Pet Psychic Mysteries Boxset Books 5-8 (Magic Market Mysteries Book 2) by Erin Johnson (reading diary .TXT) 📗

I looked around the group, confused.

The princess lifted her palm. “Cat is a monster, so that’s probably why you can’t speak to him.”

The prince cleared his throat. “Also, he seems to have mind control powers so… be careful around him.”

I arched a brow. “Seems like that could be pretty helpful, though.” And terrifying.

The prince shook his head. “Getting Cat to do what we want is hit or miss, at best.”

Princess Imogen stepped forward and slid an arm around Prince Harry’s waist. They exchanged a long look and seemed to be having a silent conversation, and then she turned to me. “We’d like to help you, Jolene. What do you need from us?”

I grinned, feeling reassured for the first time in a while. “Thank you.”

14

Teaming Up

“Ludolf keeps records of all the potions he’s tested on shifters in his underground lair. If we could sneak in and steal them, we might be able to engineer cures for the trapped shifters. Once they’re in their human forms, they would then testify against Ludolf.” I bit my lip. “Of course, we’d need a talented potion maker.”

Imogen glanced up at the prince. “Or a team of healers.”

“Our royal healers have some firsthand experience curing curses.” He shot the princess a significant look. “I’ll put them on the task, if we can get ahold of the files.”

Princess Imogen blew her bangs out of her eyes. “Are the files guarded or something?”

I explained about the potion lair and the three old women who worked down there.

The princess tapped a finger to her lips. “So if you could distract the potion makers, someone else might be able to steal the files?”

I nodded.

The prince cleared his throat. “Then we’ll go down into the sewers with you to retrieve the files.”

Francis the vampire drifted forward, his toes dangling over the floor. “I volunteer as well.”

Rhonda pouted. “Be careful, baby.”

I was moved—and also not sure this was a great idea. “Maybe you should send a palace guard or something?” I glanced at Madeline. “It seems dangerous and risky for actual royals to go down there.” I blew out a breath as I thought about the way the lion shifter and I had made eye contact. “Plus, Ludolf’s goons know I was the one who cried out and warned Sam before they fired the spell at him. Which means Ludolf knows… or will soon. I’m already on thin ice—walking into the underground means I’m going to have a target on my back. And so will anyone who’s with me.”

Madeline shook her head. “Compared to some of the other nonsense this gang has gotten into, it’s actually pretty tame.”

Princess Imogen and Prince Harry had another silent exchange and then the prince turned to me. “Imogen and I are swallows—which means we can turn into animals, like a shifter.”

The princess nudged him. “You’ve been practicing, too.” She beamed at me. “He’s getting way better.”

The prince blushed pink with pride.

Princess Imogen blew her bangs out of her eyes. “We can convincingly look like other people, too. Would that be helpful?”

I nodded, a plan already forming in my mind. “Yeah. Actually—I think that’d be perfect.”

She beamed. “It’s settled then.” She turned to the prince. “Ooh—we haven’t gotten to do anything really exciting in a while.”

Iggy gave a fiery smirk. “By exciting, you mean dangerous.”

She shrugged at her little flame in the lantern. “Potato, potahto.”

He shot her a flat look. “What does this have to do with potatoes?”

The princess rolled her eyes. “Human saying—never mind.”

I grinned. “Well… thank you. Sincerely.” I couldn’t wait to tell Peter, Heidi, and Will that I was doing a recon mission with the prince and princess and Francis the vampire.

Peter would be less than thrilled with me risking a trip back down into the sewers, but I was sure he’d feel better about it once he knew I had some decent backup.

The prince squared his shoulders. “We also pledge to try this Ludolf Caterwaul fellow fairly for his crimes—and to make sure the corruption my father fostered doesn’t allow him to escape justice.”

“Oh!”

We all spun to face Rhonda the Seer. Her body stiffened, and she threw her head back, mouth open, frozen.

“Oh, boy,” Iggy muttered. “Here it comes.”

The seer’s forehead glowed golden for several long moments, and then she suddenly relaxed, her shoulders slumping. She shook herself and blinked.

Her vampire boyfriend placed his long, slender hands on her shoulders. “Are you alright, my darling?”

She nodded, her headful of tiny braids bouncing over her shoulders. “Got a vision.” She closed one eye. “Something about ‘it’s cool, you can trust Ludolf’?”

I frowned. “Not to be rude but—that doesn’t sound right.”

She shrugged. “I’m just the messenger. The ether tells me what it will.”

Amelia lowered her voice. “Her visions are usually cryptic, and frankly, I don’t think even she knows what they mean half the time.”

I nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.” I could tell Amelia was still deeply worried about her friend. She crossed her arms and drummed her fingers, agitated.

“Hey, and I’ll put out the alert to as many animals and shifters as I can to keep an eye out for Sam. I’ll let you know if anyone spots him.”

“He shifts into a little green snake,” Kenta reminded me. “Thank you.”

Amelia’s gray eyes lit up. “That gives me an idea—we don’t want the shifter haters on the lookout for him, but maybe we could put up lost pet signs, like we’re missing our pet snake.”

Kenta nodded. “That’s not bad—we should offer a reward if anyone’s seen him—or better yet, found him.”

The prince grinned. “I think I can provide a sizable reward for Sam.”

“Sounds like we have a plan.” Princess Imogen beamed at all of us. “I think you all know what this calls for.” She stuck her arm straight out in front of her, palm down.

Her little flame groaned, and even most of her friends looked less than enthusiastic.

I leaned close to Madeline. “What’s she doing?”

The reporter shrugged.

The princess threw her head back and huffed. “Oh, come on!”

Her friends and husband