Wolf Marked (Magic Side: Wolf Bound 1)

Time to shift the subject.

“Over that way is Avery’s Point.” I gestured to the wooded area on the right. “That’s one of the few forests on the island where we can shift and run our wolves.” Slowing, I turned into the Flats. “The largest wooded area in Magic Side stretches south from Exposition Park and crosses into the Indies, your family’s territory. It’s not ideal, but it’s been that way since the island was founded.”

And yet another source of conflict between the pack and the LaSalles.

Savannah nodded but said nothing as we pulled onto the main drag of Market Street. I watched with curiosity as she took in the dozen or so storefronts, all specializing in different things—D’s Witchcraft and Wizardry, Pure Potions, and a store called Updos with fancy wigs floating in the window. Her eyes rounded, and I could smell her excitement. “What is this place?” she asked.

“Market Street. The best place to find random stuff.” I parked in front of Donahue’s Hardware and Alchemical Supplies.

She turned to me with a look of confusion. “What are we doing here? Buying a magic hammer?”

“First, you need some new boots. You’re too slow and need to run faster.” Again, my eyes drifted to her long, lean legs.

Irritation colored her face. “I’ll have you know I was the state champ in the four-hundred-meter in track. I am fast, just not four-legged fast.”

A track champ. So that explained her speed—she was a natural.

“We’ll have to do something about that,” I replied.

She scowled at me. “What do you suggest, I grow an extra pair of legs?”

“That idea hadn’t crossed my mind.” I lifted my brows. “Why don’t we start with boots?”

To my surprise, she shrank against the door. “Did you just flippantly imply that you could turn me into a werewolf? Are you infectious or something?”

I snarled at the impudent woman. “Lycanthropy is extremely rare. Maybe one in ten thousand wolves have the gene to pass it on. I could bite you a hundred times, and you’d be fine. If slightly tender.” She definitely needed a good nip.

Savannah raised her hands defensively. “I didn’t mean to offend. Just wondering if I should be worried. And please don’t bite me.”

Savannah would make a terrible wolf. Disobedient, hot-headed, infuriating.

“You have nothing to worry about,” I said gruffly, swallowing my irritation.

“Good.” She averted her eyes, and I sensed her relief.

I opened the door and stepped onto the sidewalk. “You did look nice in that wolf mask, if it’s any consolation.”

She snorted and slid out of the truck. “Not really.”

A woman stepped out of Updos with a hairstyle that looked like an intricate bird’s nest. Savannah did a double take when a live bluebird poked its head up from inside. “Wow.”

“The things women do for beauty these days, I’ll never understand.”

It was true—real beauty was natural. Before I could stop myself, I glanced at Savannah.

“What now?” she asked, noticing my roving eyes.

I cleared my throat. “Nothing.”

We walked down the street in silence. I relished the quiet as Savannah took in the sights around her. We passed an eyeglass shop that sold night-vision contact lenses, then a clothing store with dresses that flashed different colors in the window. I stopped in front of The Cordwainer’s Curiosities. “And here we are.”

Like its neighbors, the store’s window held a selection of its wares—in this case, the finest shoes on offer. Rather than sitting on pedestals or boxes, however, each pair was levitating and engaged in some fashion of movement in place. The tennis shoes were jogging, the red flamenco heels stamped in a rhythmic dance, and the black stilettos sashayed like they were walking down a catwalk.

Savannah shot me a wide smile. “Magic shoes?”

“I told you you’re too slow.”

She rolled her eyes but stepped through the front door with a spring I hadn’t seen since we entered the Fair the night before. I couldn’t stop my smile as I followed her in.