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

The constant compliments that tripped out of his mouth were jarring. Yes, this place was quite something but it was far from perfect. I thought of the way he’d slid in his concerns about the magic’s side effects to Lizzy and I felt more uneasy.

‘It’s been a community effort,’ I told him. ‘We all play our part.’ I kept walking but I enunciated my next words very clearly and raised my voice so that he wouldn’t mistake my meaning. ‘And we all take it very seriously when our community is threatened.’

‘You’ve been threatened?’

‘Not all the threats are direct,’ I said. ‘Some can be more underhand and manipulative. Those sorts of threats are far more dangerous than the obvious ones.’

‘I’m not quite sure what you’re getting at.’ He did a good job of looking puzzled.

There were several ways I could go about this. I could dance the same waltz as him, skirting the truth and only hinting at my suspicion, or I could take the direct route. Yesterday I’d believed that a little magical meandering was the best approach but right now I was taking a different view. Sometimes the only thing you could do was to lay your cards on the table.

‘You were trying to plant the seed in Lizzy’s mind that there are risks relating to the magic that she’d not thought of. There’s been no suggestion, not so much as a flicker, that the magic in our atmosphere might make us more prone to disease. But you brought it up. You made a big deal out of it.’ I angled my body towards his so I could get a better view of his face – and his reaction. It wasn’t easy with his hazmat visor but I did my best.

‘That wasn’t my intention at all,’ he blustered, his eyes widening. He was definitely over-reacting.

‘Don’t bluff a bluffer,’ I said, my voice flat. ‘I have neither the time nor the inclination for games. I admired you for telling me the truth about how you want to be known as the first person brave enough to enter Manchester and save our souls. But now it feels like you’re sowing mistrust and lies.’

It was just as well that I was paying close attention because I almost missed Fab’s jaw hardening. ‘I haven’t lied,’ he told me. ‘Not about anything.’

‘Does anyone here look sick to you?’

He stopped walking and moved in front of me, effectively stopping me from moving forward. The two goons stopped behind me. They hadn’t trapped me as cleverly as they thought they had, however; they were forgetting that I had magic ready at my fingertips.

‘Of course no one looks sick,’ he answered. He lifted his chin and I was sure I caught the faintest gleam of dislike in his eyes. ‘But, yes, I’ll admit that I deliberately suggested that the magic might do that. Because you know what, Charley? It might. No one knows what the long-term effects of breathing this stuff in could be. I’m not wearing this suit because I think it gives me a debonair style that should be mimicked on the catwalks of Paris and London. I’m wearing it because the magic is a genuine threat to my well-being. I’m not trying to cause a panic, I’m trying to point out the obvious. Those samples we’ve taken from your friend and from others will be invaluable in proving if there is anything to be worried about. I don’t believe in sugar-coating matters or hiding anything. I’m simply saying what I think.’ There was a steel-edged fury to his words. I’d called him out – and he didn’t like it.

I stood my ground. ‘You’re creating problems where there are none.’

‘Yet,’ he bit out. ‘No one knows what will happen in two, or five, or ten years’ time.’

‘So why spread panic now?’ I asked.

‘I don’t see any panic. Show me where your people are panicking. Go on.’

I knew as well as he did that a muted whisper could quickly become a screeching roar. ‘Around here,’ I told him, ‘we don’t jump at shadows.’

‘Unless there are monsters who might eat you at any moment,’ he sniped back. He looked round. ‘Where is that Lucy thing?’

‘She’s had a long day. She’s asleep in her cage at home,’ I said quietly.

‘Are you suggesting that’s where I should go? Back home? Are you trying to get rid of me?’

Where had that come from? ‘Don’t be silly,’ I snapped. ‘I’m glad you’re here. We need your help. I’m thrilled that you’ve come.’

Fab drew himself up. ‘You have a funny way of showing it.’ He glared. ‘Julian showed me the map, you know, the one where you’ve marked out where all the monster sightings have occurred. Where their known territories are. Don’t mistake me for an idiot, Charley. You deliberately walked us through that pink monster’s territory when you led us here.’ He kept his eyes on mine. ‘And you are suggesting that I’m manipulative? I have nothing on you.’

Damn it. ‘I was trying to gauge how you and your goons would react. I wasn’t going to take you to my home and my people until I could be sure you wouldn’t shoot a werewolf the first time they turned furry in front of you.’ After all, if there was anything Monroe had taught me it was to be more wary of strangers.

‘So your ultimate goal is the safety of your people?’

I threw up my hands. ‘Yes!’

‘That’s mine too,’ Fab said. His voice softened. ‘We both want the same thing here. We both have an eye on the future and what it might bring. My future is just more long term than yours. I’m not your enemy, Charley. I’m not anyone’s enemy. I’m here to help.’

I scanned his face, wishing I could see it properly without the damn visor in the way. There was a ring of sincerity to what he was saying and I certainly wanted to believe his intentions were genuine. Was I looking for problems where there were none?

‘I