“Which is?”

I brought out the note with the locations of his past visits, ignoring for now the meeting site. “To check these places out and take down anyone hanging out there.”

Callie took a closer look at the note before hauling herself off the chair and leaving the room.

“Why do people keep doing that to me?” I muttered.

“Let’s see what you have so far.” Dizzy’s gaze went to my shoulder. He frowned and looked under the island, only then revealing what he was looking for. “You keep your spells in a fanny pack?”

I gave him a flat stare. Couldn’t people see the difference?

“Let me see what’s in it,” he said, putting out his hand.

“Okay, but some of the spells are volatile. You don’t want to shake too hard. Or mess with them too much.”

“I am a trained professional, Reagan Somerset,” he said disapprovingly. He shook his hand at me. I handed over my leather pouch.

Callie reappeared with a laptop. As Dizzy muttered, sorting through my stuff, she looked up each of the addresses, her frown becoming more pronounced with each one.

“I don’t like this,” she said, turning the computer so Dizzy could see. She pointed at the screen, the image lost to me because of the way it was turned. “See the way that front yard is set up?”

“Defensive spell paradise.” He frowned. “A small opening for the front walk where a lot of power can be rooted for maximum effect.”

“Spells can be bound to the earth along this hedge, making it three times as hard to break through.” She took her finger away from the screen. “They’re all like this. If there isn’t a natural hedge, there are wooden stakes beaten into the ground with ivy strung across. This mage knows how to fortify.”

“I can cut through,” I said. “I know how that mage’s power works.”

“Not before I have a look, you won’t.” Callie crossed to the fridge and took out a bottle of water.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

Dizzy folded my list. “We’re going with you, obviously.”

Chapter Nineteen

An hour later and teamed with two older mages who would not be dissuaded from extremely reckless behavior, I crouched between two cars with my sword in hand (they hadn’t had time to alter it), looking at the largest and most recent hideout. It was about an hour outside of New Orleans, a mile from its nearest neighbors on all sides, and—just as Google Maps had warned us—surrounded by a large hedge with a narrow passageway to the front door.

“Are we really going in without a plan?” Callie asked, bending over beside me wearing night-vision goggles. Dizzy leaned on the other side, both of them clearly sticking out above the car and apparently not caring. Then again, though they were spry and didn’t look it at all, they’d revealed they were in their sixties. Jumping up from a crouch was probably not in their arsenal.

“I’m going to cut through that spell, bust into the house, and see what happens.” I patted my weapons. They were all present and accounted for.

“That’s it? Just take it as it comes?” Callie asked.

“Yup. That’s the thing with criminals—when they get cornered they’re more violent and largely unpredictable. I’m usually the one who corners them, so…”

“She wasn’t knocking your style,” Dizzy whispered. “She’s excited. I would like to say, however, that I do not like this plan. It’s not my style at all.”

“Are you ready, Dizzy?” Callie asked.

“No.”

“That’s his yes.” Callie nudged me. “Let’s go. We need to analyze that spell as you cut through it. It wouldn’t hurt to get more acquainted with your magic, either.”

“This is crazy,” I said, looking around the empty lane in front of the house. It was deep into the night. “Having you along is crazy.”

“Yes,” Dizzy affirmed.

“He means no, it’s not. C’mon.” Callie nudged me again.

“You two have some serious consent issues with each other.” Taking a deep breath, I stalked forward and pulled out my sword, staring at the blackened windows, the drawn shades. My pouch was open at my waist, carrying all the spells I could fit in it, including the essentials for which Callie and Dizzy had refused compensation.

“Okay, here we go,” I whispered, hoping the other two could hear me.

The vibration of magic buzzed through my veins as I neared the hedge. Getting closer, I identified two different spells. The walkway to the front door was protected by the same block that had closed off the path to the unicorns’ island. This one was weaker in power.

I moved to the hedge, feeling that spell out. Less power still, cast by a different mage lacking finesse and an understanding of the craft. It was piecemeal, almost, like someone not very focused had muddled their way through the incantation.

“These people are still learning their craft,” Callie whispered as she walked closer.

“Get back,” I seethed, motioning her away. “Someone is liable to jump out. You never know.”

“Oh, hush.” She pushed me aside and opened her hand, revealing a small handful of herbs. Though she didn’t utter any words, the small mixture puffed up purple smoke. It grew into a sort of fog and drifted toward the spell, filling in the narrow opening. She wiped off her hand before digging some leaves out of her satchel. “Crush and blow, dear.” She handed them to Dizzy, who’d walked up behind her in a hunch. “Crush and blow.”

Dizzy took what was offered and, visibly shaking, crunched up the leaves in his fist. Also without muttering any words, he flung the leaves at the lingering purple haze. The two spells merged and started to circle, the leaves caught in a whirlwind, turning around and around. The swirling haze gradually turned orange, and then violet, before lightening to a pastel pink. A blast of light soundlessly filled the gap in the hedge before rocketing ten feet into the air. Slowly, it fizzled out. The magic within vanished with it, not even leaving a residue.

“Wow. That’s handy,” I whispered.

“You have the power, you just need the education,” Callie said, turning toward the hedge.

“I meant, handy if you aren’t me.” I grinned and barely stopped myself from powering up my blade. I’d almost forgotten that I didn’t have to do that anymore. I stabbed forward, piercing the middle of the other spell. It frayed. Too easy.

“Get back!” I yelled, leaping over the hedge.

The door burst open and a green blast shot out, too far right. Another came right for me. I slashed at it, breaking it apart as though it were paper. He shifted, which was when I saw the staff pointed toward me.

Who was this guy, Gandalf?

I threw on the brakes and dove to the side as a rush of air barely missed my arm. Hopping up, I was readying for the next spell projectile when a bolt of lightning struck down from the sky. It let out a boom as it hit the mage, spitting light and electricity. He convulsed where he stood and dropped the staff, which blasted out another rush of air. It hit the hedge and frosted it over. His body fell, smoke rising from his burning hair.

“Holy sugar tits, Batman,” I said, out of breath and looking skyward. When I glanced back, Callie had a huge grin on her face. Dizzy burped like he might be close to throwing up, but he shot me a weary thumbs-up. “It’d be worth learning magic just for that,” I muttered.

I eyed the door but ran alongside the house instead. If there were others in that house, they were waiting for my grand entrance.

I stopped down a ways and dug out one of the extremely volatile spells I’d lifted from John. After placing it by the wall, I picked up a rock and threw it on the casing. The spell exploded, releasing darts of red as it did so. Bricks spat out in every direction, melting once they hit the ground. I cut through the aftershock of useless magic unable to take shape—he’d missed the second half of that spell—feeling a disturbing prickle along my skin. Ignoring it, and hoping that decision wasn’t a really bad move, I launched into the house, sword in hand.

Two guys were staggering up from beside the front door.