Page 54 of Dragon My Crazy

“Yeah, well, join the club. But Ihaveto do this. I know it sounds cliché, but I feel it in my soul.”

Tansy studied me for a long moment, her expression softening. She didn’t approve—hell, I didn’t even approve—but she understood. This was something I had to do.

“I understand,” she said, her voice quiet. “But there has to be another way to do this. A safer, better way.”

“I have to do something. Melly’s scared. I can feel it. She’s somewhere dark and cold, and she’sscared.”

“Dark and cold?” Blaze asked. “How do you know?”

I frowned, not quite knowing how to answer. “I just do. It’s a feeling.”

“There are a few cave systems near the castle,” Blaze said. “Maybe they are hiding in one of them.”

“A cave does make a pretty good evil wizard lair,” Tansy agreed.

“Yes.” Blaze nodded. “And according to Emmett, there are now three wizards involved: Leroy, the guy we saw in town, and some new wizard who recently joined up.”

“That’s a lot of magic,” I said warily.

“We have a lot of magic too,” Tansy said.

“Except mine isn’t usable.” I reminded her.

“Nonsense!” The voice was accompanied by a flash of smoke, and Flame appeared next to his brother. “You toasted that goblin mage real good. Your magic is definitely usable.”

He had a point. “It might be more effective if I can touch some of Melly’s things.”

“Yes!” Tansy agreed. “Can you bring some back?”

“Can’t,” Flame said. “I can’t actually carry anything when I dematerialize. In that way, we are like demons.”

“Portal me over.”

“Excuse me?” Tansy looked confused.

“Portal me over. Same place you picked me up.”

“There’s no need to do that,” Blaze said. “You can portal straight into the castle courtyard now. Leroy isn’t controlling the wards anymore; Emmett cut off his magic from it.”

“But if the wards are down, then it’s not safe,” Tansy protested.

“They aren’t down completely, just selectively up,” Blaze explained. “We’ll be there. And Cassian too. The whole castle, in fact.”

My daughter pressed her lips into a tight line. “Fine. But I’m pulling you back the second you need.”

“Thank you.” I turned to the two ifrits. “Let’s go.”

“Wait!” Tansy was moving now, running over to the kitchen and making a beeline for the tin foil. “Let me make you a few spells just in case. I can make them run on your magic so you can have some control over them.” She was casting now, her hands dancing over the foil.

Chicken Nugget, who had been quiet on her perch, flew over to land on Tansy’s head, offering support.

Soon I had about a dozen foil-packaged spells lined up on the table, each one labeled with a different color Sharpie. The problem now was how to carry them without smashing them all up in my purse.

“You can borrow my tool belt!” Shelby offered. She’d been listening in from the end of the kitchen counter. “I bought it thinking I’ll use it when I sew, but I never do. I just like my stuff laid out on the drafting table.” She disappeared into her sectionof the penthouse and returned with a pink tool belt that had more pockets and slots than I could shake a stick at.

Before long, I was suited up, armed with spells, a magically enchanted paring knife, and the dragon scale Emmett had given me that day at the gala. I was ready to go.

Theportalspatusout right next to my favorite potted jasmines. Tansy had set a marker on Blaze before he popped back to join Cassian and Flame, then she’d opened a portal to their location.