Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things (Dead Things Series Book 1) Read Free Page A

entirely with them. He had no idea why he did it really, other than just to see what would happen. So much energy surrounded her, how could he not try to tap into it? He was curious by nature. They had to know he wouldn’t be able to leave something so tempting alone, not when they dangled it right in front of him.
    Theoretically, it shouldn’t have worked. His magic should have had no effect on hers. Very rarely could you temper somebody else’s magic by adding your own. If anything, he ran the risk of creating a much bigger complication, such as killing a large crowd of people at a funeral and rendering himself unemployed.
    It had worked though. Her magic had practically rolled over and purred at his and his magic had responded in kind, wrapping itself around hers and making itself at home. Witch magic didn’t do that. It was maddening. He felt like he was missing something, something important. It gnawed at the corners of his mind, just out of reach.
    A flash of color caught his attention at the window. She had changed into jeans and a bulky sweater, tattered purple duffle bag in her hands. She stuffed clothing, her sketchbook, shoes and anything else she could fit into the bag. She went to the kitchen and pulled out a coffee can from the top shelf, pulling out cash and stuffing it into her jeans pocket.
    Interesting.
    His phone vibrated in his hand, startling him out of his thoughts.
    “Mace,” he answered.
    “It’s like you are trying to piss him off.”
    “Echo,” he grimaced at her tone, picturing her pinched face. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
    “Check your watch. You’re late checking in.”
    He glanced at his phone. “Ah, right you are, Luv.” He’d lost track of time.
    “So, anything to report?” Echo prompted, annoyance creeping into her voice.
    The girl flitted around the apartment, a rare smile blooming on her face. The rain began to fall harder, coming in sideways. She rushed to the window, hands on the edge, making to close it against the sudden assault. She looked up and froze.
    He did too.
    There was no way she could see him, not from this distance, not with the rain. He squinted as she turned away just a bit before looking back, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. Maybe she could see him? She’d seen him in the cemetery earlier. He couldn’t help but stare back. Her cloud of orange hair was billowing in the chilly air and even with the rain gusting in her face, she looked…captivating, like some vengeful spirit out of a gothic novel. She stared for another second before slamming the window shut hard enough to rattle the glass in its frame.
    He blinked, spell broken.
    “Hello?” Echo said through clenched teeth.
    He opened his mouth to tell her what he’d seen but faltered. If he told them she was a…well, a not human, there was a very good chance his next assignment would be to kill her, like the others. It had to be why they’d chosen him for this assignment. Nothing else made sense. They’d obviously wanted him to ensure she was supernatural and now they would want her dead.
    He wasn’t quite ready for that. He had to know what she was. He’d been around a long time and he’d never seen somebody who appeared to leach power from the ground they stood on. His fingers flexed. His magic wanted to know too.
    He cleared his throat. “Sorry, bad reception up here. Nothing to report yet. The girl is dismally boring. I should charge him triple for forcing me to endure this type of torture.” He lowered his voice, attempting a flirty tone. “Any chance you feel like telling me what he wants with her? Since when did we start concerning ourselves with humans?”
    She snorted, “That’s hardly any of your business, is it?”
    “No need to get snippy, Luv. It was a fleeting curiosity.”
    “He doesn’t pay you to be curious; he pays you to do as you’re told.”
    “Well, somebody has her sassy pants on today. What has your knickers in such a twist?”
    The girl’s