Desperate to pass the time, he reached inside his pants pocket and pulled out his truth coin, intending to walk it along his fingers or perhaps practice some sleight of hand. But instead, he could only stare down at its tarnished silver surface, overwhelmed by memories so vivid he could almost taste their bittersweet tang: Lily, hands on her hips, adorably annoyed as he showed off by flipping the coin from hand to hand; Lily, aghast expression turning to righteous fury when he confessed what the coin really did; Lily, her hands divinely warm and soft as he held them in place around the coin while Richard swore he would never harm a hair on her head.
What had Agent Grant done with her? How could he have been so sincere as to fool the coin’s magic, and yet still betray them less than a week later? Who was he working for? Roger? Sebastian squeezed his eyes shut as a shudder ran through him. He silently begged the heavens and whoever or whatever was in them to keep Lily safe from that monster. But then why would Richard save them from Roger and his goons—even shoot that demon in the face—if he were secretly working with the witches? No, there was a much more likely candidate, but it didn’t make things better. It made it all ten times worse—
“Mr. Blackwell?”
Sebastian jumped to his feet even as his eyes scanned the room. He spotted Agent Meyer at the entrance to the hall leading back to the FBI offices, and he raised a hand in acknowledgement.
“Right this way, please,” the woman said.
Long legs eating up the distance between them, Sebastian followed, coin clutched tightly in one hand as he tried to ignore the ache radiating from his chest. Agent Meyer led him to a small office at the very end of the corridor, its windows overlooking the parking lot and busy street beyond. The two desks squeezed into the room were both tidy despite the stacks of files and paperwork that covered their surfaces.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Blackwell?” Agent Meyer asked, her professional tone brisk as she took a seat at one of the desks and gestured to the single visitor’s chair. “You mentioned over the phone that it was urgent?”
“Yes, it is,” Sebastian said. He perched his lanky frame on the edge of the chair and leaned forward, fixing Agent Meyer with a searching look. Then, with hands clasped in front of him and his truth coin sandwiched between his palms, he took a deep breath and spoke. “Do you know where Agent Grant is? I need to speak to him right away. We—we had planned to meet this morning, but he never showed and he isn’t answering his cell phone.”
Agent Meyer’s forehead creased. “Are you two working together on something?”
“We, uh—yeah, I guess you could say that. He promised he’d meet me, and I really need to talk to him. Do you know where he is?” Sebastian asked again.
“It’s all right, Mr. Blackwell. I’m his partner, so anything to do with a case you can tell me.”
Sebastian shook his head. “No. It needs to be Agent Grant. Do you know where he is?” he asked a third time, starting to feel desperate. He needed her to answer a direct question for the truth coin to tell him if she were lying or not.
The woman’s lips turned down and she gave Sebastian a long, level look before finally responding.
(Don’t want to stop reading? You can continue the story HERE)
Afterword
Thanks so much for reading Lily and Sebastian’s continuing adventures! Don’t miss future books in the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus universe by signing up to my mailing list at www.lydiasherrer.com/subscribe for new release alerts, behind-the-scene sneak peeks, book giveaways, and chances to help me out in the story-making process.
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You can also discover more backstory by checking out the Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Universe Glossary here on my website.
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Still hungry for more books? Did you know that Sir Kipling stars in his very own adventure in Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Cat Magic? Read about how he teams up with an ancient German wizard to save McCain Library from snooping witches—and manages to be snarkier than ever while he does it! Check it out here!
Also by Lydia Sherrer:
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Universe
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The Lily Singer Adventures:
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Book 1: Beginnings
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Book 2: Revelations
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Book 3: Allies
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Book 4: Legends
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Book 5: Betrayal
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Book 6: Identity
(Book 7 coming in 2021!)
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The Lily Singer Adventures Novellas:
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: A Study In Mischief
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus: Cat Magic
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Dark Roads Trilogy (Sebastian’s Origin)
Book 1: Accidental Witch
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Other Works:
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Ashes of Hope: A Post Apocalyptic Dark Fantasy Short Story
Acknowledgments
With each book I write, I feel like the list of people I’m indebted to grows longer! If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a legion to publish a book. This installment of Lily, Sebastian, and Sir Kipling's adventures was particularly challenging, especially because I wrote and edited it while being pregnant with, giving birth to, and raising my newborn son. He won’t read this for many years, but I want to thank him for being such a (relatively) good little newborn, otherwise I never would have finished this book! Just as important was my wonderful mother and many friends and family who put hours into babysitting so I had space to edit (mostly) undisturbed. Even more vital was my husband, who once again provided essential feedback throughout the writing and editing process, not to mention stepping up and being the most awesome dad on the planet so I had time to work (at least until there was a poopy diaper to change, anyway). Much thanks to my sister, who keeps letting me rope her into illustrating my books. And, as always, I’m indebted to my editor, who keeps my spirits up with scathingly sarcastic jokes, and my cover artist, who once again produced a brilliant cover.
I am absolutely indebted to my amazing beta readers, who reached new heights in their feedback and helped me turn a mediocre first draft into a gripping final product. They are too many to name, but they know who they are. Just as amazing have been my many fans and ARC readers who have waited (more or less) patiently for this next installment, sending encouragements my way and keeping the fire lit under my posterior.
Lastly, I want to thank my wonderful Patreon members who have generously and faithfully partnered with me, making all that you see possible! They are: Kayla Hughes, Tony Thompson, Jessica Mcinteer, Gloria Minnick, Jeannie Bevins, Brent Williams, Thomas Lee Allen Kuchenbrod, Ted Thomas, Rebecca Smith, Lori Cambareri Pruyne, Kathryn Tarsha, Daniel, Maria Bowden, and Dragana Munitic. You all have such a special place in my heart—thank you for your support!
About the Author
Award-winning and USA Today-bestselling author of snark-filled urban fantasy, Lydia Sherrer thrives on creating characters and worlds you love to love, and
hate to leave. She subsists on liberal amounts of dark chocolate and tea, and hates sleep because it keeps her from writing. Though she graduated with a dual BA in Chinese and Arabic, after traveling the world she came home to Louisville, KY and decided to stay there. Due to the tireless efforts of her fire-spinning gamer husband and her two overlords, er cats, she remains sane and even occasionally remembers to leave the house.
LOVE, LIES, AND HOCUS POCUS
The Lily Singer Adventures Book 5: Betrayal
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Copyright © 2019 by Lydia Sherrer
All rights reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-950267-00-2 (paperback)
ISBN: 978-1-950267-01-9 (ebook)
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Published by Chenoweth Press 2019
Louisville, KY, USA
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No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Under no circumstances may any part of this book be photocopied for resale.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Cover art by Molly Phipps www.wegotyoucoveredbookdesign.com
Chapter illustrations by Serena Thomas
Love, Lies, and Hocus Pocus Betrayal Page 28