Arcane Solutions Read Online Free Page A

said something.”
    “ I'm starving. Let's stop for some lunch.” He jerked his head toward a tavern across the street. “Good steaks there.”
    “ You must hang out here a lot more than I do.”
    “ I’ve been here enough to know where the good steaks can be found. Come on, I'll buy.” He led the way across the street, and I reluctantly followed. My stomach was beginning to grumble a little about its empty state.
    As was par for the course down here, the tavern’s lighting was dim. Sighting Jo Morrison sitting at a corner table, head bent close to a vampire's as she listened to him speaking, surprised me.
    What are you doing here? I 'pathed, startling her into looking up. I watched the vampire eye her neck while lounging back in his seat, despite the fact she wore another of Ronnie's warded crosses.
    Book business floated from her in response. I smiled and waved for the vampire's benefit when he glanced our way. It couldn't hurt to let him know she wasn't down here completely alone.
    Jo’s a witch, and certainly not helpless, but I tend to be protective of those I call friends. There are few enough of them, and to be honest, they’ve pulled my fat out of the fire more often than I have theirs. I do my best to return the favor as much as possible.
    “Who's that?” Nick was watching the byplay. Jo waved back.
    “ A friend of mine and a coven mate of Kate's. Her name’s Jo.” Slipping past him, I picked a table not too far from hers and sat where I could keep an eye on things.
    The shifter followed, settling into a seat that let him watch the door and most of the dining area.
    Who is he? Jo's question was a whisper, but I caught it because I was listening for her. She had a natural, thick mental shield and it had taken me a long time to tune in enough to be able to hear her.
    New hire at the office . Kate would eventually inform them that Whitehaven had hired a babysitter for me.
    Cute . She was grinning.
    Yeah, I guess . Nick's good looks had paled during the meeting with Thorandryll, but the effect would wear off, at least until I met with the elf again. It was just a side effect of seeing what amounts to male perfection.
    A menu was shoved into my face right then by a surly looking waitress. My guess was that being a vampire hadn't turned out the way she thought it would. From what I’d learned, it seldom did.
    We ordered and there was nothing to do but stare around or make small talk. I chose small talk. “What made you take the job?”
    “ Babysitting you?” Nick grinned, his eyes sliding from me to the door and back. “It sounded interesting. I've never met a psychic before.”
    I scowled. “How about we say 'being my partner'?”
    “ A promotion already? Okay, sure.” He laughed. It was a nice laugh.
    “ What were you doing before?”
    “ I’ve done some bouncing for a few clubs.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Great. Being a PI isn't all about throwing people around, you know.”
    “ I do have a brain, Jones, and I'm a wolf. We're natural hunters.” His grin said that I’d failed to offend him. The scowling vamp waitress returned with our food just then. After she'd dropped the plates in front of us, he asked, “How did you end up as a PI?”
    “ By accident. This smells good.” The steak, medium rare and smoking hot with a side of marinated, grilled mushrooms, grabbed my full attention. “Let's eat and get back to work.”
    “ Sure.” With that, our mouths were busy with food rather than conversation. I kept an eye on Jo while we ate. The auburn-haired witch was having an intense-looking conversation with the vampire. He seemed to have lost interest in her neck, pointing out various things in the book they were studying.
    Once lunch was disposed of, Nick excused himself for a trip to the Gents' Room. I decided to wait for him outside, and do a little scanning for any thoughts about Zoe.
    Concentrating on that, I didn't notice the vampire approaching until he blocked my view. “Looking for