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

‘The Charlotte I know would have bent over backwards to help Nimue.’

‘I did bend over backwards to help her.’

‘And,’ Monroe added, ignoring my protest but with his blue eyes filled with concern, ‘she’d have enjoyed helping.’

I looked away. I wasn’t sure that anyone else would have noticed my change in temperament, even Lizzy. I thought I’d been doing a good job masking the worst of my stress; somehow the knowledge that Monroe had seen through me annoyed me more. ‘You can talk,’ I said accusingly. ‘You’re covered in bruises. You’ve obviously been fighting. Or provoking fights.’

Monroe reached across, his hand covering mine. ‘Maybe we’re both in need of a break.’

I squeezed my eyes shut as Monroe’s gentle tone finally caused something deep inside me to break. The growing well of tension inside my stomach split open and flooded everything. It took over everything and, before I knew it, I was blurting it all out.

‘I didn’t think it would be this hard. There’s always someone who needs help, or someone who needs to complain, or some disaster that’s happening. It’s not the magical shit that causes most of the problems, it’s the mundane stuff that takes up most of my time. I had to break up a fight yesterday because of two people arguing over the best way to plant late-season potatoes.’ I flung my hands upwards. ‘We’re supposed to have a council but whenever we hold meetings it descends into arguments, and nothing ever gets done.’

‘Have you been getting much rest?’

I’d been getting a lot of tossing and turning. Not much else. ‘I need a week’s package holiday to somewhere sunny with cocktails. That’s all. I’ll be alright. It’s just…’

‘It’s hard.’ Monroe’s hand tightened on mine. ‘I get it.’

I appreciated the sympathy. My head dropped. ‘I’m waiting for you to say “I told you so”. From the start you said my community wouldn’t work.’

‘Your community is working – but it’s not working for you right now. Besides, I can’t say “I told you so”. I’m struggling too.’

I laughed feebly. ‘Then we’re both screwed.’

He leaned into me. ‘Not by a long shot. We just need to allow time for self-care.’

‘By getting into fights?’

He shuffled uncomfortably in his seat. ‘I wouldn’t recommend it.’

‘Then what…’

There was a loud thump on the steamed-up window. I wound it down. ‘Nimue, what do you want now?’ I asked, letting my irritation get the better of me.

But it wasn’t Nimue. An oddly green-skinned man was brandishing a sword in my face. ‘I want,’ he said with a nasty grin, ‘for you both to get out of the vehicle and come with me.’

Chapter Four

Monroe would have quite happily shifted into his wolf form there and then but, despite the green man’s unpleasant expression and threatening manner, I felt sure that this was the time for words and diplomacy rather than fighting. Escalation wouldn’t help anyone. Apparently, there was hope for me yet.

I jumped out of the car before Monroe could turn furry and pasted on my best smile. ‘Hi,’ I said. ‘I’m Charley.’

‘I know who you are,’ the stranger growled. He waved the sword at me. ‘And if your buddy decides to change and grow big ears, you’ll be one dead enchantress.’

Monroe got out of the other side of the car and snarled.

‘Oooh, impressive,’ Greenie drawled with full-blown sarcasm. Unfortunately I knew only too well that was not the way to woo a wolf.

Mentally taking a step back, I assessed our would-be attacker. Although his green skin was the most arresting thing about him, I put that out of my mind for now and focused on the rest of him, which actually seemed fairly normal. He was young, maybe early twenties or thereabouts. His clothes were casual but well kept, with a patch neatly sewn onto the thigh of his jeans, no doubt to cover a hole. He wore old trainers on his feet and there was the slightest tremor to his hand as he clutched the sword.

I slowly raised my hands to indicate submission and shuffled over to Monroe. ‘Let’s do as the man says, shall we?’ I murmured.

Monroe appeared to be in no mood to listen to me. ‘Wave that blade at me once more and I’ll rip out your throat.’

Greenie’s hand tightened round the weapon. Uh oh. Despite that, I didn’t think we were in immediate danger – unless Monroe made a move. Nervous people reacted badly, especially in life-or-death situations. A mere one percent of the population have malfunctioning amygdalas and won’t resort to fight-or-flight reactions when in stressful situations. Greenie might not be human in the way that I was, but I reckoned he’d react in a similar fashion.

I cast a quick glance at the lake, wondering if Nimue was about to reappear and save the day. There was no sign of her. What happened next would be down to me. I gathered up the stress and tension inside me and pushed it all down. Calm would win the day.

I returned my gaze to Greenie’s face. ‘Take us to your leader.’ My voice dropped. ‘Before one of us does something we’ll both regret and my friend here rips out your intestines.’ Oops. That was less calm than I’d intended.

Greenie’s mouth twisted. Before he could react, however, Monroe started to laugh. We both turned towards him. Greenie was confused; I was irritated.

‘What?’ I demanded. ‘What’s so funny?’

‘He’s a little green man.’

Greenie bristled.

‘And you said take us to your leader.’ A most un-wolf-like giggle escaped Monroe’s lips. ‘Maybe now we’ve got aliens to contend with on top of everything else.’

‘Don’t be silly,’ I snapped. ‘He’s obviously not an alien.’

‘You don’t know that. He could be.’

I folded my arms. ‘He’s not.’

‘I’m not,’ Greenie interjected.

I ignored him in favour of continuing to glare at Monroe. ‘Just when we were finally having a sensible conversation and you were being thoughtful and nice, you start acting like a five year old. Are you on drugs?’ I asked. ‘Have you taken something?’

‘No,’ Monroe