Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(105)

“A building in downtown came to life and tried to obliterate its inhabitants.” Salvatore turned his head to take in the damage. His chin set, and a vein popped in it. “I believe this is the reason for the distraction, and probably just as many memory spells for this area too.”

“Big bad mama wanted a pretty picture for her photo album. I guess it’s too tacky to say I told you so,” Jeremy said.

Next to him, Simone got to her feet. “I’m gonna see if there’s healing I can do. Do us a favor and fall in a sewer while I’m gone.” She stomped off, leaving Jeremy alone with the Council member.

Jeremy looked at Salvatore suspiciously. “This was a public attack with hundreds of witnesses. How have you not captured her yet?”

“You’re an esteemed witch, Mr. Ragsdale. I ask, how would you track an energy vamp who spends most of her time in other worlds, literally wears a skin suit made of reptile shape-shifter leavings, and covers her head in a quilt knitted from hairs of multiple jinn?”

Jeremy couldn’t begin to contemplate scrying for a wig from super rare teleporting creatures, and he’d never realized that Rosaline’s skin wasn’t her own. That explained why his alarm didn’t go off until she was standing a foot from Simone. “You’d have to be a billionaire to afford those. A whole quilt?”

“Yes, a goddamned quilt. Luckily, there is one thing on Rosaline’s body that she can’t hide.”

Saying her name was an obvious humblebrag, but Jeremy bit. “What’s that?”

“The curse placed on her isn’t under her control, so she has a harder time hiding that. Her attacks on Desmond are an attempt to kill the spellcaster before we track her down.”

“You can only track her movements with said spellcaster’s personal items.”

Salvatore looked pointedly at him. “Which we have plenty of.”

Jeremy shouldn’t be surprised or indignant by Salvatore’s fake interest to steal parts of his essence, but it did hurt his pride nonetheless.

“It also helps if you stay alive long enough for us to catch her. The curse will lose its voracity when you’re dead.” Salvatore leaned down so their faces were close. “Seek asylum, somewhere, and I strongly advise you to tell Clive the truth.”

“No oath that you’ll protect me oh so valiantly?”

“If I could, I would place you above all, but my position prohibits me from such a decision. You are Faradin’s duty.” Salvatore straightened and walked away.

“Where’s Simone?” Clive asked as he and Edarra stood in Salvatore’s place a minute later.

Jeremy shrugged. “Flounced off to go heal people.”

“Yes, a dishonorable endeavor.”

I am too fucking tired for this shit. Jeremy allowed his magic to build inside him, so his eyes glowed. “Fuck off.”

“I’ll be glad to see the back of you,” Clive said and followed the sounds of the wounded.

Edarra stood without moving. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” Jeremy said. “Everything is peachy.” I’m waiting to be hexed any moment because of you buffoons, and I just found out the Council is collecting bits of me.

“You stink of fear,” Edarra said as she left to join Clive.

Bloody right I do.





Chapter 27


JEREMY CHECKED his phone again, but there were no messages from Desmond. For a week, Desmond had been dodging him, and Jeremy had no clue what he had done wrong. He has to know Rosaline has our photo, so why isn’t he calling me?

“You know how a baby leviathan is coming at us at high speed?” Simone asked. “I think it’s a good time to join in the fight.”

Jeremy sighed and put his phone away. A kitchen stove bounced off a nearby wall, and food abandoned by eaters running away in terror covered the floor. “It’s not my fault the Council isn’t doing a better job containing the illegal exotic animal market.”

“I didn’t ask for a critique!”

He lifted up his wand, pointing it in the direction that Simone’s wand and Clive’s staff were already aimed.

The large water beast’s hide was protected by lush scales in every spectrum of blue down its body to end in a myriad of green down a spiky tail. A translucent blue membrane fanned out around its neck as it roared.

“It’s wigglier than that darn wyrm,” Edarra said.

Why should we go through so much trouble? Jeremy thought. He whipped his wand away from the others and used his magic to fling the oven he had seen earlier to a corner of the dining area. He whisked another oven to another corner and repeated his actions until the beast was in Jeremy’s uneven square.

“What are you doing?” Clive asked.

“Ending this.” Jeremy swiped his hand in the air, and all the unplugged ovens turned on, instantly generating more heat than they would have on their own.

The leviathan reared back and slammed into the ceiling. It hit it again, but with less force as the room steamed like a sauna. As the water sweated out of the beast’s body, it wailed in high-pitched shrieks. When its coils barely twisted, Clive touched Jeremy’s shoulder.

“That’s enough.”

Jeremy didn’t drop his hand.

“We can capture it alive.” Clive grabbed Jeremy’s wrist and slowly lowered it. “Are you okay?”