Councilor (Para-Military Recruiter Book 12) by Renée Jaggér & Michael Anderle

Author:Renée Jaggér & Michael Anderle [Jaggér, Renée & Anderle, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2023-10-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Julie turned down the narrow street that held Iris Fashions, spotting a leggy woman with gazelle horns and glorious curls waiting for her outside the boutique. Hat, that was creepy as shit.

You’re not taking this seriously, Hat argued. That stone is an evil unlike any you have faced before, and you fought Nimue’s lightning magic.

You’re the one who keeps saying it can’t be the warlocks’ goal, Bianca argued.

Julie parked and stepped out. “Yeah, Hat, what about that?” She gave Bianca a high-five.

“That’s because it can’t be,” Hat retorted.

“What if they’re under mind control or geasa like the cult’s other followers?” Bianca asked.

Julie followed the succubus to the sweet-smelling boutique, inside which several well-heeled clients browsed the designs. “Yeah. I mean, look at the yetis. They sacrificed themselves under Qbiit’s mind control. What if the warlocks don’t have a choice either?”

“Don’t give me that codswallop.” Hat scoffed. “You looked into the yetis’ eyes. This isn’t mind control.”

“I looked into Mina Nox’s, too. All I know about mind control is that it’s a dark magic I don’t understand,” Julie admitted. “The cultists could still be after it, even if they know they’d wield it at tremendous personal cost.”

Hat snorted. “It doesn’t matter. They’ll never get their hands on it anyway.”

Julie raised her eyebrows. “Never?”

Certain things can’t be said out loud. Hat sighed in Julie and Bianca’s minds. The darkstone cannot be taken because it’s at Tintagel. Morgan locked it behind several layers of deadly warding. Even Merlin couldn’t lay his hands on it.

Julie smothered a grin. “Even Merlin, huh?”

“Julie!” Iris burst out from behind a mannequin and seized Julie in a rib-crushing hug.

“You’ve been spending too much time with my mom,” Julie croaked. “She’s rubbing off on you.”

“A great compliment. Thank you!” Iris giggled. “Are you ready for your final fitting?”

“I don’t know if she is, but I am.” Bianca beamed.

“Let’s go!” Iris grabbed Julie by the wrist and towed her to the dressing room.

Bianca trailed behind them. “Okay, so it’s secure,” she acknowledged. “But they don’t know that. Do they?”

“No. Hey!” Hat protested as Iris grabbed him and flung him onto a nearby couch.

“Sorry, Hat, but you’ll have to wait. No boys behind the curtain.” Iris pulled the curtains closed around Julie.

“Do they?” Bianca repeated outside the curtains.

“I already told you no,” Hat snapped. “Almost nobody knows except Morgan.”

“Morgan and Julie’s magic hat, apparently,” Bianca retorted.

“He’s not just a magic hat,” Julie called, unbuttoning her blouse.

“What are we talking about?” Iris inquired, retrieving Julie’s dress from the hanger.

“The reason for all the warlock break-ins lately.” Julie shrugged out of her work clothes.

Iris grimaced. “They’re so sad. I’m glad the OPMA has kept anything from being taken, though.”

“So far,” Bianca muttered.

Julie lowered her voice. “We think they might be after an important artifact in Tintagel.”

Iris raised her eyebrows and let out a low whistle. “Something dangerous?”

“Very dangerous,” Julie agreed.

Iris held open the dress. “Step in.”

Julie rested a hand on the elf’s shoulder as she climbed into the dress and obediently allowed her arms to be shoved down the sleeves.

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