Free Grave Expectations (The Ministry of Curiosities Book 4) by C.J. Archer Page B

fit through the keyhole."
    "Magic," Cook added with a knowing nod.
    "Then it ran off. We chased it, caught it and said the words for it to return, which it did. Simple."
    He set the teacup aside and picked up the necklace. The amber dangled from his fingers as he held it up to the light. "What did it look like?"
    "Ugly," Cook said.
    "Like a hairless cat," I added. "It moved like a cat too, and it sounded a little like one. It was quite a friendly little thing once it tired itself out."
    He put the necklace down again and fixed me with one of his penetrating glares. "It was fast?"
    "Very."
    "And yet you caught it."
    I sighed again. There was no point delaying the inevitable. "It grew very tired after it saved my life."
    He stiffened. "Go on."
    "Someone was in the tree near the front gate. I followed the imp to the street and the person shot at me. The imp pushed—"
    "Shot at you!" He grasped my shoulders and searched my face.
    "I'm unharmed, Lincoln. The imp pushed me out of the way and the man ran off without firing another shot."
    His jaw set hard. "Did you see him?"
    "No. It was dark, but I'm quite certain it was a man, and an agile one. He must have been camped out in that tree, waiting for me to reappear. I wonder how long he was up there."
    "This reinforces my opinion that you must remain in the house."
    "Only for the time being, until he's caught."
    "As for the imp…" He collected the necklace again and frowned. For a moment, I thought he was going to pocket it so he could hide it from me, but instead, he held it out. "Store it somewhere safe."
    "And don't speak the words to release it?"
    "In any language." He stalked out of the kitchen and I had to run to catch up with him.
    "Where are you going?"
    "Outside to look for clues to the shooter's identity."
    "I doubt he left a calling card."
    He gave me a withering glare. "Lock the door behind me, and don't open it until you hear my voice. Lock all the doors."
    By the time he returned, Seth and Gus had joined us. Lincoln checked that every door and window was locked before sitting us all down in the library and going through his new rules, most of which involved not letting me out of the house or leaving me on my own.
    "Go and change into your exercise clothes, Charlie," he said once we'd all agreed. "We'll resume your training."
    "Now?"
    He gave me a blank look.
    I pointed to the clock on the mantel. "It's almost eleven."
    "Tomorrow morning then. Early." He once again strode out of the room, his hands behind his back. He took the stairs two at a time and disappeared. He didn't even say goodnight.
    With a sigh, I followed him, only to find that he was waiting for me at my door. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, apparently seeing something of interest on the floor at his feet.
    "Lincoln? Are you all right?"
    He watched me approach through his thick, dark lashes. "I believe that's my question." He opened his arms and folded me against his chest. " Are you all right?"
    "I am. I wasn't hurt."
    "You could have been." He rested his cheek on the top of my head and drew in a deep breath.
    "Let's not dwell on that. The imp saved me." I'd slipped the necklace into the top drawer of my dresser, beneath my unmentionables. I didn't want to release it accidentally again, but if I felt threatened, I knew where to find it quickly. "It was quite a strange experience, and I still can't fathom it."
    He held me without speaking for a moment, then kissed the top of my head. "Goodnight, Charlie. I hope you can sleep, in spite of everything."
    "I'll sleep better if you're with me."
    He kissed the tip of my nose. "You and the imp are well suited to one another."
----
    T raining was more intense than usual. There was no teasing, hardly any talking, and certainly no kissing. After two hours, my muscles ached and my knuckles sported a graze from punching the rice-filled bag. I was relieved when Seth interrupted us—until I saw his face. It was lined with worry.
    "You have a visitor, sir."