Free One Part Human by Viola Grace Page B

head. “You are interviewed, and we have to begin looking for the mage who was draining the victim.”
    She yawned and leaned against Smith, lounging on him as she lost focus. “Whomever is going to interview me had better work fast.”
    Another XIA vehicle pulled up, parking on the grass. The trio emerged up and stalked toward their team.
    Argyle muttered, “I should get the SUV.”
    She reached out and grabbed his arm. “Not until I am sure that they are not going to arrest me.”
    He chuckled. “Right.”
    The three agents were cordial enough to her team, but Smith got a little bit of ribbing for his current shape.
    The elf of their team, named Frond, brought out a notepad and smiled at Benny. “Now, can you tell us what you saw once you entered the circle?”
    She explained the levitation, the man trying to drain the woman of her soul and his escape when she attacked.
    “Are you a registered mage?” He raised a brow.
    She blushed. “No. I am afraid I am home schooled. I am a registered mage guide, but that is about it.”
    He nodded. “You are that journalist that the XIA was asked to host.”
    “Correct. Benny Ganger.”
    He grinned. “I love your recipes.”
    “Thank you.”
    “What spells did you use to repel the assailant?”
    “I used a moonlight repulsion spell in the form of rapid snowballs, and to protect Jennifer, I encased her psyche in a heavy warding with a starlight base and used my own body as a power source to maintain it.”
    He made frantic notes. “All mage-based?”
    “Um, no. The light attack was fey. The protection was part mage and part fey.” She smiled, and Smith rumbled behind her.
    She took his sound to mean she should shut up.
    “How can you master fey magic?” Frond raised his pale green brows.
    “I never said I was a master; I said I was home schooled in magic. My parents are both academics. The books were all there.”
    He nodded and continued to make notes.
    He opened his mouth to ask another question, but Smith shifted his position and pushed Benny away from the elf with his huge paw. He huffed and moved his head.
    “You are kidding.”
    He made the motion again, and she boosted herself onto his back. Lion riding was not comfortable; they were made entirely of shoulder blade.
    Her XIA team made their way back to their vehicle in silence. They all had been interviewed before being released.
    At the SUV, Tremble helped Benny off her mount.
    “Thanks, Smith.”
    He huffed and wandered around the vehicle before shifting back to human.
    Argyle tucked her into the SUV and buckled her in place. “Call your parents. I managed to grab a soil sample for analysis. That power wasn’t human, so it might give us a clue.”
    Benny sent her mother a text before she listed to one side as they started moving. Smith still tucking in his shirt. Tremble moved next to her and put his arm around her. “You did well, Benny. You saved a life tonight.”
    She gave a weak thumbs-up and drifted into a daze as they headed to her parents’ home.
    When they arrived, Argyle carried her out and into her family home.
    Lenora came out and asked, “What is wrong with her?”
    “She used a lot of energy tonight, and she has been weak since.”
    Her mother touched her cheek and looked Benny in the eye. With a rueful sigh, she touched Benny’s neck and then jerked her hand sharply. “Rule one of spell casting, Benny?”
    Benny felt her strength return in a rush. “Remove all protections and dampeners. Argyle, you can put me down now. I am an idiot.”
    Argyle held on to her for a few more moments until her father growled in the background.
    Smith grinned. “You forgot to remove a dampener?”
    She shrugged. “I wear one most of the time. I don’t do magic in public, so it never occurred to me.”
    He chuckled. “Same reason I remove all the clothing. I can still shift, but it gets in the way.”
    Benny giggled and rubbed her arm against his in camaraderie.
    Argyle took her left side and Tremble