All's Fur in Love and War: Arcane Affairs Agency

By Clara Cody

Agent Sarah Hazelwood didn't get to where she is by resting on her laurels. She's a witch that works hard and takes great pride in the position she's earned in the Arcane Affairs Agency. When another promotion is put in front of her, she'll do anything she can to get it. Even working with a loose-cannon shifter agent like Dane Landon.
Dane has always been the strongest and the fastest shifter around. Natural ability has made life easy on Dane, and that's exactly how he likes it. To Dane, Sarah is beautiful and brilliant, but demanding and strict. He's never had to work for a woman's attention like this.
Their personalities collide when shifters in a small town begin losing their abilities. Unable to shift, unable to access the strength and power they're used to, and without answers, they call the Agency for help. But the town has made their stance very clear; they don't want a witch's help. After Dane loses his own ability, he and Sarah must work together to protect themselves and solve the case.
Will they be enough to save a town from itself? Or will their feelings for each other get in the way?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clara Cody
• Release date: Nov 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781393133872

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Arcane Affairs Agency

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Chapter 1

A knock came at Sarah’s door. She saved and closed the file she’d been working on so diligently for the past hour. She hated being interrupted, but there always seemed to be someone waiting, wanting something from her. Come in, she called, slipping her glasses off and storing them in the desk drawer.

A man in a dark gray suit opened the door. Agent Hazelwood?

She sat up straighter. Yes. Can I help you?

Olson wants to see you, Agent.

She stood, smoothing out her blazer. All right. He’s in his office, I trust. He usually was. Either there or the meeting room.

No, he isn’t. He’ll meet you at the Shifter Affairs building. He’s en route from lunch right now.

What? she gasped, breaking the calm demeanor she always worked so hard to maintain. The Shifter...dammit! The building housing the shifter department was clear across the Arcane Affairs Agency compound. It would take her twenty minutes to walk there. She looked at her watch. Okay, if we take the cart I can be there in ten.

He suddenly looked ruffled. I have better things to do than chauffeur you around to—

She grabbed him by the cuff of his suit jacket, dragging him from her office. Oh, yes you are, Brian. You know why? Because I highly doubt that Assistant Chief Olson just informed you of this little meeting. No, I think you forgot to tell me, and now you’re gonna fix it, or I’m going to let him know who told the office about that accident he had with the photocopier and the engorgement spell. Got it?

He nodded. Yes, ma’am.

They hurried down the hallway, passing several desks and dodging people with papers. She snatched a Starbucks cup off of an agent’s desk as she hurried by, making a mental note to buy her another one once the meeting was over. She had a feeling she’d need the extra energy.

What’s this about, anyway? Sarah asked, climbing in the passenger’s seat of the cart.

I don’t know. He started up the cart and took off.

She closed her eyes, saying a quick spell to make the cart go faster. She opened them, feeling slightly drained and took another drink of the terribly sweet coffee. Why Shifter Affairs?

I don’t know, he repeated, sounding annoyed.

Ugh, never mind. She took a deep breath. What the hell could this be about? And in the Shifter Affairs, no less. She’d barely left her own witches’ building in the past year unless it was to go to lunch.

The spell worked better than she thought, and they made it there in less than ten minutes. She was feeling it, though. She finished off the syrupy coffee and left it in the cup holder as she got out. Thanks, Brian.

You owe me, Sarah, he said with a glare as he sped off.

She found her boss, Agent Olson, standing in front of the elevator. She was relieved to see him. Shifters weren’t exactly welcoming to witches, and she was about to walk into the lion’s den. Having a higher up like Olson made it easier.

He stood with his hands clasped in front, wearing a dark black suit and blue tie. His hair was cut short and swept to the side. He wore thin, metal framed glasses and always managed to look proper and business-like. Oh, good, he said, somewhat disapprovingly. You finally made it. He walked quickly through the door, and she did her best to keep up with his long strides in a pencil skirt and heels.

Um, yes. I got here as soon as I could. Sorry, sir.

It’s fine. The elevator doors opened, and he gestured for her to pass. Two agents, a man and a woman, stepped in after him. Shifters. The man was tall with massive, broad shoulders and longish, light brown hair. God, he was gorgeous in a dangerous, don’t-tell-your-mother sort of way. Smelled good, too. The woman glared, looking Sarah up and down with obvious contempt. Sarah adjusted her blazer, feeling suddenly self-conscious. Even within the Agency, shifters and witches did not play on the same team.

The woman rolled her eyes, giving the man a smirk.

He grinned back. Looks like some lonely heart upstairs needs her palm read.

The woman tittered.

Asshole. Sarah glared at the back of both of their heads. "Looks like someone needs her palms waxed," she muttered.

The woman sent a tense glare at her through the reflective elevator panel, her mouth pursed. The man, turned, and appraised her. Was that a smirk? Olson just shook his head. Luckily, the pair got off on the next floor.

You’re really going to have to learn to be more diplomatic, Hazelwood.

I’m sorry, sir. She looked down at her shoes. You’re right.

Forget about it.

They reached the sixth floor and walked out into the stark, white hallway. It smelled differently to the witches’ building. Not bad. Just...different. It looked different too. It had the same setup, the same paint, even a lot of the same crappy pictures on the wall, but it wasn’t the same.

Sarah followed Olson through the office, forcing her chin high, ignoring all the stares and dirty looks they got from everyone sitting at their desks. Things got quiet. The only sound was Olson and her feet moving across the floor. Out of nowhere, a roar sounded, vibrating through the walls. A lion.

She jumped, despite herself. A chorus of laughter rippled through the Agents on the floor.

She sniffed, tugging at the cuffs of her jacket. Witches were never this rude. That was the thing with shifters, they were so damn proud of themselves. If they came into the witches’ building, they would find nothing but polite, if perhaps restrained, smiles. Witches were dignified in their hatred.

Forget it, Olson said, picking up the pace.

Yes, sir.

They stopped outside the Supervisor’s door and knocked. Her stomach lurched. Not only were they deep in the middle of shifter agents, but she was about to meet the Supervisor. At least it wasn’t a Council member. That would really have her knees knocking. Cut it out, she told herself. You got this.

A woman with long, full, red hair answered the door. She was older, but it took a minute to realize. The only hint was the fine lines around her eyes and mouth. Good morning, Olson. Come in.

Thank you, Supervisor Kent, he said. This is Agent Sarah Hazelwood. She’s one of our best agents.

Good, have a seat. She walked around to the opposite side of the desk and sat down. I’m afraid we have a bit of a problem on our hands. There’s a town not too far away, Hill Haven. A human and shifter town. Co-existed for generations, not that the humans know anything about it. Anyway, I got a call this morning about Hill Haven at four o’clock. Seems like shifters have been losing their powers down there.

Sarah’s eyes went wide. Losing their powers?

She nodded. Yes. You can appreciate that we want this case solved quickly and quietly. If there’s something that’s taking away shifter’s powers, we need to know what it is, and make sure no one else gets their hands on it.

Yes, ma’am, I understand. She chewed nervously on her bottom lip. But, why not send a shifter to take care of it? she asked. Why me?

The answer is two-fold. One is that we think it may be witchcraft in the first place that’s causing this. A curse, perhaps? I don’t know. I have to admit, I don’t know much about the magical arts.

Sarah nodded. It wasn’t unusual. She didn’t study up on shifters, vampires or the fae, either. She’d taken some classes in the academy, but that was it.

The Supervisor continued. We need a witch there to help find out what’s going on. And, secondly, a witch will be less at risk. Any shifters we send will be at risk of losing their own powers. But not a witch.

Ah ha. She folded her hands in her lap. It was a pretty straightforward mission, but it wouldn’t be easy. Not in a town full of shifters. Walking into this office would be a dream compared to Hill Haven.

The phone on the Supervisor’s desk rang. She picked up and answered, gesturing for Sarah and Olson to wait, while she stepped outside to take it.

This isn’t just a case, Hazelwood, Olson said, his elbows leaning on the armrest. This is your chance to prove yourself.

Sir? Her hands were shaking.

Show me and the other supervisors that you’re ready for more responsibility. I know you were just promoted not that long ago, but I see great things for you, Hazelwood. This is your chance at another promotion. How does Level 3 Special Agent sound?

She was shocked. She had not expected this, not so soon after her last promotion to Level 2. Before that, she had been the youngest agent in the department to earn the Special Agent badge. I-I-I...I mean, great, of course. Thank you, sir.

Good, he said clapping his hands together. Great news. If you pull this case off, you can say goodbye to field work from now on.

Oh, really? It had been months since she’d been in the field, anyway. Her parents were thrilled, of course. Less dangerous sitting at a desk most of the time. The only thing she had to fight off was boredom.

He went on. You can look forward to lots of long lunches and talking strategy. It’s a bureaucratic nightmare, she’ll tell you that much, he said, gesturing towards the Supervisor in the hall. But at least you’re not in the field. Better brush up on your golf swing, Hazelwood.

Oh, um, yes, sir. I will do that. Golf swing? She hated golf, but the rest sounded all right. Strategy was more interesting than what she was doing now, which was mostly running between departments and paperwork.

He lowered his gaze, getting serious a moment. But you need to show me that you’re ready for this.

Of course, sir.

You would be leading your own team of agents, so you have to show me that you can handle people and the kinds of conflicts that arise. Are you ready to do that?

Yes, sir. Absolutely, sir.

Good.

The door opened and Supervisor Kent came back in. Very well. Is it settled, then?

Olson answered with a curt nod.

Good. Then, let’s meet your partner.

Sarah’s jaw dropped once again. Partner?

Chapter 2

Worst part of the damn job. Reports. Dane sat at his desk, flicking the end of his pen against the stack of forms in front of him. It was worse this morning. He was even more distracted than usual. Who