City of Magic: The Complete Series by Helen Harper (book club recommendations TXT) 📕

later, his body expanded and shifted. I stepped out of the way just in time. Then he was on all fours, his fur bristling and those same lips pulled back over his teeth. He sniffed again and, with a final warning look in my direction, padded forward silently.

I was unsure what to do. Monroe’s nose was clearly telling him where to go, but should I follow? Despite my words a few moments earlier, I didn’t want to get in his way. If there was a werewolf here, my presence wouldn’t help matters. Shapeshifter hierarchy meant that any wolf would automatically do Monroe’s bidding, regardless of what I did to intervene. But Monroe’s certainty about the presence of blood… I gritted my teeth. I’d have to go after him and I’d also have to steel myself for what we might find.

Unfortunately my indecision had cost me because I could no longer see Monroe’s wolf form. He’d disappeared among the poker tables and silent bandit machines. Neither could I move as quietly as he could; I took a few steps forward and, even walking on my tiptoes on the soft carpet, all I could hear was my own movement.

I stopped again. I was tempted to call out and ask Monroe to wait for me but I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. We weren’t alone here. Although I knew this casino well, the shadowy corners and almost impenetrable darkness ahead were making me nervous.

I could feel my magic pushing against my fingertips, eager to be set free again but I had to stay in control. It was the only way to gain the upper hand. I leaned forward, peering through the gloom. Where had Monroe gone? I glared, as if I could call him back to my side with dirty looks alone. Then there was a strange bristling sensation on the back of my neck and I knew that someone, or something, was watching me.

I tensed. I wasn’t used to being stalked and I didn’t like it in the slightest. I breathed deeply and tried to think. Whether my watcher was Philip the vampire, a werewolf or some other scary predator, I wouldn’t win the day by letting my fear get the better of me. Instead of thinking like Charley the potential lunch dish, I needed to remember Charley the gambler. I had to act normally and bluff like my life depended on it. It probably did.

If whoever was out there believed that I was unaware of them, they might drop their guard in the mistaken belief that they were going to take me by surprise. All I had to do was maintain a poker face and work out exactly where my attacker was then I could keep myself safe. I had the magical defences I needed; I just had to know where and when to use them.

I started forward once again, more slowly this time. To my left, if I had my bearings right, there was a long bar with a mirrored back which had the potential to help me enormously. I tiptoed forward, giving the impression that I was wary but not unduly afraid. When I drew level with the bar, I turned to face it. I reached down to a blackjack table nearby, trailing my fingers distractedly across the scattered chips on the green felt. I kept one eye on the mirror, however, and a few seconds later my strategy was rewarded.

There was the faintest flicker of movement reflected from behind me just to my right. I couldn’t tell what it was but, now that I had pinpointed it, I felt slightly less anxious. Gotcha. Sort of.

I abandoned the blackjack table and went deeper into the casino. There was still no sign of Monroe but that was okay. I had to draw my tracker further down where there were more tables. Any furniture between me and them would slow their progress and give me more time to react if I needed it. If my stalker thought I was trapping myself, they would be sorely disappointed.

Not far from me, a shaft of light cascaded down from a skylight. I wanted to avoid that area if possible; the last thing I needed was to illuminate myself and make it harder for me to see who was stalking me. I slowed my steps, trying not to make it look too obvious. A loose blue curl fell across my forehead and into my eyes and I raised a hand to brush it away. That was when I felt the rush of air behind me.

I spun, just in time to see a gigantic shape flying through the air towards me with its jaws wide. A dark liquid dripped from its teeth. Wolf, I thought. Definitely another wolf. I jerked my palms up and out; magic bolts flew into the air but before they could smack into the wolf there was another flurry of movement to my left. Monroe leapt through the air and collided with my would-be attacker. My magic slammed into the wall behind while the lupine pair slammed onto the floor.

Monroe rolled to his feet and snarled; the other wolf growled in response, yellow eyes flashing. Monroe took one step towards her and her shoulders and tail dropped. In less time than it had taken me to brush my hair from my eyes, he’d cowed the other wolf into submission.

I tried not to look too impressed. A large chunk of plaster fell from the wall from my attempt at defence, and all three of us flinched. Monroe kept his gaze trained on the wolf in front of him and shifted, his spine clicking as he stood upright once again.

‘And you were the one who cautioned against violence, sunshine,’ he murmured. He smiled, seemingly unfazed by what had just occurred.

I stared at him. How had he appeared out of nowhere like that? My eyes narrowed. Hang on a minute. ‘You used me as bait!’ I accused. ‘You deliberately left me there on