Page 66 of Wynter

We part ways, and head toward Spell Library. The plan is for us to enter through the back door, hide, and catch the thief red-handed. Violet, the librarian, and her mate, who’s a cop, are supposed to meet us there. But when we enter the staff room, it’s pure and utter chaos.

Violet introduces us to all three of her mates, only one of whom is a cop. And then his partner—who doesn’t look a day over twenty-five—waves over two guys who stepped out of a renaissance fair. Then a gray-haired old lady, who the three of them crowd around and introduce as their mate.

And if all eight of them, plus us five—if we count Mini and her mouse—aren’t enough, Amber and all three of her guys squeeze in through the door to join us.

It takes forever to get everyone introduced, and then Liam, who seems to be in charge, claps his hands.

“Okay, everyone. Zoe should be pulling up in the van at nine. That gives us half an hour to get in position.” He looks around the crowd. “That being said, I’d like to emphasize, again, that you don’t all need to be here. Bert and I can handle this.”

I start to shake my head, but Leith speaks up on my behalf. And Ghost’s. “She’s our mate. We’re staying.”

Ghost and I nod.

“And you’re my mate,” Violet the librarian, tells Liam. “So I’m staying, too.”

“Well, Bert’s my mate,” the old lady, whose name is also Violet, chimes in. “So I’m also staying.”

“If our mate stays, we stay,” one of the renaissance men announces grandly, his accent thick and with hints of Brit mixed in.

“And I paid for the buffet,” another man—who’s Violet the librarian’s mate and the creator of Screech—points out. Not a buffet for our stakeout, but for the event the library hosted this afternoon. In other words, the bait.

“The guys and I donated the Mood Teas,” Amber calls out, “so we get to stay too.”

“Not like the thief’s going to steal tea,” Mini mutters under her breath, but just loudly enough to be heard.

“The tea was for the book club.” Amber shoots her a glare. “It’s called Mood Tea and Books for a reason.”

“If you say so.” Mini examines her fingers like she finds them completely fascinating. Since I know she’s a witch, maybe she does.

Amber groans. “If anyone shouldn’t be here, it’s you.”

“Yes, I should. Zoe’s my friend.”

Amber raises an eyebrow.

Mini raises one right back. “I’m Agent Tiptoe’s handler. I have to stay.”

“Agent who?” Amber frowns.

Mini holds up the mouse. Which really doesn’t help.

“She can talk to animals,” I tell Amber.

“Since when?” Amber examines Mini, who pulls a stick of bubble gum from her pocket—the same pocket where she keeps the mouse, which can’t be hygienic—and pops it in her mouth.

“Hey, what happened to your manicure? And your hair?” Amber asks her. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m trying on a new look.” Mini pops a bubble with her gum. “Do you think I could talk to you for a moment? Alone?”

“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Liam calls as they step away. Except for me, no one else pays attention.

Ghost and Leith are trying to figure which supes they both know—something they’ve been doing on and off since they realized Ghost had visited Leith’s Canadian hometown. The two Violets are chatting away happily, and some of the guys—though I’ve lost track of who’s who—are talking about hitting up a bar once we’re done.

“Hello?” Liam shouts. “Violet? A little help?”

“Sure.” The younger Violet steps to his side. Then she shifts into the other, older Violet, and shushes everyone into silence. “Now pay attention, dears. My mate has something to say.”

I kind of wish Zoe was here, because I just know she’d tell me this is why she loves Silver Springs.