More silence greets me and I let out a harsh breath. Is it too much to ask for my familiar to obey me for once? I pretend to look through books, making a growing pile for Lucas to read. Sweat beads across my forehead and I can’t tell if it’s my nerves or the magic overexertion.
Finally, movement in the corner of my eye. Something small, black, and fluffy slinks into the back room. With a flick of my wrist, the books arrange themselves into neat little columns before me. “I’ll be right back.”
Lucas grunts noncommittally and turns the page he’s reading. I slip in after Jinx, my heart in my throat as I look around the space.
Jinx sits her fluffy cat butt on my account ledgers, eyes half lowered in exasperation.
I cross to my desk, my eyes darting back to the open doorway. I can’t risk moving the silk curtains in case it alerts Lucas to our conversation. What’s a little more magically draining telepathy when it’s for the greater good?Let’s go talk in the loft.
Jinx’s ears flatten, pupils slitting. Clearly, she disagrees.
I sigh harshly and squat down before my familiar. My voice is barely a whisper. “I don’t want to be overheard.”
Jinx blinks lazily, her ears swiveling to the side.
I sigh. I have only one shot to make my case to Jinx, or the shifter will ignore me. It’s a miracle that she listened and came out in the first place. I give the doorway one last nervous look. “We found something that could force the spider back into its book form. It’s called the Amulet of Acerabus.” I take a shuddering breath. “It’s with the Bauers. The two of us need to go get it without,” I nod towards the main shop, “him.”
Jinx blinks. A kitty paw rises and points at the open door.
I whip around, heart in my throat. I release a hard breath when I find the doorway empty. It takes a few moments to interpret Jinx’s meaning. “You want me to involve Lucas?”
Jinx nods.
My whisper has a hint of desperation. “I can’t.”
Ears flatten.
“I’m serious.”
Eyes slit.
I huff a sigh. “Just transform and talk to me!”
Fluff flattens.
I snap. “I’ll be fine. I can handle one transformation.”
Jinx heaves a sigh. Her body morphs and it takes all my training to keep my face unchanged. The draw on my power reserves is worse than I imagined, but then again, Jinx hasshifted more in the past few days than she has in years. A sharp pain slices through my chest and I grind my teeth.
Jinx crosses her patchy legs on the desk. “I’ll make this quick.” She scans me. “Before you pass out.”
I hiss, “I’m fine.”
“Whatever.” She nails me with a hard glare. “Since you’re too panicked to think clearly, allow me to remind you of the problem with your terrible plan. I cannot leave the shop. The heart’s pentagram requires its host to be within the bounds. Since we share the same thread, one of us must always be within.”
The blood drains from my face. “I can’t go alone. I can’t face them without you.”
Jinx points towards the door. “Then take him.”
“But he’s hurt.”
“So are you. You’ll have each other’s backs while you go get the amulet.”
“But…” Sickness rises in my throat. “Then I’ll have to tell him?—”
A snarl harshens Jinx’s words, patchy hackles rising. “Then tell him!” I hush aggressively, but Jinx won’t be calmed. “Tell him who you are, who has the amulet, what you did?—”
I scoff, fear tipping my words into defensiveness. “Are you insane? Old age decaying your mind to match your moth-eaten coat? Absolutely not. No one can know about the—” I silently mouth ‘curse’ and Jinx is less than impressed. “It’s for all our safety. Trust me. It’s better this way.”
