Page 17 of Kin of the Wolf (Magnetic Magic #3)

17

Exhausted from the previous night’s adventures— misadventures —I slept from eight p.m. until six a.m. I could have continued even longer than that, but my phone rang. It wasn’t a number from my contacts, and I eyed it warily as I answered.

“Hello?”

“My wayward werewolf.”

I blinked up at the ceiling a few times before the voice and greeting clicked. I would have to add Rue to my contacts.

“Luna or Ms. Valens works,” I said. “And I’m not wayward. I’ve rediscovered my wolfness.”

“Directly after I had to contact four suppliers and send your mate to scrounge all over the city and local wilds to acquire the ingredients for your potions.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. Do you want them back?”

“I cannot think of anyone else who would desire such things.”

“I have a cousin I wouldn’t mind castrating.”

“Oh, I have numerous potions for that. The ingredients aren’t even difficult to find.”

“I didn’t mean literally, though I suppose that might improve his demeanor. At least make him less ambitious. But what I meant is that I could see sneaking some of the sublimation potion into whatever he drinks to steal his magic for a month.”

Or for life. Augustus would doubtless be as much of a dick if he was fully human, but he would have less power with which to threaten people. I was positive Francisco, a type of werewolf himself, wouldn’t cave to a mere human bullying him around.

“Slipping potions unannounced into people’s beverages would be duplicitous and devilish behavior,” Rue remarked.

“Yeah, you probably wouldn’t want your potions used in that way,” I said, though she hadn’t sounded that judgmental.

“How you use your potions, once paid for, is up to you.”

“Good to know. But I’d need something faster acting than the sublimation potion, anyway. What I really want is to make someone tell the truth. In front of witnesses. Or at least in front of my phone with the camera recording.” I wondered if getting Francisco and the convenience-store owners to describe Augustus and explain his threats would satisfy the pack arbiter. Probably not. They were outsiders.

“You desire a truth elixir?” The judgment that hadn’t been in Rue’s tone before was there now. Did she find such magic distasteful?

“Uhm, do you have one?” I imagined Duncan pinning Augustus to the ground while we forced a potion down his throat. Maybe Jasmine would come with us and hold the camera.

“They are simple to make. They require only three ingredients and an insignificant application of magical talent. They’re in the first chapter of almost every book of formulas that you’ll find. Apprentice alchemists usually make a truth elixir in their first month of training, once they’ve moved from learning to source and gather ingredients to mixing components and applying magic.”

I realized the judgment in her tone might have more to do with the simplicity of the formula than any condemnation for how it might be used. Apparently, she was a woman who liked challenging elixirs.

“Any chance you have a vial of it?” I asked.

“This is not what I called about, but I could acquire the ingredients and deign to make a truth elixir. You know, however, that my services aren’t cheap.”

I did not, in fact, know that. In addition to finding Rue, Duncan had paid for my sublimation potions. He hadn’t mentioned their cost. Since he’d betrayed me, I hadn’t felt compelled to pay him back for them.

“I charge a minimum of $400 an hour, plus travel expenses for ingredient acquisition.”

“Damn, you cost more than a lawyer.” I rolled out of bed and headed to the kitchen, feeling the need for an espresso to get through the rest of the conversation. Fortunately, my machine came on automatically in the morning, so it was preheated and ready to brew.

Rue sniffed. “Those who are competent in my profession are much rarer than lawyers, and I have more than forty years of experience.” She lowered her voice to mutter, “As if you can’t find a lawyer on every street corner, plying his wares.”

“They’re not the profession I usually think of as plying from street corners, but I’ll admit they are easier to find than alchemists.”

“ Of course they are. It requires no magical blood to file paperwork. My kind are exceedingly rare, and I’m in high demand from those who need my services. I was on the verge of raising my rates to $500 to finance my move.”

“I thought your grandkids were boxing everything up. Won’t they work for pizza?”

“A truck must be rented. And we have not discussed rates at your complex. I had assumed that moving to the suburbs would be more affordable, but it’s possible you charge a premium for an apartment without miscreants constantly leaving graffiti.”

I started to assure her that Shoreline was less expensive than Seattle, and I’d throw in a graffiti-free door at no extra charge, but I didn’t have money budgeted for truth potions. It occurred to me to negotiate.

“Our rent is quite reasonable,” I said, “and I’m authorized to provide discounts to seniors and veterans. Have you ever served in the armed forces?”

“In my homeland in my youth, I attended the Alchemy Academy, which included learning to defend the nearby littoral village in case of an assault on the paranormal beings living there. We learned to fight with staves, explosives, and magical munitions.”

“Wow, sounds exotic.”

“That particular part of the country was, due to more than the typical amount of magic lingering in the earth, yes.”

“Well, if you could give me a deal on a truth elixir, I’d be willing to check yes on the veteran box. I’ll put you down under Coast Guard.” Littoral meant by the water, didn’t it? “That would give you ten percent off each month.” I hit the button for the coffee grinder and then moved away from the machine so it wouldn’t drown out my voice. “And then I’m guessing you’re over sixty-five. I can give you another ten percent off each month for being a senior.” I remembered that the Sylvans were contemplating selling the property. Hopefully, the next owners would honor the existing leases—and not look too closely at applicants’ veteran status.

“I will bring you four potions. Do you also require an antidote for the poison that the old-world werewolf brought by last night?”

“I— What?” I’d been so distracted by thoughts of truth elixirs that I hadn’t asked why Rue had called. I hurried to pull my shots, needing the bracing caffeine even more now.

“He did not appear to be ailing when he came to my apartment, but it is a slow-acting poison. Likely, he or she who left it wished to avoid being associated with it. He said it came in an edible delectable?”

“Yeah, chocolate-dipped bacon.”

“Interesting. For a werewolf, I would have assumed a haunch of meat. I did not know they craved sweets.”

“I’ve taught him the delights of dark chocolate. He didn’t eat any, so we shouldn’t need antidotes, but maybe I should have you make some in case whoever sent it strikes again.”

I didn’t know why I said whoever . I knew exactly who’d done it. The night before, when I’d called Jasmine, I’d known. Nobody else would poison Duncan to get him out of the way.

“You will include three months’ rent-free in exchange for a four-pack of the antidote? To go along with the truth serum?”

I managed to scowl at my phone and swallow a mouthful from my steaming Americano at the same time. “I don’t own this place, Rue. It’s not like I’ll make any more from getting a new tenant.”

Especially a new wheeling-and-dealing tenant who wanted more discounts than a bargain shopper on double-coupon day.

“You do not receive commissions?”

“No. I’m on salary.”

“Two months,” Rue said firmly. “I am certain a large apartment complex regularly offers discounts to secure new tenants. Especially in the winter.”

She wasn’t wrong, but I squinted suspiciously at the phone. “How often have you moved apartments, Rue?”

How often had she been forced to move apartments by neighbors and landlords suspicious of her witchy—alchemy—ways?

“I frequently enjoy a change of scenery.”

“Uh-huh. Okay, the discounts I mentioned earlier, and two months’ free rent with a two-year lease. But you’ll need to pony up a damage deposit. I’ve been in your apartment. It reeks of incense, burned cauldron mixings, and chicken feet. ”

I took another long swig of my coffee while waiting for her to argue further.

“That is fair,” was all she said. “I will prepare the potions before I finish packing. I believe… Yes, I have not yet boxed up the ingredients I will need.”

“Thank you. Uhm, Rue? Just so I know, would the poison have killed someone who consumed it?”

“Oh yes. It’s very deadly. Even though it doesn’t act quickly, it’s magical in nature and proliferates in the bloodstream. It’s designed to kill even hearty paranormal individuals with greater immune systems than mundane human beings.”

“I was afraid of that.”

“The antidote, delivered in time, destroys the poison before the proliferation can turn exponential.”

I shuddered. “That antidote sounds like something everyone should have in the cabinet.”

“Everyone with enemies who have access to poison makers, yes.”

How sad that I’d become such a person of late. Even though I’d enjoyed answering the call of the wolf again, and hunting under the silver moonlight, a part of me missed the days when my greatest enemies had been the parents from my sons’ rival soccer teams. In a hissy fit of frustration and despair over a loss, one mom had thrown a rice-crispy treat at our coach that had bounced off his shoulder and hit me in the head. I’d recovered fully from the ordeal.

While I dressed, I finished my Americano and brewed two more drinks, putting them in my insulated to-go cups. With the beverages in hand, I headed out to Duncan’s van to warn him to throw away the desserts, if he hadn’t already. Given the way he’d drooled over them the night before, he might have been waiting with hope for a negative result.

His sliding door opened before I knocked on the van. Shirtless, with his hair mussed, he smiled brightly at me—or possibly the coffee cups.

“Is one of those for me?”

“Yup.”

His eyelids drooped. “I adore you.”

“I’d be delighted, but I think you would have said that to Bolin, too, if he’d brought you caffeine.”

“Possibly, but I wouldn’t have lowered my eyelids sexily at him.” Duncan accepted my offered cup and took a deep drink. He’d had a rough couple of days too.

“That’s good. From what I’ve seen of his tastes, sexily lowered eyelids of the male variety might alarm him.”

“I didn’t think the kid ever shared his coffee anyway.” Duncan hopped out to join me in the parking lot. Maybe because his bed was a mess—yes, he must have had a rough night—he didn’t feel proper offering it as a seat. “When he wanders in from the parking lot, he’s always clutching his cups like they’re ancient Incan treasures.”

“He needs a lot of fortification to start the workday at eight. But if you’re a cute girl, he might share.”

Of the various cute girls I’d seen him moon-eye, he’d actually only offered coffee to Jasmine. He’d given me one the morning I’d come in with twigs and leaves and moss in my hair, but it hadn’t been the fancy whipped-cream-topped mocha.

“Or if you slept in the woods,” I added.

“That applies to me often.”

“I suppose the van is quite the improvement over waking up in a bed of ferns.”

His eyelids drooped again. “It depends who I wake up with in the ferns.” A fond smile crept across his face as he considered me.

“Are you thinking of the time you woke up with your hand on my boob?”

“I think of it often. Is that inappropriate? ”

“Completely.”

“Do you mind?”

“Not as much as I should.”

His eyelids drooped further. Damn if he didn’t look sexy, especially with his shirt off.

He also looked like he was about two seconds from inviting me inside, mussed bed or not, so that we could explore each other’s bodies without any of my relatives nearby. For a moment, I considered accepting such an offer, but… I needed to deal with Augustus and ensure the complex wouldn’t be threatened again by werewolves or thugs hopped up on potions. It was only a few days until my son arrived, and who knew the Sylvans’ timeline and how seriously they were considering selling the apartments? The gravity of everything I needed to do weighed on me.

“Rue called me,” I said. “Your chocolates are poisoned.”

Duncan nodded without surprise. “She called me too. I understand you’re a tough negotiator, but she’ll be moving in this weekend. It’ll be handy to have her close for all the future times I need gifts analyzed.”

“Are you planning to stay in my parking lot long-term enough to receive a lot of dubious gifts?”

“My sex appeal and fame as a treasure-hunting YouTuber ensures a steady stream of such.”

“Given that you don’t have a mailing address, I’m skeptical of that. It’s a wonder that delivery person found you.”

“Your cousins know exactly where I am. I assume you believe they were responsible?”

“Yeah.” I told him about the family dessert maker. “I’ve got Rue preparing antidotes for the poison.”

“You didn’t think I’d be able to resist eating the chocolates even knowing they’re poisoned?”

“I want to be prepared in case Augustus tries again. In the meantime, you might want to avoid accepting food from random people off the street.”

“I’m currently drinking coffee that you gave me.”

“I’m from an apartment, not off the street. You’re probably safe.”

“True. And I trust you want to keep me alive. Were I to die horribly at your feet, nobody as handsome as I would fantasize over fondling your anatomy.”

“That would be heartrending.”

“Yes.” His lazy smile filled me with warmth and made me think again of trysts in his van, but the roar of multiple motorcycles came from the street.

I grimaced. “What now?”

Two riders without helmets drove Harleys slowly past the parking lot. I didn’t think they were any of the men who’d troubled us before—facing off against Duncan had to have deterred some of those guys—but they had the same vibe, straight down to the drugged bloodshot eyes. The pair didn’t scope out the cars as if they had vandalism in mind. Instead, they looked straight at Duncan and me, holding our gazes for long moments before they rode out of view.

“Were they to give me gifts, I would not consume them,” Duncan said. “No matter how appetizing.”

I shook my head, thoughts of morning interludes replaced by bleakness. I had a feeling the local criminal element knew we’d been responsible for stopping that robbery and didn’t appreciate having me in the neighborhood nearly as much as the store owners did.