“Our theory is that when I sneezed—”
“Right in my face, by the way,” Warrick added.
“—my half magic side put an accidental spell on Warrick. Now I need to change him back, but I don’t know how, so could you help me?”
“Well,Idon’t know what spell changes people into other stuff. Besides, even if I did,youwere the one who sneezed the spell, thereforeyouare the only one who can un-sneeze it.”
“Me?” Viktor went pale. “I don’t know how it happened in the first place.”
“Can we move things along? This isn’t exactly convenient, you know. My wife loves me, but she might have a problem with me permanently like,” Warrick gestured at his large form with one clawed hand, “this.” He started pacing, his tail knocking into table legs as he marched. A half-finished ceramic project started to topple over as he passed it, but Viktor zoomed over to rescue it, using his super-fast vampire power.
Viktor righted the vase that had leather pieces adorning it and moved the breakable piece to the center of the table. “Settle down. I didn’t do this to you on purpose. No need to go-go Godzilla on my workspace, Warrick.”
Their brother huffed again and this time a longer flame shot through his lips, bringing out a lovely enhanced darker grain in the wooden table leg he’d torched.Dragon kissed—there is a reason Warrick’s shop bears that name.
Ruby pondered the problem. “Okay. I have an idea.”
“Great. What?”
She motioned Warrick closer. “I don’t guarantee that this will work, you understand.”
Viktor nodded. “Let’s try it anyway. I’m desperate.”
“You’redesperate? I’m the one stuck like this.” Warrick snorted and a puff of smoke wafted out of his nose, but he also approached them.
Ruby positioned them facing each other then pulled a small investigative kit from her purse. She thought she had a substance that just might work. Retrieving the packet, she poured a small amount of its contents into her palm and resealed and stowed the packet.
Turning to them both she said, “Ready?”
“You aren’t going to make us share our feelings, are you?” Viktor asked, a dubious expression shaping his features.
That earned another snort from Warrick. Viktor danced a step away as Warrick’s dragon flame almost licked the top of his head. A wisp of smoke spiraled from Warrick’s nostrils to the ceiling. His arms, dotted with dragon scales, were crossed over his broad chest, surly attitude fully in place.
“No, you don’t have to share your feelings. Honestly. Both of you close your eyes.”
Once they couldn’t see, Ruby held her cupped palm up and blew fingerprint dust into Viktor’s face. He sneezed hard, right into their brother’s face. Warrick immediately melted from his dragon form back to his human form. Ruby grabbed Viktor by the nose, squeezing for several seconds so he couldn’t sneeze again and repeat the problem.
He breathed through his mouth, smiling.
Warrick said, “Hallelujah. I’m back to regular me again.”
“Tank you, Wooby. It wooked,” Viktor said. His whole posture sagged as if in relief.
Ruby held fast to Viktor’s nose, brushing extra fingerprint dust off his cheeks and forehead. Once he was basically cleaned off, she asked, “Do you feel like you still have to sneeze?”
Viktor shook his head. “Doh.”
“I’m going to let your nose go, but if you feel a sneeze coming on, you’ll have to stop it yourself. Grab your nose and don’t sneeze. Okay?”
Viktor nodded and she cautiously let go.
Warrick grabbed her and hugged her hard. “Thank you so much, Ruby. You’re a lifesaver. I thought I was stuck inside Viktor’s workshop forever.”
Her cheeks heated with the unexpected praise. She wasn’t used to doing something right when it came to spells and the craft.
“Something is obviously wrong with me.” Viktor sniffed twice. Ruby had heard that before and recently with Max and his spells. Did Viktor have a spell on him, as well?
“Besides me, who else have you sneezed on?” Ruby asked.
