by Sara Hanover
“What kind of ritual did you build?”
“Oh, it looks like a summoning for a greater demon.”
I choked, swallowing my own spit. Absentmindedly, he pounded on my back for a few minutes. “Good work, Tessa. I don’t like repeating myself, but what made you suspicious?”
“It just didn’t feel right, and I thought of Remy. She doesn’t seem the careless type of person. Dropping a ring like that, just when we thought we needed it—well, the coincidence gave it away.”
“If only you’d thought that earlier.”
“We might have saved Morty?”
“No, no, not that. I’m not sure anyone could have saved Morty from his folly. I just could have saved myself some time searching for the correct artifacts, instead of the wrong ones with a muddled mind. As it stands now, we’re still not done. Another day, another treasure hunt it seems.” He dusted his hands off as he straightened. “Still in this with me?”
“Did the possum cross the road? I might ask the same question back at you—this stone just ate a malevolent bit of jewelry. I think I might need you as much as you need me.”
“Indeed.”
The professor stepped out of his little nest of phoenix wizardry and clasped my hands, both of them, in promise.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sara Hanover lives with a hoard of books, rather like a dragon, and works on improving her imagination daily. She loves plot twists and cats, family and crispy Autumn leaves, traveling and good food. She thanks her parents for supporting her first efforts in writing, and her husband for continuing to encourage her, along with the many good people at DAW Books.
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