a thin coffee-flavored chocolate milkshake.”

“Isn’t that okay? Those are good flavors.”

“True, but I may need to stick to alcoholic drinks when I’m— Er, I could have used a little fortification to have the necessary bravery to…” His cheeks flushed red.

“Does that mean your drink-making didn’t lead to a night of amore?”

His cheeks reddened further. “The night was fine, just not as triumphant as I thought it would be.”

“I don’t know if that implies you lost your nerve or need a druidic potion to enhance your… twig.”

“I don’t need any potions ,” he whispered hoarsely and glanced around, as if hordes of tenants might be at the window listening in.

His whole face was red now, and I lifted an apologetic hand. I hadn’t meant to tease or torment him.

“I got nervous. That’s all.” He backed to the door and gripped the knob. “You didn’t answer. Do you want more invitations to networking events? There’s one coming up at the yacht club.”

“Thanks, but I’m going to check out one of the meetups at the pizzeria/bowling alley.”

“Probably a good idea. Fewer closets there for you to get yourself into trouble in.”

“Hilarious.”

“I shouldn’t be the only one embarrassed here.”

As Bolin opened the door to leave, a text came in on my phone. Duncan had woken up.

My lady, you’ve left your sword lying on the floor among the dust bunnies.

I left it there for you to guard. I figured a fearsome werewolf could deal with malevolent bunnies.

While unconscious?

Haven’t you told me multiple times how magnificent you are? I’m sure you can handle it.

Such arrogance you accuse me of. I’m certain I’ve only told you of my fit and virile vitality.

Tempted to ask Bolin if those words all meant the same thing, I glanced up to see if he remained in the area, but he’d hustled to his SUV and was shooing birds away from it. Amazing that he’d drawn up those vines from the ether but the local bluejays and robins still didn’t respect his vehicle.

“Kid needs to take my advice and get something druid-appropriate.” I started to text a suitably snarky reply to Duncan, but the howl of a wolf came from the greenbelt, close enough that I had no trouble hearing it in the office. “What now?” I grumbled, thinking of Izzy.

I stepped outside to see if I recognized the howler.

It could have been Izzy, but it could also have been another werewolf hired by my enemies.

Radomir wouldn’t be a problem going forward, but who knew what resources Abrams had at his disposal?

After we’d destroyed his laboratory and caused the death of his business partner, he had to feel vengeful.

Outside, the howl was clearer, and I started when I realized that I did recognize the voice. Not Izzy but Lykos.

Are you expecting a younger version of yourself? I texted Duncan.

I am not.

Do you think Abrams would have sent him after us? After me ?

In my lupine form, I’d faced off against the boy before, and he’d decided he couldn’t take me.

In a few years, once he matured fully, that would change, but, for now, he shouldn’t be a threat.

Hell, I’d given him chocolate and salami in the weeks since I’d met him. He ought to like me, Abrams be damned.

“I’m going to find out,” Duncan said, startling me as he walked around the corner.

“Are you going to chase him down, tackle him, and question him?”

I’d yet to hear the kid speak and had no idea if he had the capacity or not. Who knew what kind of traumatic childhood he’d endured being raised by Abrams?

“That’s not the plan I’ve got in mind.” Duncan held up a finger, jogged to his van in the parking lot, hopped inside, and reappeared a minute later with his metal detector, his magic detector, and a case of fishing magnets all gathered in his arms. He walked back to me, though he looked like he would ultimately head across the lawn and into the woods.

“I’m going to practice what you suggested. ”

It took me a moment to guess what he meant. “Showing him how to recover rusty bicycles from the bottoms of lakes?”

We’d been talking about children during that discussion, not little clone brothers.

“That and more,” Duncan said. “In case I do someday get the urge to be a father, I ought to practice teaching kids.”

He gave me a long look over his shoulder as he walked toward the woods. A long heated look. Had his ordeal seriously prompted him to consider fathering children? And did he want to do it… with me?

Flustered, I called, “What are you going to do if he’s here to kick your ass?”

“I would be in all kinds of trouble, but I thankfully know someone with a werewolf-slaying sword.” Duncan winked and disappeared into the woods.

“I’d better sign up for more lessons,” I muttered.

THE END

Thank you for reading! If you want to see how Luna’s adventures wrap up, you can order Triumph of the Wolf , the final novel in the Magnetic Magic series.