Now or Never: Wizards of Nevermore Read Online Free PDF Page A

getting.”
    “Sorry. We try to be discreet, but it’s not easy.”
    “Shifting into a dragon is no small feat.” He sent Gray a level gaze. “And neither is flying around with Lucy on your back.”
    “Oops.”
    “Yeah,
oops
,” said Taylor. “All those stories about the magical ancestors being shifters…Well, people think they’re myths. And you’re gonna go prove ’em wrong. Everyone will know you’re Jaed’s champion.”
    “You’re worried people will figure out that Nevermore is a magical hot spot.”
    “Bound to come out eventually.”
    “We have to trust the Goddess, Taylor.”
    Taylor nodded, but he looked away. He wasn’t a magical. He lived with them, was related to them, and worked for them, but he was a mundane. And he didn’tlike Gray’s suggestion of a magical war. All because the Ravens dropped out of the governing structure? Magical hot spots like Nevermore would be prime real estate in a wizard war. Yeah. It would be bad—for everyone, but especially for those without magic.
    Gray drained his coffee mug. “I gotta get back to Lucy. The Halloween party is more than two weeks away, but she’s already futzing over the decorations. You’ll be there, right?”
    “Wouldn’t miss it,” said Taylor. “I’m gonna win that pumpkin-carving contest.”
    Gray laughed, smacked Taylor on the shoulder, and then left, giving Taylor one last wave before he headed out.
    Taylor took their mugs to the sink and rinsed them.
    Pain shot from his temples to the center of his forehead, throbbing in a circle of agony. He dropped the mug, barely hearing its protesting clatter. He staggered forward, pressing his palm against his head. Gods-be-damned! Bright light danced behind his eyes, and he groaned. Then he heard a swooshing sound, like wings.
    Accept what belongs to you, Taylor.
    Then the pain disappeared.
    He slowly straightened, wiping the sweat beading his brow, and tried to get back his equilibrium.
    What the hell!?
    He took a few deep breaths, clenching and unclenchinghis fists. With some effort, he pushed away the dread squeezing him as tightly as a constricting python.
    “Taylor!”
    Arlene’s panicked voice had him shaking off the fear, the ghosts of pain, and rushing out of the break room, down the hall, and into the main office. He found her in the lobby, chest heaving and a quivering hand pressed against her throat. Her eyes were as wide as saucers.
    “It’s Atwood!” she cried. “The dumb son of a bitch went and killed himself!”
    Taylor managed to snag Gray before he had gotten too far down Main Street. Together, they walked the short distance to the narrow brick building that housed the offices and home of Atwood. Arlene wanted to come with them, but Ember had arrived with tea and comfort, managing to talk his shaken assistant into staying put.
    “Where’s Trent?” asked Gray.
    “Still in school. He usually comes over at lunchtime and checks on his uncle. Arlene passed him on the sidewalk and chatted with him for a minute. Then she went inside to harangue Atwood about his health.”
    “And he was still breathing?”
    “Like a water buffalo in labor,” said Taylor. He saw Gray’s look and offered a grim smile. “Arlene’s words.He was in his upstairs apartment, lolling on the couch and watching television. She made sure he took his meds, cleaned up the lunch dishes, and was in the kitchen brewing herbal tea—and probably talking his ear off. Next thing she knew, he’d disappeared. That place isn’t too big. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, the living area, and a tiny kitchen. She figured he’d lumbered downstairs to raid a stash of Twinkies or Little Debbie’s. Trent told me Atwood had junk food tucked away in every nook and cranny.”
    “Stubborn bastard.” Gray shook his head. “He left the apartment and got down the stairs without Arlene hearing him?”
    “Apparently. When she realized he was gone, she went hunting for him. Found him in the newspaper archives. Said he