Page 97 of Dragon Charmed

Tessa’s brain came to a stutter-stop. “You…you’re the witch that cast the memory spell.”

“Ding, ding, ding. Wow, I have to say, you are really good at acting surprised.”

“Can you reverse it?” Tessa blurted before she stopped herself.

Nadia took a step closer. “Why would you ask me that? You already know the answer. Of course I can’t reverse it. And even if I could, it’s been over a year. The damage is done. Enough of this playacting. Who do you work for?”

“No one.” Tessa tried to wiggle her toes. She was starting to get some feeling back in her feet.

“How did you convince Megan to help you?” Nadia said.

Help her with what? “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!” Tessa shouted before she could think of something sarcastic to say.

“Looks like your interrogation is not going well,” a voice said from behind Tessa, causing her to flinch.

Nadia apparently hadn’t heard her approach either since she started as well.

“They are looking for her by now, and your cover at the art gallery has been blown. You can’t go back there. And for what? Has she given you any useful information?”

Was Tessa imagining it, or had Nadia’s face gone pale?

“Not yet. But we just started.”

“I’m going to take over.”

“Just give me some more time,” Nadia insisted.

“No. Go outside and wait by the car. I won’t be long.”

I won’t be long. Tessa had a hard time breathing. She had a feeling whoever was behind her was not going to put up with her smart mouth. Smart mouth… Ben’s face came to mind, and she tried to find strength in it.

Nadia left without another word.

Time to change tactics. “I’m glad you’re here. You sound like you have some sense. Obviously there has been some sort of mistake. If you let me go, I won’t say anything.”

A chuckle right behind her had Tessa jerking in her seat.

“You are as good with your words as you are with your feet. I saw you fight back in the parking lot.”

“You were there?” Tessa asked.

“Not directly. Let’s just say I was watching.”

Steps came closer to Tessa, and she held still, willing her heart to stop trying to bust out of her chest. “This is like a bad mafia movie.” Shut up, Tessa!

Another laugh. “You’re surprising. But we’re running out of time, and I need some answers from you, Tessa.”

Son of a biscuit. “You know who I am. A quick online search should fill you in on the rest.”

“Yes. But it doesn’t explain how you and Megan Campbell ended up entrenched in a dragon clan. How she ended up married to one. Imagine my surprise when I saw Eric and Adam Simonson show up tonight at the gallery looking for you. Didn’t realize dragons could come back from the dead,” the woman said as she came into view.

Tessa stared at her. Darker hair and possibly colored contacts? But Tessa had studied her picture long enough to recognize her even with the changes. Time to play hardball. “It’s actually your fault, Mia.”

The woman smiled but didn’t say anything.

“Everyone wanted you to study the Death of Magic painting, and when they couldn’t find you, they reached out to Megan at the museum.”

“And where Megan goes, you follow?”