Barely Bewitched Read Online Free PDF Page A

Maldaron is one of the world’s most powerful fire warlocks. The two of us have to get you ready for a challenge that will utilize spells involving all of the elements. If the Conclave sent Incendio, it’s because you’ll need a complex fire spell to survive the challenge. You understand? You need him to teach you, but the man is a Class Eight warlock. If you act like you’re not committed, he’s not likely to invest himself, is he?”
    “I haven’t even decided yet that I’m going to do this challenge thing. I think I need to talk to the person in charge. To explain that I don’t plan on being a witch as an occupation. Or even as a hobby.”
    “Are you trying to be thick? They don’t care what you plan on doing. You’ve spell-cast, love. You’re already a witch and subject to the laws of magic. You don’t get to say that you don’t want to play. If ordered to, Incendio can set fire to your house with you inside. Is that plain enough for you?”
    Yep, plain enough to give me a major case of nerves. I picked up my purse and dug through it until I found a lone Special Dark miniature hiding under my sunglasses. I offered to split it with Jordan, who declined with an impatient wave of his hand.
    “So, if I face the challenge and live, and then promise not to do magic, will they leave me alone?” I unwrapped the chocolate and popped it in my mouth.
    “After a fashion, yes. A witch or wizard can go inactive once initial licensing has been completed.”
    “When are you supposed to start training me?”
    “Tomorrow morning. You can join us for a drink tonight. Try to make a more favorable impression on Incendio.”
    I looked at my watch. “Can I meet up with you later? Give him a little time to settle in?” And to have a few drinks, which will hopefully make him friendlier . “I’ve got a couple of things I have to do first.” Like hide my ocelot from the wizard I’m supposed to suck up to.
    “Other things that you feel are more important than your own survival?”
    I crumpled the wrapper. “When did I meet you?” I asked with mock curiosity. “Right, I believe it was today. So you’ll give me a little stretch room, won’t you? I was in the middle of my regularly scheduled and kind-of-in-a-crisis life when you showed up out of the blue and said I needed to drop everything. Before I can get down to witch training, I need to take care of a couple things.”
    “By all means, then,” he said dryly.
    He’d been way more cheerful when I first met him. Guess he didn’t expect me to give him so much trouble, but trouble seems to be what I mostly get involved with these days. I left the inn, and Mercutio hopped down from the chair and walked with me to the car.
    “Yeah, c’mon,” I said and looked around to see if anyone was watching.
    He stood at the passenger door. I let him in and hurried around to the other side. “You’re going to have to lie low. I’m not sure what a Class Eight warlock can do, but it sounds pretty bad.”
    I drove across town to the new strip mall that was just completed. The tenants hadn’t moved in yet, so the parking lot was deserted. It was only a couple blocks from Riverbank Park in Shoreside Oaks, the most affluent part of town. I parked my car behind the construction Dumpsters, so no one would spot it and tell Zach or mention it to out-of-towners. Yep, I was trying to hide things from my friends and neighbors because Duvall talks a lot, and it talks fast.
    “C’mon, Mercutio,” I said. Merc jumped out. “I sure would like to know more about how you hooked up with that Incendio guy. Did you start off friends?” I asked.
    Mercutio batted his whiskers hard.
    “No, huh?”
    I kept us just inside the tree line and tried to be as quiet as Mercutio, who didn’t make a sound as he padded through the woods. When we got to the park, it was dark. The metal tunnel-shaped shed that surrounds part of the dock was locked tight. Like a lot of stuff in town though, Zach’s