Fated Familiar: A Nine Lives Magic Mystery by Danielle Garrett

Author:Danielle Garrett [Garrett, Danielle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Roots & Wings Press
Published: 2024-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

10

The sun beat down on my shoulders as we trudged along the beach, our feet sinking into the warm sand with each step, and I wished I’d thought to ask someone for a bottle of sunscreen. Someone had stocked our bathroom with toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shower essentials, but I hadn’t seen lotion or sunscreen anywhere. My summer tan was only just starting to fade, and I hoped it could stave off a nasty burn.

Selene padded along beside me, grumbling under her breath about the sand in her paws.

“You know, I’m surprised by you, Selene,” Aunt Lavender said as she straightened, having paused to inspect an interesting bit of seashell.

Selene looked toward her, suspicion blossoming across her furry face. “How so?”

“You’ve gotten soft. Turned into a pampered indoor kitty.” Aunt Lavender smiled.

Checkers snickered.

“What exactly did you expect, coming on such a trip? You and I spent months in Morocco, in the depths of that archeological dig site, and I don’t recall you complaining so loudly.”

I picked up my pace, desperate to get clear of the impending boom.

“What can I say, Lavender, it seems getting shipwrecked has made me a bit cranky,” Selene replied, snark dripping from every word. “Back in Morocco, you had your wits a bit more about you, and I didn’t have to worry about being turned into fish food!”

She cast a pointed glance toward the water, where silvery fins poked above the waves a few yards offshore.

Aunt Lavender flapped a hand in her former familiar’s direction. “I wasn’t about to let that happen.”

“Oh, look, there’s Ava,” I said, grateful for the distraction as I pointed out a figure sprawled on a large beach towel a little ways up a small sand dune. The last thing I needed was for Aunt Lavender and Selene to take a bitter and winding trip down memory lane. Those conversations never ended well, and while the mansion and island surrounding it were decently sized, I had no doubt they would both feel cramped should the two of them go to war.

Ava lay on her stomach, the straps of her black bikini top untied to avoid tan lines. Her chin rested on her crossed forearms and a pair of oversized sunglasses perched on the tip of her nose as she scanned the glossy pages of a magazine. My sinking feeling about the woman only intensified at finding her so casual, like a woman on a well-earned vacation.

As we approached, Ava lifted her head, pushing her sunglasses up to rest on top of her head.

“We need to talk to you about Madeline,” I said, trying to keep my voice neutral. Glancing down, I noted the magazine spread was filled with women in impossibly elegant wedding gowns. Ava’s left hand was bare of an engagement ring, but perhaps she was a bride-to-be. Or maybe she just really liked weddings?

Ava’s lips thinned into a tight line. “I’ve already told Althea everything I know, which isn’t much. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m trying to relax.”

“Relax?” Selene scoffed, her tail lashing.

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