I threw back my head and laughed. “Yeah, it is.”
“Why do you hate me so, Valkyrie?”
“Oh, hush. I need to do me now.” I closed my eyes and brought up the image of how I wanted to look, then whispered the spell. I heard Zane chuckle and knew I’d hit my mark. I pushed the non-prescription reading glasses up on my nose. “You like?”
“I like.”
I got out of the car and glanced down at my outfit. A gray wool skirt with a thick sweater sporting fluffy cats reading romance books. My usual blonde hair was now a mousy brown that skimmed my shoulders.
We rounded the building and walked through the front entrance of Bottoms Up.
The place was packed. Every table was full, and people stood in clusters along the bar and near the walls, drinks in hand, voices overlapping in a low, steady hum. A banner reading “We love you, Mari!” hung magically in the air near the ceiling, the letters shimmering with a soft golden glow that shifted every few seconds.
I scanned the room as Zane and I eased into the crowd. All of our suspects were present. Hunter sat at a large table near the back with Sasha beside him. Rayna was across from them, a drink in hand, and Reed occupied the chair next to her, his broad shoulders hunched.
Eliza Nordic sat at a different table adjacent to them, nursing what looked like a glass of white wine.
Zane and I drifted through the room, surreptitiously making our way over to our suspects. I had at least two people stop me and ask where I’d gotten my adorable sweater.
A woman near the front of the room raised her glass and tapped it with a spoon until the chatter died down. “My name is Bella James, and I’m the president of Mari’s local fan club. I’d like you to raise your—” Her voice broke and she wiped away a tear. “I’d like you to raise your glasses as we toast to Mari and her wonderful books. Her voice and her creativity will be forever missed.”
Once the toast was finished, the conversations slowly resumed.
I nudged Zane and tilted my head toward the bar. Eliza Nordic had left her table and was approaching Sasha, who had stepped away to order another drink. Eliza said something I couldn’t hear over the noise. Whatever it was, Sasha’s eyes went wide, and something that looked a lot like fear flickered across Sasha’s face. She grabbed her drink from the bartender, muttered something short, and hurried back to the table where the others were sitting.
Eliza stood at the bar for a moment, watching her go. Then she turned back to her wine with a small, confused frown. Someone bumped into her and she excused herself and made her way slowly back to her table, her cane giving her assistance.
Zane and I finally reached the table where Hunter and the others sat. We leaned against the wall just within earshot, but far enough away it didn’t look like we were eavesdropping.
“Maybe the next toast should go to you two.” Rayna lifted her glass toward Hunter and Sasha. “I hear you’re an item now.”
The table went quiet.
“That’s enough, Rayna,” Reed said.
“Is it, though, Reed?” Rayna’s gaze stayed locked on Sasha. “We all know Sasha has had it bad for Hunter since high school.”She narrowed her eyes. “You were always pissed he chose Mari over you. Did you kill Mari, Sasha?”
Sasha’s arm moved fast. The contents of her glass hit Rayna square in the face. “You witch!”
Rayna shot to her feet. I felt the crackle of magic gathering, but Reed was faster. He grabbed Rayna by the shoulders and physically turned her away from the table.
“Outside,” he said firmly. “Now.”
He pulled her toward the door, but Rayna wasn’t having it. Most of the conversations in the bar had quieted, and everyone seemed to be watching the couple.
“You had your chance a long time ago, Reed.” Rayna slapped his hand away when he reached for her again. “I don’t have to listen to you.”
Eliza got up from her table and took a couple steps to Hunter’s table. She stopped next to his chair and offered a small smile.”I was hoping maybe we can talk soon?”
Hunter rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh, yeah. Soon. Promise. Just not tonight.”
Eliza nodded and walked away, a drink in one hand and her cane in the other.
The minute Eliza was out of earshot, Hunter leaned toward Sasha and dropped his voice. “Maybe we should tell her the truth.”
Rayna strode back to the table and snatched her purse off the back of her chair and glared at Hunter.”Keep your mouth shut, Hunter.”
“Don’t tell him to shut up.” Sasha’s voice was tight, barely controlled. “Maybe itistime we told the truth. Look what’s happening. People are dying.”
