He glanced out at the rain and flipped his collar before taking the plunge to the sidewalk. “Weren’t you listening? Never mind. Don’t answer that. No. Nothing new there. We still haven’t found him.”
“So what is it about?”
We strode down to his car double-parked down a block or so. I could feel every heartbeat like a finger tapping a rhythm against my spine. Forty-seven lives in the office building, twelve in the coffee shop, eight in the bank.
He didn’t say anything until we had ducked into the car.
“How’s Eleanor?” He couldn’t see her unless he drew on magic to do so, but lately he made it a point to ask about her. Which she loved.
Women.
She smiled, then made pointy motions toward him again.
“Still dead,” I said.
She slapped me in the back of the head. Ow. Brain freeze.
“Also, angry.”
“What about?”
“Who can tell?”
He glanced at me. Didn’t buy my dismissal. I didn’t care.
Time to change the subject. “You going to tell me what’s really wrong?”
He started the engine. “What do you mean?”
“You didn’t get in until five this morning. You paced until six. It’s what, nine o’clock?”
“Ten thirty.”
“You’ve had three hours of sleep. Not like you to miss your beauty sleep.”
His eyes narrowed just a bit. Uncomfortable subject. I should probably just leave it alone.
So of course, I didn’t.
“Come on, now, Ter. Got a new guy working your night shift?”
He stopped at a light and watched the pedestrians without umbrellas take their time crossing the street.
“I’ve been . . . keeping busy. Looking into things.”
“Do these things have names? Social Security numbers?”
He shook his head.
Huh. I don’t know why, but I’d never thought of Terric as the kind of guy to keep secrets. He was too by-the-book, too goody-goody.
“Look at you,” I said. “All mysterious and secretfying. Please tell me it’s both a deep and shamefully dark secret you’re hiding.”
“I’m not hiding anything. Nothing you need to know.”
“Those are not quite the same thing, are they?”
I glanced away and caught the blur of light from the corner of my eye. Light that surrounded him. Huh. Maybe it wasn’t a new boyfriend on his mind.
Maybe it was magic.
PRAISE FOR
THE ALLIE BECKSTROM NOVELS
“Breathtaking. . . . Monk is a storyteller extraordinaire!”
—RT Book Reviews
“A must read for those of you who like urban fantasy. . . . Allie Beckstrom, it has been a blast.”
—Claire’s Book Corner
“The action comes to a blazing crescendo.”
—Gizmo’s Reviews
“Deserves to be savored . . . amazing and incredibly satisfying.”
—A Book Obsession
“Urban fantasy at its finest. . . . Every book is packed with action, adventure, humor, battles, romance, drama, and suspense. . . . Clear your calendar. Once you start reading, you won’t want to stop.”
—Sacramento Book Review
“Fast-paced, action-packed, and jammed full of all manner of magical mayhem.”
—Monsters and Critics
“A roller-coaster ride. I simply could not put it down!”
—A Book Obsession
“Dark and delicious. . . . Allie is one of urban fantasy’s most entertaining heroines.”\
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Allie Beckstrom is one of the best urban fantasy heroines out there.”
—Fresh Fiction
“An action-packed series.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“An absolutely awesome series.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“Another nonstop adventure.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“Amazing urban fantasy . . . this is one series that I can’t get enough of and I really love how kick butt Allie is.”
—Seeing Night Book Reviews
“The action-packed fifth Allie Beckstrom novel amps up the magical mayhem. . . . Allie’s adventures are gripping and engrossing, with an even, clever mix of humor, love, and brutality.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Devon Monk takes her story to places I couldn’t have dreamed of. Each twist and turn was completely surprising for me. Magic at the Gate truly stands out.”
—Reading on the Dark Side
“A spellbinding story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“Suspense is the name of the game. . . . I’m really enjoying this series. . . . Each book brings you a little bit further in to it and leaves you wanting more.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“The latest Allie Beckstrom urban fantasy is a terrific entry. . . . This is a strong tale.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
“First-rate urban fantasy entertainment.”
—Lurv a la Mode
“Snappy dialogue, a brisk pace, and plenty of magic keep the pages turning to the end. . . . This gritty, original urban fantasy packs a punch.”
—Monsters and Critics
“This is a wonderful read full of different types of magic, fascinating characters, an intriguing plot. . . . Devon Monk is an excellent storyteller.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Monk sweeps readers up in the drama and dangers of the heroine’s life as it steadily changes and grows . . . an intriguing read with fascinating characters and new magical elements introduced to the mix.”
—Darque Reviews
“The writing moves at a fast pace with plenty of exciting action. . . . This series just gets better and better with each new book.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“Tight, fast, and vividly drawn, Monk’s second Allison Beckstrom novel features fresh interpretations of the paranormal, strong characters dealing with their share of faults and flaws, and ghoulish plot twists. Fans of Patricia Briggs or Jim Butcher will want to check out this inventive new voice.”
—Monsters and Critics
“[A] highly creative series. . . . If you love action, magic, intrigue, good-versus-evil battles, and pure entertainment, you will not want to miss this series.”
—Manic Readers
“One heck of a ride through a magical, dangerous Portland . . . imaginative, gritty, sometimes darkly humorous. . . . An un-put-downable book, Magic in the Blood is one fantastic read.”