Open All Hours (Carnival Magic 2) Read Online Free Page B

reaction.
    He got one. “This is crazy!” She stood up and pointed at the diner owner. “There’s no way that you can just change into a bear, for God’s sake. It’s not possible.” She felt the skin on her back prickling with heat and a fierce itch spread over her. Leesa stiffened as a heavy pressure pressed down on her from all sides.
    “Easy,” Vol crooned, his voice soft and soothing. He got up slowly from his chair and put his arms around the frightened woman. “Try to relax into it. Fighting it only makes it hurt.”
    Leesa’s breath came in fits and gasps. She could feel the tufts of fur emerging from her skin and she opened her mouth to scream, just as twin needlelike fangs slid from her gums. She took in the rest of the table, but the other two just sat and allowed Vol to attempt to soothe her.
    “Breathe deep,” he said, his scent enveloping her. Now that she was in the change, instinct had hold of her and he smelled of man, and fierce strength and fiery heat. “Acknowledge the change, but tell it not now. Another time, you will let the beast free.”
    She felt herself shrinking. Go away, go away… Leesa wasn’t sure if she was talking to herself or to the feline inside of her. It was scared and wanted to flee. Vol’s big hand pressed down on her back, holding her tightly to his hard, muscular body.
    After what seemed like hours, the urge to run abated. The cat inside was calmed and no longer agitated. Vol released her and she sank back into the chair. Ellie passed her a glass of rich, dark, red wine, and she drank gratefully.
    Arthur had his fingers steepled and was looking at Leesa, the expression on his face one of curiosity mixed with concern. “Leesa,” he said quietly, “Now that I’ve witnessed what happens to you, I have some good and bad news for you.”
    “Please give me the good news first.”
    “It is magic-induced. A spell, or a curse, I don’t know yet.”
    “What’s the difference?” Ellie asked, as Leesa was too overwhelmed with questions to let one get out of her mouth.
    “A spell means that anyone with the skill level and the right combination of ingredients and incantations can reverse it. If it were a curse, you’d have to find the person responsible and convince them to undo it.”
    That news unstuck her tongue. “And the bad news?”
    “You’ll need to stay here until we can figure out what that reversion spell would be.”
    “No! Hell, no!” Leesa flung her hands up. Until that moment, she hadn’t realized she’d been holding Vol’s hand. She stomped off to the bedroom, then changed her mind and turned back to the table. “I have a life, you know. A job and a family. Well… a job anyway. Speaking of my job, I need to get to a computer and write up this story and send in the pictures of this cult or whatever that cursed me. Only thing that will get me fired faster than not having a headline story is not showing up for work.”
    “You can’t control your change right now, and you can’t just go out in public. Not everyone is going to understand if you morph into an animal mid-sentence. And I’ll be honest with you: I don’t know if it can be reversed. The best place for you is here, where it’s safe and I can help you control the change.” Vol’s deep bass voice held urgency and a hint of worry. “Believe me, it won’t bode well if any non-shifter sees you change.”
    Leesa knew he was right, but she still didn’t want to accept it. Vol was attractive, yes, but the last thing she needed right now was to get into a situation which might make her be in close quarters with a man who could see her naked at any point in her change. She turned to Ellie. “Why can’t you help me?”
    Ellie shook her head, making her fluffy mop of coils shake. “I’m not a shifter. One of these two can hopefully help you with that. What I can do, is help you keep your job.” She pulled out a slim laptop from her bag. “This is one I was going to get rid of. I