Maudlin's Mayhem (Bewitching Bedlam #2)(24)

He shrugged. “It’s a distinct possibility. But if I’m going to put him in stasis, I need to do so now. The sooner we get him into a calm state, the better. And I don’t want to leave him here. If I keep him at my clinic, he’ll be safer.”

“Safer than here at home?” I was starting to feel frantic. A sick feeling raced through my stomach. Had I inadvertently caused this? Who could be mean enough to target Bubba if they were mad at me? “Wouldn’t it be better to keep him in familiar surroundings?”

“He won’t know the difference, and if somebody is mad at you, then they won’t be able to hurt him any more than they have. Have you noticed anything else going on that’s odd? Anything that might lead you to believe that somebody has a gripe against you?”

I pressed my hand against my lips. “Oh great gods, the money.”

“Money?”

“Somebody stole fifty-four thousand dollars from me. They skimmed my account. But they’re in Dubai.”

“A person doesn’t have to live overseas to send money to an account there.” He patted my arm. “Ms. Gallowglass—”

“Maddy, please.”

“Maddy, I think you might want to talk to the police. It seems somebody is intent on making your life miserable. Meanwhile, let’s get Bubba squared away. I can keep him in stasis for two weeks without it affecting him in any negative way. I can give him a sedative until we get him to the office, where I can put him in stasis. I want you to convince him that it’s just a shot to help him relax, because I don’t want to scare him any further.”

We returned to the kitchen. I sat by Bubba and began to stroke his hair back from his face. “Listen, Bubs, the doctor is going to give you a shot to help you relax. I promise, it will help you feel better. Please let him?”

Bubba looked up at me, and his gaze was so trusting that it just about broke my heart. “Okay, Maddy. If you say so.”

“I do, Bubs. Remember, we love you, little guy. No matter what form you’re in.”

The doctor prepared the shot. “Bubba, this may sting a little but it won’t for long, and you’ll feel just fine after a few minutes. It will help you sleep for a little bit, all right?”

Bubba nodded. “Sleep’s good. I like to sleep.”

As Dr. Farrows injected him with the medication, I held his hand. I swore to all the gods that once I figured out who the hell had messed with Bubba, I was going to have a field day on their ass.





Chapter 7





BUBBA SLUMPED IN the chair within seconds after the shot.

“I’ll call my assistant to bring the ambulance around. He’ll help me take Bubba back to the clinic and get him situated. He’ll be in a magic-proof chamber, which is also sealed against vampires.” Dr. Farrows stopped, glancing at Aegis. “No offense meant.”

“None taken. Just take care of him.” Aegis looked as worried as I felt.

“I’ll start tomorrow morning trying to figure out just how he was hexed. Meanwhile, as I told Maddy here, she’d better start looking around for somebody who means her harm. They could be targeting her friends and loved ones, so I suggest you take care and be alert. All of you.” With that, Farrows took out his phone and put in a call to his assistant.

I explained to Sandy and Aegis what the doctor was going to do. “He thinks I’m being targeted.” I turned to Aegis, who had rearranged the sleeping Bubba so that he wasn’t sliding off the chair. “I have a thought, but I want to wait until he’s gone to talk about it. Meanwhile, I also want to get Snow and her dwarves out of here. I don’t for a minute think she did anything, but if I’m a target, it could put my guests in danger too. And Mr. Mosswood, for that matter.”

Aegis nodded. “Better safe than sorry. I’ll make arrangements at another hotel for them. If I have to, I’ll bunk them with friends. Sandy, can you stay awhile?”

She sat down next to Bubba. “Of course. Jenna’s staying at the school this weekend. Neverfall is having its spring fling and she’s actually taking part in it.”

We waited another fifteen minutes before Farrows’s assistant arrived, and I watched morosely as they strapped Bubba in a stretcher and carted him out to the ambulance.

“Should I go with you?” I asked, anxiously patting Bubba’s forehead. He was asleep—actually far deeper than sleep—but I still wanted to feel like I was doing something.

“Really, there’s not much you can do. I suggest you get some rest. Come see me tomorrow and I’ll show you where we’re keeping him so you can reassure yourself that he’ll be all right. Around ten a.m.?”

I stood back, letting the doctor and his assistant do their jobs. “All right. Tomorrow.”

As they drove off, all I could think about was how Bubba, regardless of his shape and the fact that he was a powerful spellcrafter, was just a scared little tabby inside.





SANDY STAYED WITH me as Aegis ferried Snow, the dwarves, and Mr. Mosswood to a hotel, and she agreed to stay the night. When he returned, we gathered around the fireplace in the parlor, drinking wine and eating cheese and crackers. I let out a long breath, and then asked Aegis the question that had been haunting me since Dr. Farrows first suggested that someone might be targeting me.