The second book in my Animal Magic series is underway. It feels a little early to give a sneak peek, so this one is short. However, I’m excited to share the first bite from chapter 1. I hope you enjoy the light start to the novel and mild banter between Elodie and Talis.
“Is this the place?” Talis asked as he maneuvered his car into a parking spot under a streetlamp. The car was some kind of Mustang with racing stripes running through the center. Since the rest of the paint job was yellow, it reminded me of Bumblebee from the Transformers movies.
I re-read the instructions on my phone, keeping it low and shielding it with my childhood copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, so the glow wouldn’t draw attention our way. It’s not like the bright yellow car or overhead street lamp didn’t scream, look at us. This was supposed to be a surveillance mission.
I checked the street address and nodded, “1487 Murray Avenue.” I turned off my phone and tucked it under my book.
The windows of the former convenience store were boarded up, and a huge ‘For Sale’ sign loomed on the empty parking lot.
My fingers twitched on the door’s armrest while my other hand rested flat on my book. I bit my bottom lip, carefully considering my words. The thrum of my power coalesced through my contact with the book, and I whispered, “The car is black and unnoticed to anyone passing by.” A warm sensation melted through me and then flowed out. I could feel a mild residue around me as it dispersed into the car.
“El?” Talis’s brow lowered, and his eyes narrowed.
He was one of the few people who ever called me by the shortened form of my name, Elodie.
I removed my hand from the top of Harry Potter to break the connection with my power. “Bumblebee is a giveaway. I’m improving our stealth.”
Talis scoffed, but his lips perked upward. “Don’t knock the Bee,” he muttered.
I smiled. He didn’t like it when I called his pride and joy Bumblebee, but I think it was growing on him.
The vehicle was not the best for stakeouts or undercover work, but since Talis was driving, I was going with it. Besides, I didn’t have a say in the matter since I didn’t own a vehicle. Snow, the director of the Supernatural Response Team, had a few vans outfitted with tech gear. Most team members used their own vehicles and submitted receipts for reimbursement.
Talis and I were employees with the Supernatural Response Team and partners when on duty. His hero name was Cogsworth, since his power let him control time in short bursts. And my nickname was Belle since my power was channeled through books. One book, actually. I’d tried using other sources, and I never connected with them. There wasn’t anything special about my copy of Harry Potter. My power, for some unknown reason, resonated with the book. For this reason alone, the book was priceless.
Talis’s thumbs drummed on the steering wheel. “We should check it out.”
I side-eyed him. “This is surveillance only. We’re supposed to make sure Cruella is keeping the dogs here.”
Talis’s shoulders lifted. He swung his head in my direction with mischievously wiggling eyebrows and a grin. “Of course.”
I groaned and rested my head on the seat. “You’ll get us in trouble.”
“Come on.” He left the car, and I joined him on the sidewalk. Secretly, I supported Talis. Spending the night cooped up in the car and watching, hoping for something to happen, would be boring.
K. M. Wray 