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

keep switching roles. One minute you’re the calm one and I’m the crazy, the next minute it’s the other way around.’

His gaze was steady. ‘I suppose it’s like that,’ he said quietly, ‘because we actually work well together.’

‘Mmm. It’s a shame that will stop after all this.’

Monroe shifted his eyes away. ‘From the brief impression I got of this pair, they’ll respond better to brute force and intimidation than the nicey-nicey approach.’

I brightened slightly. ‘So we both go in with guns blazing?’ I was more pleased about that than I should have been; recent events were getting me down more than I’d realised. ‘Fabulous. On a count of three.’

‘Don’t get hurt,’ he said, his eyes flashing.

‘I might say the same to you.’ I smiled. ‘Three. Two.’

‘One,’ Monroe finished. In the next beat we were both running towards the warehouse.

Whatever Ben and Jerry were arguing about, their emotions were running high. Although their words were inaudible, their tone was not. Even with the warehouse doors and windows firmly shut, it was obvious that they were yelling at each other with gusto. When Monroe and I reached the front door and their shouts continued unabated, neither of us wasted time speaking in whispers.

‘The sun is still high,’ I said. ‘Once we open that door, they’ll know we’re here. Unless we find another way in and opt for a stealthy approach to take them by surprise.’

‘Honestly,’ Monroe said. ‘I can’t be arsed.’ He raised his foot and kicked in the door. It crashed open and Ben and Jerry’s argument stopped. ‘Vampires! Ready or not, here I come!’

I smiled, raised my hands and sent a bolt of magic towards the centre of the warehouse. It sizzled when it hit the ceiling, causing a cascade of dust and wooden splinters to rain down onto the cement floor. ‘Me too!’ I shouted. And with that, both Monroe and I loped in.

There was a row of shelves laden with tinned goods against one of the far walls. Ben and Jerry were certainly preparing themselves for every eventuality. I wondered whether there should be a word for a person who, after an apocalypse, continued to prep for the possibility of a second one. Re-preppers? Post-preppers? Selfish idiots who stockpiled goods that other people needed and who deserved a sharp kick in the nuts?

Something came flying out of the gloom. Monroe shoved me slightly so I stumbled out of its path and the missile didn’t smack directly into my skull. I already had it covered, though, and flicked out an explosive magical shot to pulverise the object – whatever it was – into a cloud of dust.

‘Nice move,’ he murmured.

I grinned at him. ‘I know.’

Part of me wished I’d dressed up for the occasion. I liked the idea of stalking through the building with a long leather coat flaring out behind me. Despite the darkness, I’d be wearing stylish sunglasses and I’d have skin-tight clothes to show that I meant business. More to the point, so would Monroe. I guessed I’d have to settle for jeans and a shabby jumper. It didn’t really matter: winners come in all forms.

There was a loud bang somewhere to my left. Even with my inexperience in stalking, I wasn’t stupid enough to fall for such a diversion. Instead of leaping to investigate, I twisted in the opposite direction and smiled grimly as I spotted something. Monroe caught the same flicker of movement and smirked, displaying his white, even teeth. Then he transformed, his clothes ripping off as he changed into his wolf form. Honestly. He would have to do something about that; there were only so many boiler suits and changes of clothes in the city.

He leapt forward, his fur bristling in the stale air. A second later there was a strangled shout, whether from Ben or Jerry it was impossible to say. Either way, one down, one to go.

I swivelled the other way. If they had any nous, they’d have split up; that meant the other one had to be somewhere over there. I was right; unfortunately I hadn’t factored in that they might have a hostage.

‘Come any closer,’ shouted a shaky voice, ‘and I’ll slit her throat! It won’t be easy for her but she’ll die all the same. Regardless of the magic around us, we’re still not immortal.’

Before I could see who either Ben or Jerry was talking about, I knew.

‘Darlings,’ Julie’s strained voice said, ‘I’m really rather parched. I don’t suppose there’s any chance of a drink?’

I walked forward, keeping my pace even and slow and counting on the fact that Monroe had the other one covered. ‘Are you Ben?’ I called. ‘Or Jerry?’

His face contorted. ‘I fucking hate those names.’

‘So what would you like me to call you?’ I asked. I kept my palms raised, to avoid any erratic movements that might trigger his anger even more. ‘Abductor? Criminal?’

‘How about hero?’ he snarled.

I felt something chill inside me. Was that because Julie had dared to become a television actress? Or was it because he knew something else about her? Like the crimes she might have committed recently?

‘I’ll just run with Jerry,’ I said. I moved forward out of the patch of shadows and my gaze snagged on Julie. She was suspended upside down from the ceiling on a chain which was coiled round her ankles. It didn’t look a particularly comfortable position. Neither did it look easy to get out of. There would be no snatching her and making a run for it.

Jerry, if that’s who he was, gave an irritated snort. ‘I don’t know why you’re even here. This bitch doesn’t deserve a rescue mission.’

‘But she does deserve to be hung upside down like a piece of meat?’

He took a step backwards and nudged Julie in the ribs. She started swaying from side to side, her arms dangling uselessly and her fingertips trailing on the floor. ‘If it hadn’t been for the apocalypse, every vampire in the country would have ended up like this. Her actions would