“‘Ley line friendly’?” He laughs in my face. “That’s the stupidest— What’s that even supposed to mean?”
My hackles rise.Stupid? I’m not being stupid!
Power builds in my hands. One of the lines running out from under the resort pulses red.
Not again.
I curl my fingers and exhale to get my emotions under control. I can do this. I can prove to Stone Maddox this is important—for the city.
“The materials must be different when you build around ley lines,” I lie.
Hopefully, he’s not familiar with the city zoning ordinances.
Stone rubs a hand down his face. “What are you talking about?”
“Just as I said.”
“Look . . .”
Something wars in his eyes, and I get the feeling that whatever is causing this reaction, it’s bigger than me dropping this news.
He speaks slowly, as if every word pains him. “No one said anything about the materials and the ley lines. That is a lambicorn.Lambicorn.We literally just found it, so I’d say the ley lines are doing fine. Besides, how would you know if they’re not? Can youseethem or something?”
“No, of course I can’t see them,” I snap. “Why would you even ask me that?”
“Because you’re talking about them as if you know they’re here.”
“Well”—I throw my hands up—“they’re everywhere in Mystic Meadows. Everyone knows that. It’s common knowledge.”
He folds his arms. “Really? Common knowledge? Hey, Isaac?”
Isaac puts down the two-by-four he’s carrying. “Yeah, boss?”
“Did you know ley lines are everywhere in Mystic Meadows?”
“No, sir. I did not.”
“And did you know that if we build here, we have to use different materials than what we’re already using?”
Isaac scratches his head. “Say what?”
“Exactly!” Stone turns back to me with his lips quirked in a triumphant look. “See? No one knows this. How do I know you’re not making it up?”
I straighten to my full height ofshortand grind out, “I am an official from Zoning. I would not make this up.”
He bends down and I get a prime seat to his jade-green eyes—eyes that might make another woman swoon but make me want to kick him in the shins.
He pokes my collarbone. “You know what?”
“What?”
“I think you’re a little bureaucrat trying to feel big, and I’m not biting. Go take your bullshit somewhere else. Better yet? Go push some more pencils into your head. Maybe they’ll give you some brains.”
The papers I’m holding fall from my hands and plop to the ground. I cannot believe he just talked to me like that.
He spins on his heel, showing me his back. “I’m not helping you clean those up.”
“I don’t need your help.”
