Influential Magic Read Online Free PDF Page B

branch.
    “I have Link. In the unlikely event any thugs are up this early, he’ll have no problem taking them out.” He’d already be able to shift. The security scan didn’t affect him as long as it did the rest of us.
    Before she could argue, I strode off, Link running beside me. I stretched my wings, deliberately expanding them wide. If anyone was watching, there would be no mistaking who and what I was. Enemies of the Arcane were usually eliminated. It didn’t hurt to let people know which side I was on.
***
     
    By the time I made it to The Fated Cupcake in Uptown, sweat ran down my back and my tank top clung to my sticky body. Ick. Why hadn’t I just accepted the air-conditioned ride? I could give a cold shoulder with the best of them, especially in climate control.
    In spite of the sticky morning heat, I took a moment to savor the sight of my shop. The windows gleamed and employees bustled inside. A fair number of patrons scurried in and out of the plate-glass doors. Sure, it wasn’t a top-secret government paranormal protection agency, but what I did for a living made people smile. That was important, no matter how insignificant Phoebe made me feel sometimes.
    Link gave a small yip as he rounded the corner, heading for the side entrance. I followed, a smile finally breaking through my irritation as I let him into my private office. The chilled air caused goose bumps to form over my thin wings, but the shiver came from the tantalizing smell of chocolate mixed with citrus-tinged magic. Now I was home.
    I tossed the new assignment packet on my neatly organized desk and stared at it. Curiosity, tainted with a heavy dose of resentment, formed deep in my gut.
    Double agent? I had zero training in that department, and my loving Auntie Maude knew it. And what did David—handsome, easygoing, freshly-turned-vampire David—have to do with it? I’d completely forgotten to inquire about his deal. What did the Void want with a vampire anyway?
    A shudder crawled up my spine. Having my life drained from me would be worse than final death. As a faery that thrived on life magic, I couldn’t imagine anything worse than turning vamp.
    The innocent-looking file sat in the middle of my desk, taunting me as my curiosity grew. I’d have to read it sooner or later. Better to give myself some time to process before meeting my new partner. The brass tabs on the flap pinched my fingers as I pried them back.
    “Willow!” my assistant squealed as she burst in. “Thank goodness. I heard movement in here, and for a second there, I thought someone broke in to use your phone again.”
    I’d put a strict ban on cell phones not long after I’d opened the shop. Mostly because the technology interfered with my magic. Not having to deal with constant employee cell-phone abuse was icing on the cake. Since my private line didn’t register with the main phone system when in use, some of the employees didn’t hesitate to invade my personal space.
    “Since when does the morning crew sneak away for private phone calls?” I grinned. Em and Georgie—sisters well into their fifties—were both somewhat phone-phobic. We could barely get them to answer business calls.
    Tami laughed, her chin-length, curly black hair bouncing with the motion. “Never. The added pressure must be frying my brain.” She ran over, throwing her arms around me. “I’m so glad you’re finally back. How’s your mom? And Talisen? Did you get a chance to experiment with any new magical herbs?”
    “The short answers are: better, hotter than ever, and yes. I can’t wait to get back into the lab.” While I’d kept Mom’s herb shop running, I’d also worked on some new recipes, except for when I was hanging with Tal, staring into his gorgeous green eyes. The ones I tried not to drown in every time I saw him.
    “You have that look again,” Tami accused.
    “What look?”
    “The one where your cheeks flush and your eyes go all moony.” She winked and pulled on