Can he read my mind? I just thought that same word.
“Fuss is one way to put it,” I say.
“What else could be the problem? The worst that can happen is if she rejects you.”
“That isn’t the worst. And I’ll thank you to mind your business, Master Grumlin.”
“Ach, call me by my name. I’ve been too pushy, so we’re friends now despite how annoyed you are by me at the moment.”
I huff a laugh. “Fine then, Grumlin. Now back right out of my love life, please.”
He bows his head. “Apologies. Will do.”
The wizard isn’t a bad fellow. A normal person would likely take his encouragement with no resistance. But vampires aren’t normal. Not even half ones. Especially half ones.
Chapter 13
Colette
Archer hasn’t been at the tavern’s bar top for more than a few minutes, but it looks as though he and Grumlin are already having a deep discussion. I want to give Archer space, so I leave for the reading without drawing attention.
“Archer isn’t joining in on the reading?” Kaya whispers as she pushes the tavern’s door open.
“Again?” Tully scowls at Archer’s back as the door swings shut.
The night is clear and getting colder. Snowlight weather, indeed. I want to be excited about the event and tonight’s reading, but what if others in town are curious like Tully and Kaya? What if the whole thing dissolves into gossip?
“He isn’t into crowds. That’s all it is,” I say, completely lying. I don’t want to get into his wholethe work is too raw for a readingthing.
“I’ve heard vampires can be solitary like that,” Kaya says.
Tully nods and flicks her wand at a snow drift. The snow separates and lifts into the air before snapping like a fire and bursting into rainbow-colored sparkles.
I grab her free hand. “That was beautiful.”
She lifts an eyebrow at my grip, so I release her.
“Thank you,” she says. “I like playing with snow and magic.”
That reminds me of my conversation with Kaya and Cyrus.
“Tully, is there any way I could persuade you to magick the Snowlight ritual so that Archer will be my partner?”
Her gaze cuts to the right, then to the left. “Is this a test?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Kaya shakes her head. “No, she’s serious, Tully. That’s what I meant earlier.”
Tully slides her wand into her belt, and we walk around the fountain and head toward the bookshop.
The witcheyes the sky like she’s looking for signs. “The mayor has ordered me not to meddle in people’s affairs unless all parties agree to the magic involved ahead of time.”
“But this isn’t a love spell,” Kaya says.
I like that she’s on my side. “Exactly,” I say. “Nothing like that. I’ll have him as a partner for a few minutes. It’s not that mischievous. If the drawing is a randomized magic spell anyway, who is to say we wouldn’t have drawn one another? It’s only a little mischievous.”
Tully grins, and it looks both sweet and wicked and I’m not sure how she manages that. “A little mischievous?”
