Kissed by Smoke by Shéa MacLeod Read Free Book Online Page A

snapped.
    “Sidhe magic.”
    Well, damn.

Chapter Seven
    “Wait. Jack said it glows when sidhe magic
is near, right?” Inigo’s forehead creased in a frown as he stared
at the road twisting into the darkness in front of him.
    “Yeah, that’s what he said.”
    “There wasn’t any sidhe magic at your
birthday party. Not until Fringe anyway.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Don’t remind me.
Apparently the amulet does sometimes respond to Earth Magic, as
well.”
    “Which is what Kabita does.”
    “Yep. That’s why Jack asked about the sage.”
I noticed it had started snowing again. A few little flakes glowing
white against the darkness as they drifted slowly on the wind.
    “I still don’t get why it lit up like a
Christmas tree in the mortuary. I think we’d have noticed if there
were any sidhe around.”
    He wasn’t wrong about that. The sidhe didn’t
exactly blend. At least not to Hunter eyes. And Inigo’s dragon
senses certainly would have picked one up.
    “I don’t get it either.” I frowned. “There’s
something we’re not getting. I need to give Eddie a call
tonight.”
    “After dinner at your mother’s.”
    “Yeah. After that.” Oh, the joy. It wasn’t
that I didn’t love my mother, but she did like to get rather over
involved in my life. Exibit A: That godsawful accountant she’d sent
me on a blind date with. Ugh.
    A deer darted in front of my car, nearly
sending my heart thumping out of my chest.
    Calm down, love. My reflexes are faster than that. Inigo’s mind caressed mine. His energy was so soothing I wanted to
melt. Sometimes there were benefits to having a boyfriend who was
half dragon.
    “Either stop that or pull this car over.” I
was practically squirming in my seat as he continued sending
tendrils of warmth through my body.
    “Why’s that?” His voice was oh, so innocent,
but his blue eyes sparkled with wickedness behind the lenses of his
glasses. Gods, I loved him in those nerdy classes. Talk about
sexy.
    “Pull over. Now.”
    “If I pull over we’ll be late to your
mother’s for dinner,” he said, his tone oh so logical. But his mind
never stopped playing with mine. In a really good way.
    “I don’t fucking care.”
    A smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
He pulled over.
    ***
    “You’re late. Dinner is practically ice
cubes.” My mother was the picture of genteel outrage.
    “And hello to you, mother.” I kissed her on
the cheek, breathing in the scent of her. She always smelled like
cookies for some reason.
    “Is everything okay, sweetie?” I heard the
worry in her tone and felt a stab of guilt. She worried too
much.
    “Everything is fine, mom. Just, you know,
snow on the mountain passes. Inigo was being careful.”
    “Such a good boy.” She wrapped him in a hug.
“I always know my Morgan is safe with you.”
    I had no idea what he’d done to charm her,
but my mother had adored Inigo from the get go. Not something I can
say about most of my past boyfriends. I can’t even imagine what
she’d have had to say about Jack. The very thought gave me brain
freeze.
    While Inigo continued his charm offensive, I
snuck off to the bathroom to ring Eddie. He picked up on the third
ring.
    “Majicks and Potions, Eddie speaking.” His
voice was filled with warmth and good humor.
    “Hey, Eddie.”
    “Morgan,” his voice took on an edge of
concern. “How are you? We haven’t been able to speak since that
ghastly incident at the club. Cordelia told me all about it.
Shocking.”
    “I’m fine, Eddie. I just need to have a chat
with you about this new case I’m on. Will you be around later
tonight?”
    “Oh, dear, I’m so sorry. Usually I would,
but I was invited to attend a Steampunk convention
after-party.”
    “A what?”
    He chortled. “Steampunk. Surely you’re not that out of
the loop, Morgan. You practically dress the part, after all.”
    I had no idea what he was talking about. He
might as well have been speaking Chinese. Or sports. “I know