I repeated my mantras over and over as I approached the headmistress, spymasters, and professors who would assess our performance.
“We got this,” Hunter said, as if trying to convince himself.
I gulped, shot Eva a nod of encouragement, and took the gold bracelet Headmistress Wake handed me.
“Yep. We’ve got this,” I said, and turned toward the warphole.
Heat caressed my skin as we stepped through the vortex. I shivered, delighting in the warmth after the cold walk across the academy grounds. Then, an even more familiar sensation hit my nostrils.
Salt. Seawater. The sound of the ocean coming through an open window.
My eyes took in the room that we’d landed in. I realized that not only did I recognize the smell and texture of the air, I knewwhere we were.
“Senator Smith’s mansion,” I whispered.
“What was that?” Hunter asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
“We’re in San Fransisco. My parents are friends with a state senator. I’ve come to his San Fran house a few times for galas and charity functions. This is the bathroom near the kitchen.” I pointed to a one-of-a-kind black marble statue of a woman holding three cats and a parakeet perched on her head. “I know that statue. Senator Smith told his wife she could have it, but it couldn’t be in the main living areas because . . . well, it’s weird.”
Hunter nodded. “This definitely looks like a wealthy person’s bathroom,” he gestured to the gold gilding along the ceiling and the top-of-the-line marble vanity. One might even call the toilet classy with its gleaming gold lid and handle.
“So, the next question is why are we here?” Hunter asked.
I shook my head. Senator Smith and his wife, Amelia, were kind people. They donated to many charities, and were always willing to lend a helping hand.
“Maybe they’re hosting a function tonight, and someone dangerous is attending,” I guessed. “I’ll try to sneak down the hall and see what’s up. Then we can conjure appropriate clothes.”
“I’ll wait here.”
I slipped out the door and had made it halfway down the hall when a woman I recognized rushed by at the end. She was a well-known socialite, clad in a blue, silk gown and dripping with diamonds. There was classical music trickling in from what I recalled was the ballroom area.
The senator and his wife were definitely throwing some sort of fancy social function.
A party with a demon in attendance.
I pressed my lips together. To have to deal with a possession at a high-profile event was tricky. It was something we’d have to do all the time when we became real spies, which made it an ideal challenge, but I wished I didn’t have a personal connection.
But Spellcasters hadn’t given me a choice.
I scurried back to the bathroom, and after giving Hunter the scoop, we began conjuring clothing appropriate for the scenario.
Five minutes later, I wore a striking, red, silk number that left one shoulder bare, and had a slit up to my thigh. The dress ensured I would garner attention, which was part of the plan. Since Hunter was more skilled in every type of magic, we’d decided that I would distract and charm others, while he took care of the actual possession.
“Damn, Dane,” Hunter wolf-whistled. “If I didn’t already have my eye on someone else, I would be all over you.”
“Thanks,” I said, and tried not to roll my eyes.
Hunter and Eva still thought no one suspected their relationship. I wasn’t sure why they hadn’t told me yet, but seeing as I was weird about relationships too, I didn’t pry. They would tell me they were gonna get married and have beautiful, bright-eyed babies when the time was right, and I would be happy for them.
For now, I had bigger concerns.
I held my arm out to Hunter. “Let’s find a demon, shall we?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Iscanned the packed ballroom, searching for familiar faces. Would Mom and Dad be here tonight? Our family wasn’t a regular fixture at the Smiths’ parties, but we weren’t complete strangers either.
While I missed my parents and yearned to see them, I also hoped they were still in L.A.—I didn’t want anyone claiming that I’d ridden their coattails through this challenge.
