Free Trace of Magic by Diana Pharaoh Francis Page B

remarried. I was four. Taylor came along a year later.
    We got along fine. No big half-sister hatred or anything. But Dad had always treated me different. Special, in the way that the smallpox virus is special. I always knew I needed to hide and that if the Tyet or anyone like them found me, I’d be in trouble. He made sure that the rest of the family knew it, too. They did everything in their power to keep me under the radar.
    Now Taylor was going to sacrifice her heart to let me off the hook. Leo and Jamie weren’t going to be any help. They were my stepbrothers. Leo was four years older and Jamie was my age. After both had gone and got engineering degrees, they had completely changed career direction and gone into business together making high-end jewelry. Their designs were expensive and popular. The kinds of pieces stars begged to wear to the Oscars and Grammys.
    Anyhow, the point is they couldn’t help with Josh. I could. I sure as hell wasn’t going to let my sister bleed to death when I might be able to help. Especially not to just keep my own hide intact.
    “I told you. I’m stuck with Price until I do his trace.” I grimaced. “He tabbed me. As long as I have to be under his thumb, I might as well use him to help me find Josh. Besides, you’re my sister. I’m not going to go hide while the love of your life is missing.”
    “It’s too dangerous for you. Break the tab,” she urged, and she actually meant it. As much as she loved Josh, she was willing to let me off the hook rather than risk myself. My entire family would do the same. For that, I’d walk into hell for them.
    “If I do, it will make him suspicious. Don’t forget he’s a Tyet enforcer,” I said, my throat tight with emotion. Dad always said family was the most important thing in the world. You stick together, and you always have someone to lean on. He’d always meant that I was the one that was supposed to do the leaning, letting them hide me and protect me. Not this time. For once, I was going to be the one to help.
    “So?” she countered. “Break it and run.”
    “He won’t give up. He’ll be too curious.” I shook my head. “It’s better if I just play the part he expects and then drift away when it’s over.”
    She bit her lip. “Are you sure? I don’t want to risk you, too.”
    “I’m sure. I’m going to find Josh for you.”
    “Thanks,” she said, and tears trickled down her face again. Suddenly she put her arms around me and hugged me hard. “Thanks so much. I know you’re the best. If anyone can find him, it’s you.”
    I hugged her back, and then she pulled away, wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands.
    “I’m a fucking mess,” she said. “I didn’t cry this much when I broke my leg in first grade.”
    “Maybe you’re pregnant.”
    “Bite me,” she retorted. “I’m totally protected and so is Josh.”
    Just then the driver’s door opened and the overhead light popped on, making me squint. Price slid into the seat. He brushed away the snow on his arms and shoulders.
    “We’d better get going. Snow’s almost too deep to drive in.” He looked over his shoulder. “Where to?”
    “You’re not taking us to the precinct?”
    He frowned and shook his head. “In this weather? No. I’ll get you home and we can start working the case from there where there’s food and beds. You’ve got a decent computer setup, right?”
    He looked at me, but it was Taylor who answered. She knew I’d rather skinny-dip in lava than let Price anywhere near my house. “I do. I don’t live far. Take Porter Avenue up to Excellsior.”
    He nodded and then turned on the windshield wipers. It didn’t help much with the thick blanket of snow that had fallen over the car. He jumped out and knocked the snow from all the windows, then hopped back in again. “Damn, it’s cold,” he said, rubbing his hands in front of the heater vent.
    He looked back at us. Something moved across his expression as the overhead light