by Kathy Dexter
Ben snuggled Theo into the front passenger seat. “Good thing the keys are still in the ignition. Saves us having to hunt for them.”
Logan made his phone calls while the others waited. When he finished, he filled them in. “Doc Adams will run some tests on Sylvia, which will include blood samples. Clarissa will assist. They’ll also make sure Theo’s recovered fully.”
Ben hugged Logan before climbing behind the wheel. As he shifted into gear, he rolled down the window. “I’ll call you when we get results.” He sped down the road.
Logan turned to the two women. “Time to drive you home.”
“We’re going to help you hunt for those pills.” Hunter signaled to Ally to take the back seat while she slid into the front. “Let’s go.”
Logan eyed her as he climbed behind the wheel and turned the ignition. “Getting a little bossy, aren’t you?”
“Maybe I’ve decided not to be pushed around.”
“About time.” Ally leaned toward the front seat. “Sylvia’s your stepmother?”
“Yes.” Logan’s eyes churned with green icebergs. “My father’s second marriage.”
Hunter didn’t enjoy treading on personal territory, but a little more information might be helpful. “How long has she acted so. . .unbalanced?”
“About a month, I think.”
“Has she been ill?”
“No.”
“Do you think the pills caused her strange behavior?” Hunter remembered how disoriented she’d felt after her hospital stay and the drugs she’d been prescribed. The medication from Dr. Paul had sent her spiraling into another universe. Had Sylvia experienced the same sensations? Hunter could empathize. But why had Sylvia resorted to taking pills?
“Maybe. Only way to know for sure is to have them analyzed.” Logan’s tone shifted from a dark grimness to slight amusement. “Sounds like the cop is being interrogated. Role reversal?”
Ally nudged Hunter with her elbow. “And you called me the nosy one.”
“More like my brain is finally working on all cylinders.”
When they arrived at the West house, Logan unlocked the door and waved them in. “Hope you don’t have any allergies.”
Ally was first. “Holy cow!”
“Sylvia’s fondness for flowers kind of exploded,” Logan said.
Huge red and pink dahlias clogged the kitchen curtains, yellow daisies and roses intertwined across the living room furniture, and purple wisteria clambered up the wallpaper.
Hunter strangled the first words that popped into her thoughts. “A tad overwhelming,” she managed.
“More like blinding,” Logan said. “Makes me want to blink every time I come here.”
Ally rubbed her nose. “I feel like sneezing.”
“Maybe we should concentrate on the search for pills,” Hunter suggested. “Where do we start?”
“The two bathrooms,” Logan said. “Bring whatever you find to the kitchen table.”
They raided the medicine cabinets and vanity drawers but returned with only a few prospects.
Ally held up two vials and a rectangular box. “Aspirin, cold medicine and some fish oil. Unless Sylvia stashed her pills among over-the-counter medications, I got nothin’.”
“Only a prescription for cholesterol medication in the master bathroom medicine cabinet,” Hunter said.
“My father’s,” Logan said. “I checked the kitchen cupboards. No pills anywhere.”
Trying to think, Hunter massaged her cheek. “Maybe she swallowed all the pills she had. The doctor can probably figure out from the blood tests what Sylvia ingested.”
“And if he can’t?” Ally asked.
Logan pointed to Hunter’s amulet. “See if you can get that dragon to behave like a metal detector, but with pills.”
Hunter mulled over the plausibility. “Is that possible?”
“You wrapped a woman in a cocoon and helped a kid breathe again.” His eyes gleamed with humor. “Even sent thieves flying into a tree. I think you can handle it.”
Hunter whooshed. “You knew Theo and I hadn’t told the whole truth in our statements?”
“You wanted the police to believe you.”
“I didn’t know about Mystic Lake’s magic then.”
“Or didn’t believe it. Ironic, isn’t it?” Logan grinned at her.
“She doesn’t want her aunt to know about the amulet’s capabilities,” Ally added.
“You’re both right.” Hunter sighed. “Does that mean I’m in trouble with the police?”
“Not for now. Particularly since we haven’t arrested anyone who can contradict your story.”
“Maybe Hunter should use the dragon to find the bad guys for you?” Ally quipped.
“I’ll settle for locating those damn drugs,” Logan muttered.
Ally patted his arm. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be flippant. You must be sick with worry about your family.”
“We have to help Theo.” He didn’t go into detail. “The best way is to get his mother back to normal.”
Hunter brushed her fingers across the amulet. “Let’s find those pills.”
A blue glow flickered and spluttered sparks to the floor. The dragon popped like a burned-out light bulb.
CHAPTER 9
H UNTER SHOOK THE AMULET. “It’s not working. Why not?”
“Has it ever done that before?” Logan asked.
Hunter’s eyes narrowed. “In the woods when the tree fell on us. The dragon didn’t automatically shoot a beam to push the maple away.”
“Her dragon’s always protected her from falling objects in the past,” Ally explained.
Confusion fluctuated around Hunter. “And I’ve never had to recharge it.”
“But you said its potency was more intense in Mystic Lake,” Ally said. “Maybe that intensity drains the magic, and it has to be restored.”
Desperation tinged Hunter’s voice. “How?”
“Theo used his magic and the amulet to heal my wound,” Ally said. “Could he recharge the dragon?”
Hunter chewed on her lip. “He’s in no shape to do that.”
“I might be able to provide a little current.” Logan’s gaze held humor. And something more.
Hunter’s face warmed from the emerald embers in his eyes. “Can’t hurt to try.” She placed the amulet in his palm.
“Together.” Logan captured her hand and placed it over the amulet.
With the dragon between their palms, they interlaced their fingers. It didn’t take long before Hunter’s skin prickled, and melodic rhythms hummed deep in her core. She tightened her grip on Logan’s fingers, her body swaying. Electrical pulses visibly jumped between the auras that surrounded them, interconnecting with the amulet. Blue snippets of electricity sparkled around the dragon, deepening, until sapphire flames saturated the amber.
The same fire permeated the marrow where Hunter’s magic resided, heightening and intensifying its potency. Her hand slipped from Logan’s. She leaned against him, gasping for breath.
Logan gathered her close and croaked, “Bottled water in the fridge, Ally. Quick.”
Ally grabbed two, twisted off the caps, and handed one to each of them.
Logan sat on one of the kitchen chairs, supporting Hunter on his lap. They gulped down the cooling liquid.
Ally opened the freezer, grabbed lumps of ice, and deposited them on a couple of paper towels. “This might help.” She handed the ice to Hunter.
Hunter held the towel against the back of her neck with one hand and did the same for Logan with the other. “Are you okay?” she rasped.
He arched an eyebrow and tugged her closer. “A little overheated.” Fire danced in his gaze.
Hunter let a cube slide down the back of his shirt. “That should cool you off.” She passed another along her cheeks, the chill bringing relief.
“Maybe you two should be packed in ice.” Ally waggled a finger at them before snagging more bottles from the refrigerator. “I was sure those dragons
had set you both on fire.”
“Dragons?” Hunter looked down at her necklace. “More than one?”
“Little blue ones.” Ally fluttered her fingers in the air. “Bursting out of the amulet and buzzing like bees.”
Logan pulled out a chair next to him and gestured for her to sit. “What happened?”
“No one’s going to believe this.” Ally briefly pressed her fingers to her eyes and breathed deeply. After a few moments, she continued. “Those little beasts spread their wings, spiraled around both of you, breathed fire out of their mouths and into yours.”
“I believe it.” Hunter drank more water and breathed a sigh as the heat eased. “At first, I felt a warmth to my core. Then a blast of fire.” Hunter placed a hand on Logan’s chest. “You felt it, too? Deep inside?”
“Almost unbearable. But it ignited my magic in ways I’ve never experienced before.”
His gaze jolted her. Something else had blazed to life besides the abilities of the amulet. Not the time to deal with that. Hunter spoke to Ally. “What happened after that?”
“Blue sparks skipped from your skin to the dragons.” Ally tilted her head. “As if you’d shared some kind of internal energy?”
“That’s how it felt,” Hunter acknowledged.
“Then the dragons zoomed back into the amulet with a snap,” Ally said. “The sapphire glow brightened and deepened as each one hit the blue amber. Yowza!”
Hunter stared at the dragon. “This is beyond anything that’s happened in the past.” I think.
Logan helped her stand but kept hold of one hand. “Maybe you’re just beginning to learn what you and your amulet can do.”
“Scary.” Hunter’s fingers trembled as she brushed the dragon, which immediately smoldered. “Looks like it’s working. Maybe we should concentrate on finding those pills.”
With her free hand she aimed the dragon’s blue beam like a flashlight. It led them down the hall to the master bedroom where the glow settled on the bottom drawer of one of the bedside tables.
“We already looked there,” Ally said.
“According to the dragon, probably not close enough.” Logan pulled out the drawer and emptied everything on the rug. “Ah! A finger hole.” He lifted the false bottom and plucked two small brown bottles out of the cavity. No labels.
“Sylvia’s stash,” Ally whispered, her eyes rounder than normal.
“What now?” asked Hunter. “Take them to the police lab to have them tested?”
Logan disappeared out the door and soon returned with a plastic sandwich bag. He poured five pills into the bag. He replaced the two bottles in the false drawer, dumped everything else back on top, and shoved the drawer closed.
“You’re going to leave the bottles here?” Ally asked.
“Better if she thinks we didn’t find them. Otherwise, she’ll get more and find a new hiding place.”
“What happens when she realizes some of the pills are gone?” Hunter asked.
“After her behavior tonight, I suspect her memory’s wobbly enough she won’t notice,” Logan said.
“Fingerprints?”
“We’d only find Sylvia’s on the bottles.” Logan sealed the bag and slipped it into a pants pocket. “The techs can check to see if her supplier left a partial on one of the pills.”
“What do we do now?” Hunter asked.
Logan pulled out his wallet and checked the contents. “How about some dinner, ladies? I’m starving.”
Ally rubbed her stomach. “Yum! A great idea.”
Logan smiled. “Let’s go to the Lucky Horseshoe. My treat.”
Jake Tanner, owner of the pub, set them up in a back booth and took their orders for the special. Soon they stuffed themselves with lasagna and a side salad.
Logan finished first and called his father for an update. “Sylvia’s sleeping peacefully and, according to Doc Adams, Theo has no residual effects from his mother’s actions,” he reported.
“That’s wonderful,” Hunter said. “Theo’s such a great kid.”
“Did the doc say what will happen when Sylvia wakes up? Maybe undergo withdrawal?” Ally suggested.
“A good reason to find out what’s in her pills.” Logan paid for their meals, and they headed out.
When they reached the cottage, Ally leaped out of the car. “Gotta pee.” She disappeared inside.
Logan took Hunter’s hand. “You know she wanted us to say some private goodbyes.”
“That’s Ally. Always looking for romance.” Hunter bit her lip. Should she really have brought that up?
“What’s bothering you?”
“Not mind linking, were you?”
“No. But somehow the enhanced magic inside me starts throbbing. Like a drum on steroids. Particularly where you’re concerned.” Logan squeezed her hand.
Nervous trills fluttered along Hunter’s spine. “I’m concerned about Sylvia’s comment that she and her friends will come after me. What about my book signing? I don’t want to put any of those kids in danger. Should I cancel?”
“A sick woman’s gibberish.”
“What if it’s not?” Hunter’s stomach wrenched.
Logan wrapped his arm around her and tugged her close. “I didn’t mean to make light of her threat. I’ll ask around, see if her crazy talk had some truth to it.” Logan pulled out a card. “My cell number is on the back. Call me at any time if you sense something’s wrong.”
“Okay.” Hunter tucked the card into her pocket.
“You’ve had a lot to deal with tonight.” He leaned toward her until she could read his thoughts in those warm green eyes. “What we experienced with the blue dragons can wait.” He lightly brushed her lips with his before getting in his car and backing out of the driveway.
Hunter watched him go. Part of her wished he’d stay, but a chunk of her could use more time. She strolled toward the water, drawn by a kind of magnetic force.
The atmosphere trembled with foreboding. Spooky. Where’s the bogeyman? Hunter rubbed her temples. Too much stimulation from those buzzing dragons.
Shadow yowled and pounced onto the sand. Trouble.
Hunter scanned the waters and glanced toward the woods. No prickles. But the whispering winds shivered along her spine. Where?
The cat leaped away and disappeared among the trees.
CHAPTER 10
V IOLENT AND UNCEASING, the waves roared. Hungry beasts, they chomped into the defenseless boat, yanked the wooden hulk downward, submerging it completely.
They seized Hunter as part of their feast, ready to swallow her whole. The waters churned around her, tightening until she couldn’t breathe. They dragged her toward the bottom, drowning her as they had the boat.
Death’s jaws clamped down.
With one last gargantuan effort, she fought back, pushed upward, and gasped for air.
Hunter awoke, panting, dripping in sweat instead of lake water.
She kicked free from sheets and blankets that shackled her flailing limbs, stumbled to the window, and shoved it open. Still swamped with the sensation of drowning, she gulped the air. A breeze rippled around her, quieting her, washing away the nightmare.
This dream had more details than any she’d experienced in the past, the terror more vivid. Had the vision Theo created with his wand aroused deeper memories?
Three people stood on the boat’s deck. She and her parents? She slapped her hands against her head. Why did her cantankerous brain refuse to reveal those details?
Hunter sat in the rocking chair next to the window and let its swaying motion and the soft winds comfort and revive her. She touched her grandmother’s journal on the small table nearby as though it could shield her from the heebie-jeebies.
She'd been reading the book all day, trying to decipher the faded writing, searching for clues about the family she couldn’t remember. Mary Hawthorne fascinated her. Curious about the cosmos and its workings, Mary had investigated elements of magic she’d discovered in her travels. Strange wo
rds and phrases were sprinkled throughout her journal. Spells? They tempted Hunter to experiment. Better wait until she learned more. Or she really might turn Sylvia West into a toad. Hunter giggled at the image.
Some passages in the book referred to concerns Mary had about her family, some problem she would soon have to handle. Something that magic couldn’t solve? And was it too much of a stretch to think it might be connected to Hunter’s memory loss?
Nah! Couldn’t be. According to the dates in the journal, Mary’s worries centered around a time before Hunter’s birth.
Other passages were totally unreadable, a mixture of letters and numbers that made no sense. How on earth could Hunter translate such nonsensical babble?
Rumbling thunder caught her attention. The sky blackened with billowing ebony clouds. Pitchforks of lightning flashed in an uneven rhythm. The breeze shifted, grew cold and brisk.
Hunter shuddered and closed the window.
A cat meowed softly below, somewhere among the bushes which huddled against the porch.
Not Shadow's loudest cry, but Hunter caught her meaning, stood, and scanned the grounds.
Lights flickered near the woods. Hunter touched her amulet and a sapphire beam illuminated the trees, haloed dark silhouettes creeping toward the cottage. They stood with raised fists, voices clamoring. “Get out, witch!”
Orange and yellow sparks lit fragments of cloth dangling from liquid-filled bottles. The intruders lobbed the fiery containers at the house. Glass smashed and fire blazed beneath the window.
Horrified, Hunter ran to the other bedroom and shook Ally. “Wake up! They're trying to burn down the house!”
Ally rubbed her eyes. “Wh-a-a-t?”
“Hurry!”
Hunter dashed back to her bedroom to grab Mary’s journal. She glanced out the window. The men had stopped, cheering on the fires eating their way closer to the cottage.
Fury pulsed along her skin. Fingers curled into fists as her eyes narrowed and focused on the enemy. Really? Neanderthals thinking they could scare her away with their nightmare games? Enough!