How to Marry a Warlock in 10 Days Read Online Free PDF Page B

breath.
    “They’re using hatchling gargoyles as sacrifices.”
    Dred almost dropped his Witchberry. “A lamia? What evidence did they find that would point anything so foul?
    Hatchlings? I know that their breeding numbers have been down since the war, but how is that automatically linked to dark magick or a cursed item? I suppose they are blaming us because of the war.” The Gargoyle War had been over for five years, but that wasn’t long enough for either side to forgive or forget the atrocities they’d committed against each other, all in the name of amassing more magick.
    If someone actually managed to raise a lamia in the filthy flesh . . . He shuddered to think of it. Those bitches were nasty. They had the torsos of women, the sex organs of women, but with the lower body of a bird, and teeth more like an alligator’s than a human’s. They lived off the meat of the innocent.
    “I’ve met with Moonfire Glee this morning. She’s says that they’re not accusing us, but would like our help.
    Moonfire thinks that there is someone else to blame who is trying to implicate the warlocks. A broken wand was found at the museum break-in.”
    “We don’t even use wands anymore, for the most part. It’s like putting bunny ears on your spelltop for better In-ternet reception.”
    “Dred, there was something else.”
    Dred knew from his tone that this was definitely something he didn’t want to hear. He’d seen some atrocities in the war and he’d even done things that he wasn’t proud of: killing, maiming, sometimes even torturing prisoners for information, but they were things that had to be done.
    “Just get on with it. All of this dramatic buildup does nothing for my attitude.”
    “Or your complexion,” Hubert attempted a joke.
    “Now you’re joking? This must be like deep-sea shit diving if you’re trying to be funny.”
    “I’ll just send you the file.”
    “Well, what do you want me to do about it, after I see this great horror?” Dred felt something akin to trepidation coiling like a snake in his belly, even though he spoke casually.
    “You need to find out who is doing this and stop them.
    Before anything happens to more hatchlings, or this bastard succeeds and manages to raise a lamia. I know you run in certain circles, but you’re going to need to expand your horizons to the calmer set. This guy isn’t going to do anything that’s going to draw attention to himself. He’s going to be living in the suburbs with a yard and a dog. He’s going to be married and they will be well-to-do. Your normal playboy broom-set party folk are not going to cut it.”
    “Okay, not a problem.”
    “You say that now.”
    “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Dred furrowed his brow.
    “Dred, you need to become a part of that group. Intrin-sically. You can’t just show up and blasé your way through this like you do everything else. They are naturally wary of those that aren’t their kind.”
    “Their kind? Are they another breed of warlock I’ve yet to hear about?”
    “Yes. Actually, I think they are,” Godrickle said thoughtfully.
    “What kind is that?” Dred said, unimpressed.
    “Married.”
    If Dred had been imbibing, he would have shot it out of his nose like Middy Cherrywood’s cranberry. “Look, I’ll do a lot for my people, but marriage?”
    “You’re escorting Middy Cherrywood to the Gargoyle Masque, aren’t you? She would be the perfect witch for your cover. Innocent. Sweet. You don’t have to marry her.
    Just get engaged. Do the rounds of parties and social functions that will be required when a warlock of your station gets engaged. Present it before the Chancellors’ Council. It will be approved. It will allow you to move in circles that you didn’t even know you wanted to move in.”
    “That’s for damn sure.”
    “We believe that a member of the Witches’ Auxiliary and of the Warlocks’ Club are involved. It could be a spousal team. Only married folk are allowed