Something to Curse About (13 page)

My tail wagged so hard, I nearly fell over.

SEVENTEEN

Kate snapped at Nick over my rising growl. “You’re not of any help if you can’t communicate with her. Go away, Maxwell.”

He and Patrick were the only two wolf shifters left in the office, since the others no longer needed to help search for me. Nick sighed and backed away, lowering his hand. “Why doesn’t she like me anymore?”

“Because she’s a damn dog right now. Not only a dog, but one from a herding breed. It’s instinct, little brother,” Patrick said, taking hold of Nick’s arm and pulling him toward the door. “Don’t take it personally.”

I sneezed, but didn’t miss the nearly identical looks they shot in Logan’s direction before moving out of sight. They weren’t pleasant looks. The tiger didn’t seem bothered though. He shut the door and took a seat on the couch.

Mr. Whitehaven ruffled Princess’s side with his fingertips as the white Chihuahua sat on his desk before him, and he had the phone to his ear. “Hello, I need to speak with Miss Vera Headley, please. Ah, excellent. Thank you. Miss Headley? Yes, it is. I’m calling to inform you that Miss Jones found Princess. I have her at my office.” He smiled. “Yes, that will be fine. We’ll be expecting you then.”

After ending the call, he leaned back in his chair. “She’ll be here on her lunch hour.”

“
Your mom’s coming to get you
,” I said, and Princess stood, her thin tail whipping back and forth.

“
I’m going home!
” She pranced in a circle before rearing to wave her front legs at my boss, who chuckled.

Terra took the box over to the couch and sat down on the floor close to Logan. Percy walked around me, his head bobbing up and down while he muttered. “Cordi is dog. Cordi needs changing. Cordi is dog.”

Kate whipped out her cell phone. “I’ll call the others and have them meet us at the shop. We’ll try a cleansing spell.”

I wagged my tail to let her know I approved. Her familiar warbled. “Cleansing not work. Cordi cursed more big than other time.”

“Drat.” The witch shoved her phone back into the pocket of her yellow dress, which looked like something Jackie O would’ve worn as First Lady. All she needed was a pillbox hat. I couldn’t remember Kate ever wearing yellow before. “What do we do?”

That wasn’t what I wanted to hear.

“We’ll need the assistance of someone skilled at transforming other people into animals.” Mr. Whitehaven learned forward to reach for the phone again. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

Definitely more like it.

***

Vera Headley arrived barely ten minutes after noon. A short, plump woman with shoulder-length, light brown hair, her hazel eyes brimmed over with tears upon seeing Princess. “Oh, thank God. My precious baby.”

The boss gave them a few minutes to greet each other before introducing Logan and Terra. “They’ve been caring for her until Discordia could inform us she’d found her.”

“Thank you so much.” Vera nearly squished Princess, hugging each of them in turn. “Do I owe you anything?”

“No, ma’am. It was our pleasure.” Logan’s assurance resulted in another hug from her.

She turned from them to Mr. Whitehaven. “Where is Miss Jones? I’d like to thank her.”

“I’m afraid she’s busy with another case at the moment, but I’ll let her know.” He walked her to his office door, where Kate took over. Princess yipped good-bye over her owner’s shoulder as they walked out of sight. I sighed as the other five Chihuahuas responded, tipping their box over in the excitement.

“I think we should probably take them home and see about placing an ad,” Logan said.

Terra shook her head. “I want to see Discord be changed back.”

“I believe Kate sent Nick out for lunch for everyone.” Mr. Whitehaven knelt to help collect squirming little bodies. “If Discordia doesn’t mind aiding us, we can take them outside for a few minutes.”

“
Potty
,” Speck agreed, his toothpick legs wind milling as Logan scooped him up.

Needing to potty myself, I followed them out to the parking lot and one of the strips of grass lining it. The Chihuahuas took care of their business under our watchful eyes, but I moved around to the side of the building, heading for the alley once they’d been gathered up.

“She needs a little privacy. I’ll go with her,” Terra said, handing Speck and a long-haired, black and tan dog to Mr. Whitehaven. Logan opened his mouth, closed it, and glanced at me.

I won’t let anything happen to her, dude. Sheesh
.

As though he understood, he nodded. “Okay. Try and make it quick.”

The teen followed me around back and turned to give me privacy. “This is a first. Logan never lets me go anywhere alone. I mean, I’m not really alone because you’re here, but you know, alone without him or Alanna or Teague.”

I grumbled.

“Oh, I know it’s his job. I just kind of want to know what it’s like being a regular girl sometimes.” She sighed. “Guess I won’t ever get to.”

Done, I walked up and nosed her hand. Poor kid. At least I’d gotten some time as a regular girl before the Melding. None after, but we can’t have everything.

We walked back around and went inside to find lunch laid out on the break room table. One of them, probably Nick, had thought to stop and pick up some small dog food for the Chihuahuas. Or Kate had told him to when she’d sent him out for the food.

I, on the other hand, had a couple of steaks waiting for me, and fell on them like a starving wolf. Medium rare, the way I liked them. They tasted so good, I whined in pure pleasure while gobbling the first down.

Nick asked, “What have you been feeding her?”

Logan actually squirmed. “Leftovers and organic dog food.”

Patrick snickered, elbowing my boyfriend in the side. “At least it wasn’t plain old kibble.”

I growled around a mouthful of steak. Patrick and Nick ducked their heads over their plates and concentrated on eating. As far as I was concerned, Logan and Terra had done a bang-up job of taking care of a dog. It wasn’t their fault they hadn’t immediately known that dog was me.

***

After lunch, the assistance Mr. Whitehaven had called for finally arrived. The last person I’d expected it to be was Thorandryll. I hadn’t seen the elf since I’d sort of blackmailed him into letting me have Leglin.

His wintry blue eyes immediately focused on me. I had a less than a minute to admire how the dark blue, leather jacket he wore fit his broad shoulders before he knelt and offered his hand.

“She doesn’t do tricks,” Nick said.

“I’m merely greeting Miss Jones, as is proper.” Thorandryll inclined his head ever-so-slightly. Mentally rolling my eyes, I lifted a paw to shake, but the elf didn’t shake. He gave it a light squeeze. “Hello, Miss Jones. My apologies for not arriving sooner. I had a matter to attend to.”

The elf’s scent filled my nose and proved to be one that Doggy Me found nearly irresistible. However, I did resist the sudden urges to show my belly and lick his face. The Chihuahuas didn’t as his scent reached them. Four of them rushed over to dance wildly, begging for his attention.

Speck ducked under my side and looked at the elf from around one of my front legs. His soft growl made it perfectly clear he didn’t like Thorandryll one bit.

Maybe I had room for another dog in my life. The pup was obviously a fantastic judge of character.

Thorandryll released my paw and spent a few minutes gently petting the others while speaking what I presumed to be Elvish to them. The sound of it made my ears perk, and when I realized my tail had begun wagging, I forced it to stop.

It really sucked that he looked so good riding to my rescue. Even though I knew he’d lie whenever it suited his purposes, there was something about his slightly triangular, movie-star face and long, golden-blonde hair that made it hard to hold a grudge.

Even harder as a dog. I swallowed a mouthful of drool before it escaped to drip on the carpet. Speck growled louder when the elf’s hand moved toward him, and Thorandryll chuckled. He didn’t try to pet the little guy after all, but said something that sent the other four Chihuahuas off to Terra.

“There’s more than one way to curse another into animal form. Did the person who did this to you speak a spell?”

I shook my head.

“Was there any object involved, such as necklace?” When I shook my head again, he frowned. “Were you forced to drink a potion?”

I barked. The elf’s frown deepened. “Hm, that will make things a bit more complicated to reverse. There are at least a dozen possibilities, and I’ll have to create something able to counter them all.”

“We need to discuss your fee before you begin,” Mr. Whitehaven said, his voice a little deeper than normal. Thorandryll rose to face him, and Speck took the opportunity to scoot out from underneath me and join the other little dogs.

For a second, I felt tempted to bite the elf on the butt as I had Nick. Of course he wouldn’t do something like this for free or out of the goodness of his heart, because he was a jerk.

A hot, drool-worthy jerk, but a jerk all the same.

“My fee for this service is small. I merely wish the company of Miss Jones for dinner on an evening of my choice.”

“No way.” Nick stepped away from the door, his hands clenching into fists. “Not happening.”

Yes, because sharing a meal with the elf was so much worse than staying a dog. I barked at him, but my boyfriend shook his head. “He’ll glamour you.”

Oh, that could well be a possibility. I had a bit of a history of going hazy-minded around the elf.

Logan glanced at me and spoke. “One meal, no glamour or other form of coercion.”

“Hey,” Nick snarled. “How about you not setting my girlfriend up on a date with the guy who nearly got us all killed?”

“Your girlfriend’s currently a dog who’d rather rip your throat out than cuddle.” Logan jerked his chin in the elf’s direction. “Unless you have another suggestion, it looks like he’s the only one who can turn her back.”

“Those terms are agreeable, as I have no intention of coercing Miss Jones in any fashion.”
I don’t need tricks
, Thorandryll’s haughtily smug expression said. “Surely your relationship can survive one dinner?”

Nick scowled, but didn’t say anything.

“If you renege on these terms, I’ll be the one collecting recompense.” Mr. Whitehaven’s eyes began to glow. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen them do it, but that time, they’d been red. Now they looked yellowish, and I wondered if they would glow different colors depending on his mood or something.

The elf bowed to my boss. “Understood.”

Everyone looked at me, and Whitehaven asked, “Do you accept this agreement?”

Hm, hard decision: One dinner versus being a dog for the rest of my life. I glanced at Nick before barking. He looked away.

“Very well. We are all witnesses to this agreement. It is done.”

The elf smiled and slapped his hands together. “I’ll need to take her…”

“Oh, no.” Kate stomped over to him, Percy on her shoulder, and stabbed him in the chest with fingernail. “You’ll work under our supervision, at the Blue Orb. We likely have everything you’ll need there.”

The elf wisely chose to agree.

EIGHTEEN

I loved David’s book and magic shop, the Blue Orb. Walking into it as a dog proved to be a whole new experience. The smell of the herbs and oils were so sharp and distinct, I felt dizzy. Logan held the door for Kate and Terra, who’d pointed out he’d promised her a trip to the shop once I’d been found. He didn’t hold the door for Thorandryll, who paused outside to answer his cell phone.

“Quite the parade,” Jo said, hurrying out from behind the counter to bend down and hug me. “Hi, Cordi. I’m so glad you’re found.”

I hadn’t licked anything but my chops—okay, the seat in Logan’s truck once too—as a dog, but for her I made an exception and laid a sloppy dog kiss across her cheek. She laughed and scruffed the fur on my neck.

“Cordi.” The rusty croak wasn’t a familiar voice. David stood behind the counter, glasses propped on his head, a dark blue cardigan hanging crookedly from his shoulders. He pointed at his familiar, who stood on a hunk of quartz displayed on the counter. Copernicus tilted his head. “Cordi.”

Jo whispered in my ear. “He’s never spoken when anyone other than coven members are around. He’s been worried about you.”

I hadn’t known the raven could talk, and trotted to the counter to look up at him. Copernicus leaned down, gazing into my eyes. It felt as though someone touched me on the cheek with something soft, maybe the tip of a feather. The raven settled back. “Dog is Cordi.”

“Said that.” Percy took flight from Kate’s shoulder and landed next to the raven. “First.”

Copernicus swatted the parrot with a wing. Percy ducked his head, feathers fluffing, and twisted, bumping the other bird with his rear. David intervened before a bird brawl broke out in earnest. “Enough, you two.”

They subsided, grumbling quietly while settling wings and feathers. The warlock folded his arms and rested them on the counter top. “So you’ve been turned into a dog. I’ll have questions later.”

Behind me, the bell jingled as the door opened, and I turned, expecting to see the elf finally coming in. He did, right before Leglin shouldered him aside and trotted down the aisle. Nick followed the hound, handing my hairbrush to Kate when he reached her.

Leglin halted a couple of feet away, cocking his head and perking his ears. “
Mistress?
”

“
Is that what you call me?
” After being around other dogs, none quite as tall as I was, I felt suddenly short compared to the hound.

Leglin dropped his chest to the ground, butt still in the air, and somehow bounced forward. He ducked his head and licked the bottom of my muzzle. “
Mistress!
I couldn’t find you.
”

“
It’s okay, neither could anyone else—even with me right under their noses.
”

He lay down. “
You sound different.
”

“
I’m a dog right now
,” I pointed out while sitting. His head wasn’t much lower than mine in spite of his position.

Leglin inclined his head. “
Of course. But the Prince will soon set things right
.”

Thorandryll was a prince? Wow. “
I hope so
.” Opportunity had landed in my lap. “
Are you happy?
”

“
Yes, you’re no longer lost
.”

“
No, I mean, are you happy the way things are? You know, living with me and ah…being a dog?
”

His tail thumped twice. “
I am a royal hound, and you are my mistress
.”

That didn’t exactly answer my question. “
But are you happy? Would you rather be free?
”

“
No
.”

I tried a slightly different approach. “
Are you happy being my hound?
”

Thunder sounded as his tail drummed the floor. Leglin stretched his head out to lick the bottom of my muzzle again. “
Yes
.”

Any more questions had to wait because Kate’s voice rose. “No. The brush stays in my possession. I’ll take care of adding her hair to the potion.”

“I gave my word…”

She cut off the elf. “You gave your word not to pull any tricks the night you take her out for dinner, old man. You haven’t given your word not to pull any before then.”

“I’m wounded by your distrust.”

He didn’t sound wounded, but snarky. I barked at them. “
Enough already. Get with the changing me back!
”

“
She is wise to distrust the Prince
,” Leglin said. “
I’ve seen him do terrible magic with a single strand of hair or drop of blood
.”

Oh. I remembered that she took care of poking my finger when the elf first brought the hound to me. I should be patient and let Kate handle things. After all, it might be the only time I’d be able to have an actual conversation with my four-legged roomie.

“My workroom’s this way.” David left the cover of the counter for the hallway beside the staircase. Both birds fluttered after him. Kate spun away from the elf and followed. I waited until Thorandryll passed us before falling in line, and Leglin rose, bringing up the rear.

The others stayed in the store area, and I heard Jo ask, “What’s in the box?”

***

“It’s adequate.” Thorandryll’s assessment of the workroom made David’s shoulders slump. I growled and the elf glanced at me, before adding, “Quite impressive for such a young practitioner.”

The compliment brightened David’s face. “What do you need first?”

As the elf began listing ingredients, I glanced at Leglin. “
He didn’t tell me how old you were
.”

“
Three, mistress
.”

Speck peeked in the open doorway, and scooted across to hide under me. The hound sat down. “
What is that?
”

“
A Chihuahua
.” I craned my neck to look between my front legs. “
What’s wrong?
”

The pup blinked his overlarge, brown eyes. “
Sleepy
.”

Not seeing any reason to stand in the middle of the room, I said, “
Let’s use the couch
.”

The coven met here, so David had designated one corner as a sitting area and put comfy, dark blue chairs and a couch there. I had to pick up the pup because he couldn’t jump high enough, but in short order, Leglin and I lay facing each other, with Speck curled into a ball between my front legs.

The hound gazed at the puppy. “
Are we keeping him?
”

“
I’m thinking about it, if no one claims him. He’s cute, and then you’d have some company when you don’t go to work with me. Unless you’d rather not have another dog around?
”

“
I haven’t been allowed around small ones before
.” Leglin flicked an ear. “
I think I would like company
.”

That settled that, as long as no one responded to the ad Logan intended to put out. “
Okay. What did you think about my idea? Us getting a house?
”

“
I am happy wherever you are
.”

“
Look, I know you’re bound to me and stuff, but I like to think of us more as friends, and as a team. This may be the only chance we ever have to really talk. I want to know what you think about stuff
.”

Leglin nodded, a few wrinkles appearing on the top of his broad skull. “
I would like a room of my own for when I’m not guarding you. With a bed
.”

“
A people bed?
”

“
Yes, please
.”

Not a big demand, but it made me happy he’d asked for something. “
I can do that. What else?
”

The hound hesitated, glancing at Thorandryll. “
I would enjoy visiting my pack mates from time to time, yet…I’m not certain it’s wise to for you to spend much time near the Prince
.”

“
Why not?
”

“
Elves are tricksy beings, mistres
s.”

In other words, liars. A lesson I’d learned pretty damn well. “
I can deal with him when you want to visit your family
.”

Leglin changed the subject. “
What happened to bring you to this state?
”

I told him, and the hound bared his teeth. “
We will hunt him, and I will tear him limb from limb
.”

“
Let’s not get all blood-thirsty, dude. Oh, and there’s another thing. I made a promise to some dogs that helped me
.” I explained all of that to him. “
If I get changed back today, I want to go out there tonight and find them. They may have to stay with us for a while
.”

“
You have a kind, honorable heart. I am proud to be your hound
.”

The compliment kind of choked me up for a minute or two. “
I’m just trying to do the right thing
.”

***

“Wait.” More than happy to, I looked up from the bowl. The dark liquid in it didn’t smell the least bit appetizing. Kate dropped her hand to her side. “We need something to put over her, in case her clothes weren’t part of the transformation.”

Trust her to think of that, and thank goodness she had. Being naked in front of David would be bad enough, but in front of—I glanced at the door, counting—seven people, one of them Thorandryll? No, thank you.

“Be right back,” Jo said, leaving the workroom. She’d closed the shop more than an hour before. The elf might’ve finished the potion faster if not for Kate’s demanding an explanation for each ingredient, and David’s desire to discuss the pros and cons of each compared to something else.

Terra sat to one side of the door, her back against the wall, an arm over the box of Chihuahuas next to her. Logan leaned on the wall beside her, his arms crossed. Nick squatted on the other side of the door, his gaze traveling between me and the elf.

“Is it going to hurt her?” he asked.

“There won’t be any pain.” Thorandryll took out the band he’d used to pull his hair back. Jo returned, carrying a quilt from one of the upstairs guest beds. She shook it out and draped it over me.

“There you go.”

I looked around then down at the bowl, feeling everyone’s eyes on me. Heaving a sigh, I began lapping up the potion. It tasted of licorice, which wasn’t one of my favorite things, and fizzed on my tongue. Once I’d finished the dregs, the elf drew a glowing, golden symbol in the air with his finger and blew on it.

It floated over to me, hovered right above my head for a breath, and then exploded like a tiny firecracker, fountaining sparks all over me.

They didn’t burn, but faded into my coat. An itching sensation spread over every inch of my doggy body, and I had to fight the urge to scratch. The itching intensified to the point I felt like ants were crawling all over me.

Next thing I knew, I was waving away a cloud of yellow smoke. With hands. “I’m me again!”

“Cordi.” Nick rushed toward me, pulling me to my feet. “Are you okay?”

My clothing had been a part of the transformation, and boy, did I need a bath. “Yeah, I think so.”

He hugged me and I bit him on the neck. “Ow, what’d you do that for?”

“You smell bad.” The words growled out from between my clenched teeth. I pushed away, shaking my head. “What the hell? I’m sorry.”

“Some of the non-physical effects of the transformation may take a bit longer to fade.” Thorandryll walked around us, studying me. “Have your abilities returned?”

Kate?
I glanced at her.
I thought your dress was yellow
.

She smoothed the red skirt. “I heard you. Telepathy online.”

“Catch,” Jo said, tossing a pink candle at me. I flung out a hand and stopped it in mid-flight. “Telekinesis, check.”

Concentrating on the candle’s wick, I lit it. David clapped. “Pyrokinesis, check.”

I froze a coke someone hadn’t finished, and then teleported a few feet. “Cryokinesis and teleportation, check. Those are the only ones I want to test. I need a shower, and I have something I have to do. I’ll need a truck.”

“I’ll drive you.”

Shaking my head, I held a hand up as Nick walked toward me. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be in close quarters right now. I might bite you again. Plus, they don’t like wolves.”