Summer Solstice Shenanigans: An Urban Fantasy Anthology by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Craig Martelle, Inc
Published: 2021-06-21T04:00:00+00:00

The next morning, June pounced before Halima made it into the administrative building. Halima didn’t know what expression she made, but June snapped her mouth shut after one look. “You don’t need me bugging you this morning.”

“One day left,” Halima said grimly. “The solstice begins at midnight.”

They walked down the hallway, the carpet shade indistinguishable after thousands of feet trampling it throughout the academic year. “We’ll be there. Me and Peter. All right? We’ll come over. Or you can come over to his folks’ place. It’s really nice. We’ll do a proper birthday celebration for you.”

Halima gave a tight smile. She knew that June was offering additional mages, ones who had spent entire diplomatic careers handling magical crises. It was nice of her to pretend it was only about her birthday, even if she dreaded the day. “It’ll be better than the date I had last night.”

June let out a whoop that was too loud for the half-staffed offices. “Ah, sorry. So that’s why you didn’t respond.”

“That, and my battery died.” Halima felt a twinge of guilt. “Fine. I was also avoiding you. Peter’s tips to calm the fire inside worked. Until I found the feather. And the s’mores. And maybe had a weird bird watching me this morning on the way to my car.”

June blinked at her. “Either I need more coffee, or you’re telling this story out of order.”

Halima gave her friend a half-grin and unlocked the office door. “Come on, I’ll get you the good stuff.”

“So I ran,” she said several minutes later. “I don’t even have his number. I could look it up, but that’s improper use of access to his files.”

“Well, he certainly doesn’t have yours,” June replied, slouched into the hard wooden chair. “You could wander the campus until you found him, but that’s hardly efficient. Would you see him again?”

“I think so. He’s charming. Even offered to help investigate the fires.” She stirred her coffee with one of the cinnamon sticks and shifted her weight from where she perched on her desk. “Funny. I’ve been on a real kick with these. Cinnamon’s usually an autumn thing here, isn’t it?”

“Apple season, and he offered to what?” June’s voice squeaked on the last word. “You’re doing what?”

“No one else is making progress, and –” She took a deep breath. “Apparently some witnesses claim to have seen giant birds flying away. He called the arsonist a firebird.”

June looked perturbed. “Witnesses or no, you barricaded yourself inside. I don’t think you’re setting the fires.”

“The possibility still has me terrified. We both know black flames are magical in nature.”

“The chemistry department laughed at me when I asked, by the way.” June drained her coffee and plunked her cup on top of the desk. “I don’t want you getting set on fire by the real arsonist.”

Halima reached out for June’s mug. “It’s escalating. It’ll end with the solstice. Maybe fire can fight flame. If it’s not me, I might as well try to stop it.”

“But how?”

She slid behind her desk with a twinge of guilt.

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