Free Wicked Memories (CASTLE OF DARK DREAMS) by Nina Bangs Page A

mention that she’d already decided to stay. “Be reasonable, Sparkle. I won’t be any good to you. I don’t know how to deal with supernatural entities.”
    “Nonsense.” Sparkle stopped long enough to aim a glare at Ganymede, who was trying to lick the garlic mashed potato residue from the serving dish. “What’s to know? You just sneak around, do a little spying, a little sabotaging, and once Nirvana folds, you go home and everyone’s happy. Besides, if you need any help with the nonhumans, I can loan you some paranormal muscle.”
    Kayla thought about that. She knew how to do her job, and as long as she kept out of sight, how hard could it be? And if Sparkle could supply her some nonhuman help, she’d feel a lot safer.
    Listen to yourself. Do you really believe all this?
Kayla closed her eyes, shutting out Sparkle’s sly gaze. She had always tried to be practical and a realist. And as much as she’d like to make excuses for everything that was happening, she couldn’t. The evidence was mounting that a paranormal world she knew nothing about really did exist.
    Kayla opened her eyes. Time to face facts. She’d be going up against a bloodsucking creature that frankly scared the crap out of her.
    Ganymede lifted his head to stare at Kayla. Mashed potatoes covered his face and whiskers.
“Yo, Sparkle. Sweeten the pot for her. We need to keep her here.”
    Sparkle sighed. “Fine. If you’ll stay and do the job, I’ll double whatever your father is offering. In fact, if I’m happy with the results, I might give you a job here after you pass the bar exam. Holgarth has been making retirement noises lately. I’ll need a new attorney.”
    Kayla widened her eyes. Work as Sparkle’s attorney? That would have to be one of the scariest jobs on the planet. No amount of money could tempt her to accept it. But the extra money that Sparkle had offered for this one-and-done job sounded great. Kayla tried to look as though she was struggling with her decision. “I’ll stay. But I want you to get my helper to me as soon as possible. I have a lot to learn about the supernatural realm.” Understatement of the year.
    Sparkle glowed. “You won’t regret this. We’ll have fun destroying Thorn Mackenzie.”
    Kayla frowned. Sparkle sounded as though she meant it. “I have one question. What are cosmic troublemakers?”
    Ganymede was washing his face with one gray paw.
“We’re incredibly powerful and charismatic beings gifted with the ability to cause chaos in every aspect of human life.”
    Gifted with huge egos as well. “Then why haven’t I ever heard of you?” Of course, Kayla’s knowledge didn’t go beyond the usual—vampires, werewolves, angels, and demons.
    Ganymede finished with his face and gave her his full attention.
“Because there aren’t that many of us, and we don’t have a great PR department.”
    Kayla nodded. That was a good enough explanation for the moment. She started to rise but then sat down again. Earlier, she’d decided not to mention Will or the men who’d walked into the Gulf. But now she needed to know more. Besides, Sparkle was paying her to investigate. She wanted to show her client that she was getting her money’s worth.
    Kayla gave a brief rundown of events, starting with the attempted mugging and ending with Will and her standing on the beach watching the men run into the Gulf. She had to take a deep breath before telling the last part. “As the men got farther away from shore, they started to . . . change.”
Just say it.
“They became some kind of whale.” She met Sparkle’s gaze. “Was I seeing things or can that really happen?”
    Sparkle glanced at Ganymede. Kayla sensed something passing between them.
    Then Sparkle shrugged. “There’re all kinds of shifters. Some sea creatures have been known to take human shape, but we don’t see many around here. Lately though . . .” Abruptly, she stood. “Well, I think we’ve covered everything for the night. You