Kate Daniels 02 - Magic Burns

snapped taut, and a huge fish tail reared above the crowd, followed by a serpentine body covered with turquoise scales bigger than my head. The scales glistened with moisture. Something about that fish looked familiar…I couldn’t recall where I could’ve seen a three-story-tall fish. Not exactly a sight I would likely forget.
    â€œWhat is that?”
    A balding middle-aged man with a teamster badge on his leather vest turned to me. “The Fish Market Fish.”
    â€œThe bronze sculpture in front of the Fish Market?”
    â€œUsed to be bronze.”
    â€œHow did it get here from Buckhead?”
    â€œThere was a river,” a woman on my left said. “I saw it from the window.”
    â€œThe ground’s dry,” the teamster pointed out.
    â€œI’m telling you I saw a river. You could see clear through the waves. Like it was made out of ghosts. Never seen nothing like that.”
    The teamster spat into the dirt. “Yeah, well, we’ll see worse before the flare’s over.”
    We stood to the side, away from the crowd, and watched the fish being hoisted up.
    â€œYou can’t leave me,” Julie declared.
    Considering our earlier conversation, I would’ve thought she’d jump at the chance to get me out of her hair. “I want you to think back to when the reeves came.”
    She paled.
    â€œThe reeves are out there. They want you for something and they won’t give up. Put yourself in place of your mom. Would you let your daughter tag along with some weirdo woman who is going out to hunt reeves or would you want your baby to be safe?”
    Her face fell. “You’re not my mom. You can’t tell me what to do,” she said finally, but her tone signaled the end of the argument.
    â€œI’m a substitute mom,” I told her.
    â€œYou’re more like a crazy aunt who only gets called when somebody needs bailing out of jail,” Derek said.
    I pointed my finger at him. He grinned.
    â€œJulie, until I find your real mom, I’m in charge of your safety. She loves you and she’s a good person. She deserves to be found and to have you be alright. If I found her, but something happened to you, I don’t know what I would do.” And if I can’t find your mom, she would’ve wanted you to be safe.
    At the other end of the intersection, Andrea appeared, riding a bay gelding and leading three horses.
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    I WOULD’VE LIKED TO GALLOP ALL THE WAY TO THE Order, but the traffic was heavy. The city knew deep magic would hit soon, and while the tech was up, they made the best of it. We had to settle for a slow trot.
    Andrea rode in the lead, Julie behind her, clutching the reins with white-knuckled panic, and Derek and I brought up the rear. I wanted Derek and Andrea separated as much as possible. When your partner goes loup and tries to turn your stomach into an all-you-can-eat buffet while you’re still breathing, you might develop a slight dislike of shapeshifters. Why tempt fate?
    â€œHe’s actually quite patient,” Derek said, drawing even with me.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œCurran.”
    I nodded. “He’s patient as long as everyone plays by his rules.”
    â€œThat’s not true. You’ve never seen him when he isn’t under pressure.”
    â€œBeing the Beast Lord, I’d imagine he’s always under pressure.” I sighed. “I didn’t mean to aggravate him. It was a matter of bad timing. He was pumped up full of adrenaline after working out, which made him more aggressive than usual. It was the wrong time to bring it up. That’s all.” That and I couldn’t control my mouth in his vicinity. He got under my skin.
    â€œIt’s the flare, too,” he added. “Makes it harder to restrain yourself.”
    â€œLook, if you want I’ll try to smooth things over if I get another opportunity.” Ha! Fat chance of that. After that blowup, I was probably persona non grata in the Pack for life.
    I didn’t breathe easy until we dismounted in the Order’s parking lot.
    I swung the door open and motioned Julie inside. “Second floor, my office is first on the left, should be unlocked.” She ducked in.
    I filled Andrea in on the problem of Julie’s missing mom, the reeves, and Hood, a.k.a. Bolgor the Shepherd, while we stabled the horses. Derek stood guard by the Order’s door, but I was pretty sure he heard every word.