Page 23 of Amber: Deja Brew

“Which is the definition of impersonating a police officer!”

Chase shrugs. Amber shrugs. I frown.

“We’re not breaking down the door!” I snap.

“Don't tell me you're taking her side!" Troll Amber shouts, and the murderous glint in her eyes is back.

"What side? She's sabotaging our cafe! I’m going to get her to come downstairs, and then she’s going to apologize, take down every single review, and never bother us again.” I raise my voice to a shout, “If she doesn’t, I’m going to tell her family. You hear that, Mini? I’m calling your parents!”

The threat of them finding out that their daughter is less than perfect should do the trick, but the bakery remains silent.

“Now what?” Chase asks.

“Now, we break down the door and go find that witch,” Troll Amber snaps.

I shake my head. “We’re not doing that.”

“Too bad.” Chase sighs. “Hey, what about the eardrum bursting spell?”

“The what now?” I frown.

“The amplification spell, Juli!” Amber’s Troll eyes light up. “You still know how to do that one, don’t you?”

“I guess...” Though me knowing any spell is relative. I’ve learned a bunch at the academy, but I’m just as likely to blow something up as get them right.

The only spells I can pull off consistently are ones I’ve practiced over and over again, day in and day out, for years. Like the protection spell, so I’d be ready if I ever got Amber into my bed... or she got me into hers. Good thing, too, or last night would never have happened.

The amplification spell, on the other hand, I haven’t used in years. I studied it for an exam back at the academy, but it always came out too quiet... or too loud, like Mini’s. Sure, nothing ever exploded when I used it, but there’s always a first time. Though, the only thing around us that could explode is Mini’s front door, and Amber might take that down, anyway. Guess Amplification Spell it is.

I channel my magic and fire. Yeah, yeah, I’m not supposed to fire. I’m supposed to gently release my magic from my fingertips, letting it swirl around me as I infuse it into the universe. But I rarely manage that kind of finesse, so fire it is.

“Mini!” I shout into the spell.

The front door explodes.

Glass flies everywhere. Someone tackles me. And I realize it’s Troll Amber, pushing Chase and me to the ground.

A few seconds pass in silence as we grunt and moan from the impact.

“What the hell happened?” the bunny shifter finally asks from somewhere beneath me. “Are your ears ringing? My ears are ringing.”

“Bean, are you okay?” I grunt some more as I try to get out from underneath her. It doesn’t work—at least not until she shifts from troll back to chameleon.

Once she becomes ten times lighter, I pull us both to our feet and check her over. Luckily, the glass all flew inward, not outward, so she’s no worse for wear. I’m fine, too, minus a painful bruise from where Bean tackled me, but Chase still hasn’t budged.

“You okay, man?” I ask, extending my hand to help him up.

“What?” he shouts, tugging on his ears. And then, right then and there, he shifts into a bunny.

“Oh, Juli, look at him! He’s so cute and fluffy!” Amber gushes, falling to her knees in front of Chase. Who suddenly shifts back to human form and stands over her.

“At least you didn’t call me soft or tiny this time.” Chase smirks down at her. “But maybe you should wait until we’re inside before you get up close and personal with my carrot?”

I realize that Amber’s at eye level with his crotch. A second later, so does she. Her cheeks turn beet red, and she scrambles to her feet. She looks really flustered, and Chase seems to realize it, too.

“I’m just teasing, sweetheart.” He grins at her. “I had to shift to get the ringing out of my ears.”

“Is it gone now?” I ask.