Page 40 of The Mating Magic

“He didn’t give the book to you Lacey out of altruism. He gave it to you because he wanted to keep it hidden and he handed over to his heir. He wanted the book to belong to you. Miles Wharton wasn’t astranger.”

“I’d never met him before,” she criedout.

“Iknow.”

“Then who washe?”

His next words immobilized her with shock. “Miles Wharton was your father, the father you have searched for sincebirth.”

Lacey could barely breathe. “He’sdead?”

Sympathy and wariness filled Drust’s intense blue gaze. “Yes. I killedhim.”

Lookfor Drust and Lacey’s story in THE MATING CLAIM, coming this summer! Read on for a specialpreview.

The MatingClaim

Copyright 2019 BonnieVanak

He could not believehis eyes. Drust stared at the red neon sign glowing in thewindow.

FREESPELLS.

With a low growl, he ran across the street and flung open thedoor.

The shop was packed, crawling with witches. He could tell by the glow of their aura, pulsing weakly, threaded with flickers of hope. Witches who had lost much magick, and needed potions to reviveit.

Drust strode inside, barely checking his rage. Lacey needed to maintain a low profile lest she be vaporized by the goddessDanu.

Not advertise her services with that damn light. Did she realize the trouble she caused? The risks shetook?

He did not know why this mortal dragon bewitched him. By all rights, he should simply let her dig her owngrave.

At the mere thought of that grave, a shiver ran down his immortal spine. He could not let that happen. He must save her, stubborn dragon. Even if she did not wish to besaved.

Through the throng of people at the counter, he spotted her. Long, dark hair bound back in its usual braid, her face shining as she rang up sales on the cash register. For a moment he simply stood, staring at her. She pulled at him in some mysteriousway.

Drust hated mystery. He started forward. As if sensing his power, the crowd respectfully parted. Whispers threaded through the air. “ColdfireWizard.”

He carednot.

Flattening his palms on the wood counter he leveled his coldest stare at Lacey. “What the hell are youdoing?”

“I’m giving out spells. It’s called a loss leader, wizard. You give away a freebie to entice people into buying more because they crave the rest of the products yousell.”

Drust vaulted over the counter and backed Lacey against the wall. “Are these spells from the Book ofShadows?”

Lacey only smiled. “Maybe. I have nothing to lose, so what does it matter toyou?”

It means everything to me, for I cannot lose you. He blinked at the thought.Focus on the matter athand.

“The book was never intended for mortal use. You know not what you have, Lacey.” Drust turned, mustered his most charming smile for the clients. All of them wereOthers.

“Pardon me, but Lacey has an urgent request to fulfill. You’ll have to go elsewhere. Have a beer onme.”

He waved a hand and all the witches vanished. They would find themselves inside a comfortable bar down the street, never remembering having visited the shop or why they were even in the area, only that the barkeep would run a generous tab, which Drust would laterpay.

As forLacey…

She glared at him. “And how am I supposed to pay the rent on this place this month without anycustomers?”

“You have more to worry about than bills.” Lifting her by the waist, he carried her into the backroom.

“And why are you always manhandling me? Asking nicely would get you further,” she complained as he set her down on her feet in the backroom.

Narrowing his eyes, he studied her. “I may consider it in the future. Would youcooperate?”

“No.” A small smile touched her mouth. “But I may consider it in thefuture.”