MAKING MAGICKAL ALLIANCES: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel by Leigh Raventhorne (best color ereader .txt) 📗

to a split screen shot. On one half, the front of Margo’s shop was still visible. On the other half, there was a view of Harris’s back as he scurried around the corner, but whoever was filming this was right behind him and quickly closing the distance. The person must have been running, but the picture hardly reflected that, staying almost completely stable. A few seconds later, the person bumped into him, causing the ball cap to go flying.  The screen showed a hand catching Harris’s arm, pulling him up from what might have been a nasty fall, then the camera angle dipped as the ball cap was picked up, dusted off, and handed back to an angry Harris. As if a switch had been flipped, there was suddenly audio.

“Sorry about that. I was looking the other way and didn’t see you there. Are you all right, mister?”  The voice was male and didn’t have any definite accent from what I could tell, but he sounded younger.

Harris snatched the hat back, his expression indignant. “Get your filthy hands off of me! How could you not see me, you oaf? I’m the only person on this side of the street for nearly half a block.”

A pair of hands went up in a placating gesture. “Hey, I said I was sorry, man. I was just out for a run and I thought I saw someone I knew drive by. I only looked away for a second, no need to get upset. No one was hurt, buddy.”

“Hmmph! I’m not your buddy. Start watching where you’re going.” Harris took another wary look around, turned away, and stomped off as he settled his ball cap back on his head.

“Well, isn’t he a ray of freakin’ sunshine. Mission accomplished, boss,” the voice murmured, just before the camera shut off.

Suzette and Jeremy looked up from Jeremy’s phone. Suzette was grinning. “That sounds like Mac. He just put a tracker in that guy’s hat. So long as he doesn’t toss the hat, Jeremy’ll know where he’s at from this point on. Mac or one of the others will track him to wherever he’s staying and put another tracker in his wallet, his shoes, or whatever they think will be on him the most. They’ll also set up a camera or mic in his room and probably his car, if he’s got one. ”

“How very . . . cloak and dagger.” Jeremy’s resources never ceased to amaze me. Once again, I was reminded how very glad I was to be on his good side.

Suzette barked out a laugh. “Ain’t it, though? That Margo is going to get what’s coming to her—what’s been coming to her for a long time.” The hard gleam in her eyes was more than a little disconcerting.

Not knowing how to respond, I glanced back at Tess and Sam. Sam was looking at Jeremy thoughtfully, probably wondering if she could hire some of his people as freelancers for the firm—or to send up to handle the problem in Michigan.

“I think we should get back to the estate and figure out what our next move is. We’ll have to let the pixies know about the trackers, too, just in case.” I knew we’d have to come back, once we had a set direction to search out on the water, but I felt so far out of my league here, I didn’t know what else to suggest. Time was running out.

Chapter 9

Calling Stella back

Danai and Gloria were waiting for us out front when we got back. Tess had called to update them during our ride home, while Sam let the coven know they could head home, but needed to be ready to move on a moment’s notice and where we would meet. Rand was contemplative the whole ride. Me? I wasn’t sure how to act, now that I could touch him again . . . It felt awkward after two weeks of avoiding him. That we were in the middle of a crisis didn’t help matters at all, either.

Absently, I rubbed my bracelet and wrist. I was only just getting used to my magick and now there was this. I wasn’t even sure what ‘this’ was. Chewing my lip, I decided I need to call my aunt back from the other side and there was no better time than the present, right?

That might not be a bad idea, Roxanne. If you would call her from her bedroom, I would like her to see the kits.

That’s right, the last time I’d called her over, Zara was still pregnant. She would totally want to see them. Plus, she might have some insight on the missing children. Anything would help at this point.

Zara, can you inform the pixies about the trackers or should I send someone to Astra?

I will let her know what’s going on. She’ll consider it rude if I make this a habit, but considering the situation, I believe she’ll realize it’s warranted.

“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours, Rox?” Rand murmured as he walked up the stairs beside me. I turned to wave Sam and Tess closer.

“Zara’s letting Astra know about the trackers. And . . . I’m going to call Stella back. Maybe she’ll be able to tell me something about Margo that can help us out.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Tess said. “We get to meet her, right?”

“Oh, um, yeah. Sure.” How could I possibly say no? I would just have to wait to talk to Stella about some of the more sensitive stuff—like my mother. Again. “I’ve got to grab my ring. I’ll meet you guys in Zara’s room.”

“Awesome!” Tess grabbed Sam’s arm and practically dragged her down the hallway after Danai. Gloria gave an excited wiggle and trailed after them.

Rand started to follow me up the stairs, but I put a