Free Open All Hours (Carnival Magic 2) by Eden Royce Page A

us some time to cover and give us a few other shifters to stand guard.”
    Leesa took this new information surprisingly well. “There are more shifters working at the carnival?”
    “Most of them are, actually,” Arthur replied. “It can be hard to find acceptance as a shifter and the Show has been a safe haven for a lot of runaways and changelings with no family.”
    “So tonight, then?” Vol asked. “At midnight?”
    “I’d say just before. Get set up and all. The moon isn’t full tonight but it’s waxing, so that’s in our favor. We can’t wait another two weeks until it’s full again. Let’s go.”
    Leesa stayed in the booth as everyone else began to leave. Tip patted the back of her hand. “Don’t look so worried. Most of the time reversal spells are painless.”
    “Most of the time?” Leesa asked, eyes wide. But Tip had slipped away, presumably to rest up for the night.
    Leesa stirred her cold coffee, lost in thought until she heard a cough. Vol stood at the head of the table, list in hand. “You okay?” he asked.
    “Yeah…I think so. This is just so surreal. I can’t process it.”
    He shifted from foot to foot. “Ellie said you might feel that way. I’m sorry I had no right…I just never thought of it from your perspective. As a full human. It must be scary to suddenly have all of this shoved in your lap.”
    “It is, but I’m managing. Look,” she said, turning to him and touching his arm. The touch sent a shock of awareness up through her fingertips and into her body at the heat he radiated. “I’m sorry too. I never should have said those things. You have been great.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “You’re an amazing man and I never thought I’d meet anyone like you. When I did and I found out about your bear, it freaked me out. But I…no matter what happens tonight --”
    “No, don’t think the worst. It will work out.” He laced his fingers through hers. “C’mon. Let’s go and attack this list. That’ll keep your mind off tonight.”
    Tone came over to wipe down their table.
    “Can I see what we need?” Leesa asked.
    “Sure.”
    Leesa looked over the list. “Where do you get some of this stuff? What’s antimony?”
    “No idea,” he said. “Guess we’re going to Google it.”
    Tone had the answer. “Metal alloy. Used in making your own bullets and such. Gun store should have some.”
    “How do you…” Leesa looked surprised that the little man had such knowledge of not only guns, but of bullet making?
    “I wasn’t always a short-order cook, you know.” He smirked and Leesa thought she could see a hint of that sharp fox nose slyly peeking out. “Go get what you need. I can hold down the fort.”
    “I don’t know what I’d do without you, old man,” Vol said, slapping the smaller man on the back.
    “I do,” he replied. “Be broke.” Then he grabbed the empty coffee cups and headed back into the kitchen.
    After a stunned moment, Vol’s laughter joined Leesa’s. “He’s right, you know,” he admitted as he tugged at her hand. “Ready to attack this list?”
    She took a deep breath. “I may as well be.”
    “Great, but first, let me change this shirt. I love Arthur, but I’m not wearing sparkly bronze out in public.” He grinned, and pulled at the T-shirt.
    His humor was infectious and Leesa returned it, smiling up at him. She was still nervous… terrified, actually… but she wasn’t in this alone. She wasn’t the frightened lost kitten she was a week ago. She had friends, and support, and whatever this thing with Vol was now. Later, she’d find that out, but for now, they had a job to do.

Chapter Six
     
    Three hours later, Vol and Leesa returned to the diner worn and rushed, having purchased each item on the list. Except one. The roses and the salt had been easy; the local supermarket carried those in abundance. The lead and antimony as expected were harder, but they’d managed it. The gun shop owner, a portly pockmarked man,