Dragons are Forever: Casino Witch Mysteries, #6

By Nikki Haverstock

Newbie witch-turned-private investigator Ella has three things on her wish list:
_That the remodel to her loft can give her a bit of privacy
_That she can finish one more case so she can take a vacation
_That an official investigation doesn't discover she is the person hiding a forbidden dragon
While working a pet store robbery case, Ella is questioned by investigators who suspect she's hiding a dragon. The smart thing to do is get out of town immediately, dragon in tow, but as soon as she arrives in Vegas for some easy money on a simple case, there's more going on than meets the eye. She discovers an interesting connection that uncovers a major multi-city heist in the works, but solving the crime while dodging the black hat mages' investigation of her illicit roommate is a challenge—and her job is on the line.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ranch Dog Entertainment, LLC
• Release date: Oct 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215604809

Nikki Haverstock

Nikki Haverstock lives with her husband and dogs on a cattle ranch high in the Rocky Mountains. Before escaping the city, Nikki taught collegiate archery for ten years. She has competed on and off for fifteen in the USA Archery women’s recurve division. In the 2015, she finished the season ranked 14th nationally. Nikki has more college degrees than she has sense and hopefully one day she will put one to work.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Another night, another job to do. It was becoming so routine that my heart no longer raced, and perhaps it was time to start thinking about moving on. I was pretty sure that I had figured everything out well enough that I no longer needed the rest of them. I could go solo.

Not that the others would appreciate that. I knew that they had done this before, and I admitted I was a bit curious about what happened to whoever had done my job before me. But it was part of the risk, working on the outside of what others considered lawful.

I knew that only idiots listened to the laws that were only there to benefit others. The system was against me and those like me, so I needed to take whatever chances I could to benefit myself. But every job came to an end, and you needed a transition to fresh opportunities.

I gave everyone else a quick nod that I was ready, though I couldn’t see anything beyond their hoods. As I started the spell, I put out a hand to brace myself. Just one more job, then it was time to move on. That was my motto. Staying in the same pattern for too long was asking for trouble.

My magic came to me, easy after so many repetitions, when suddenly I was overtaken by a zap that stopped my heart. As my sight faded, I knew I had stayed a bit too long.

CHAPTER TWO

A black cat the size of coyote ran past me in the hallway of my loft, followed closely by a green dragon the size of a Great Dane. The dragon roared and gave off a puff of fire that caught the cat’s tail on fire.

Stop it! I said in my sternest voice, though I knew it was of no use.

They ignored me. The cat rolled over to bat out the fire with its front paws, and the dragon hit her broadside. The two of them sliding across the floor knocked over four precariously balanced laundry baskets of clean clothing.

Patagonia! Mac! Settle down! I shouted and, for the millionth time, cursed them becoming playmates rather than enemies. Sure, they were no longer hurting each other on accident, but instead they were tearing down the loft around them on purpose.

They were always rambunctious, but when I dropped their illusion spells, they were extra wild. Normally Patagonia was only the size of a slightly large cat, and Mac appeared as an oddly proportioned golden retriever, but I had found that the spells were most effective when I took it off at home for at least a few hours a week. Otherwise Patagonia’s fangs started to hang well below her jaw like a saber-toothed tiger, and Mac developed a lime-green hue to his fur.

The enormous pile of clothing shimmied and shook before the two animals emerged to wrestle. Mac breathed fire and melted one of my favorite bras, and I lost all patience. Enough! I roared.

Patagonia raced to my bedroom, but Mac came slithering over to me, his belly on the floor, before covering my ankles in hot, wet licks.

I had spent all afternoon catching up on laundry using my tiny double-stack machine that fit into a hall closet. It was perfect for when I lived alone, but I hadn’t been truly alone in forever. I’d sorted out my, Vanessa’s, and Samantha’s clothing carefully then stacked them in baskets at the end of the couch so I could take a break.

Vanessa had been sleeping at my place three weeks out of every month. She often stayed over when we were working, and work had really picked up.

Samantha was a bit more complicated. It was considered a great honor in the mage community to have a family member become a Monza, but her family wasn’t on board. They were making it really difficult by subtly and not-so-subtly pushing her to reconsider her decision, despite the fact that her training with Monza Colleen and me was several months in.

Samantha had taken to sleeping at my place, and after a particularly bad fight with her father, she had packed up everything she needed to live. It was in boxes all over my progressively more crowded living room, garage, and hallway—basically any square foot of open space.

I loved my loft, and it was pretty large for one person. In the years I had lived there alone after I inherited it from my father, it had been more than enough space. But as each living creature had moved in, the loft felt like it had shrunk until it became positively claustrophobic.

After talking to Bear and Badger, two of my mentors who each rented a floor under my loft in the three-story building I owned, they had recommended I have a builder in to expand. Given how big the building was and their offices versus my loft, there must be considerable untapped space behind the wall near my front door.

I had never really noticed the difference in size from my loft to the building, though surely most of the space had been accounted for by whatever the building had been in a previous life before my father bought and converted the top floor to a living space. Maybe it was an old elevator shaft or heating and cooling mechanics room that was sealed off. As each of the three floors in the building were independent, and all climate control was done magically, there might be some old features that could be removed to provide me a bit more space.

In fact, I needed to talk to Vanessa and Samantha about contributing some magic to keep the place at the perfect temperature. With three humans, Mac, and Patagonia, I was worn out just keeping the place at the right temperature.

I had no idea why my familiars were always out and about when most familiars weren’t. While there were a few exceptions, most stayed at home and relaxed or hid out where familiars went when they weren’t needed. I watched Mac inch toward the kitchen counter, where I had left out half of my breakfast on a plate.

I knew I should discourage him from stealing food, but I was too tired. I was surprised when he vaulted up to the countertop and misjudged the angle and speed necessary. He slid along, knocking the plate to the ground, before landing in the sink. Since I was still soaking the pot from the previous evening, a splash of water sloshed out. Mac practically levitated out of the sink and down onto the floor where Pat was already finishing up the food. Mac followed her from the kitchen and down the hallway toward my bedroom, leaving wet footprints behind. Maybe my familiars could disappear to wherever the other familiars hid out, instead of tearing up my home.

I looked at the clothing on the floor. We had finally separated Vanessa, Samantha, and my clothes into separate baskets. I should have taken mine to my room right away, but I had gotten distracted with our discussion about dinner.

Samantha popped out of the bathroom. Her perfectly coiffed blond hair was pulled back with a headband so the curls could bounce with each step. She was beautiful with big eyes, and it was easy to believe that she grew up rich. She looked around and gasped as Mac raced by, soaking wet, and swan-dived into the pile of once clean clothing. No! Bad dragon! she chided Mac.

Mac barked back at her, the tiniest whiffs of smoke exiting his mouth. He bounced left and right, ready to play a game.

She chewed him out, shouting about how much work it had been to match up her socks, which all had been meticulously knit with elaborate designs.

I clapped my hands over my ears and practically screamed to be heard over them. Shut up!

They both stopped and turned to stare at me with large, wide eyes.

Vanessa came down the hallway. Ella, don’t yell like that. You are going to get everyone wound up.

Me? I reared around to stare at her. The monkeys are running the zoo. Look! I gestured to the enormous pile of clothing, which is when I noticed Patagonia.

Patagonia was rolling dramatically in the pile, spreading her black cat hair on every now-damp item while kicking items in a ten-foot circle around the room. Mac had buried his head in the pile before stepping back, dragging my favorite flannel pajamas out.

I reached for them, and he barked at me, igniting the cuff of the pajamas. I snatched them before the whole pile could go up in smoke and ran to the kitchen to dunk them in the sink. I had quite a few spells to put out fires, but none were as fast as water.

I threw my unicorn-covered pajamas into the spaghetti pot in the sink then turned on the water full blast.

Vanessa trailed behind me. Why are you so snippy tonight? Was Monza training extra hard today? She looked at Samantha, who shrugged.

I buried my face in my hands and sighed deeply. Of course Monza training had been hard. It always was. Monza Colleen expected the best, and since Samantha, an experienced mage with a knack for being a quick learner, had joined our sessions, things had gotten harder.

I don’t know, I whined. I couldn’t really put into words how I was feeling. I had made so much progress at my training, making up for decades when I didn’t know I was a mage. I was stronger than Vanessa, who was already stronger than the average mage. I should be ecstatic, but instead I felt like I wanted to sleep for an eternity.

Samantha pushed off the cabinet she was leaning against and walked over to me. Grabbing my chin in her hand, she turned my face one way then the other before looking into my eyes for so long that I was tempted to pull away.

She nodded her head. Ella’s burned out.

I shuddered but didn’t argue. She had a creepy ability to state the truth, whether it was due to magic or just the general mess of mage nature. She had seen that Mac was a dragon under a dog spell the first time she met him. Within a few months, she had asked me why I hadn’t been raised as a mage. At a family meal, she had almost given me a heart attack when she asked if I had ever dated Vin, Vanessa’s brother. If she hadn’t proven to be such a trustworthy friend, she would be my most dangerous enemy.

"I am burned out. Maybe I need to take a long bath. Maybe I need a vacation. Or maybe I need to run away from it all and start over in a new country. Can I do that? I looked around and realized everyone was staring at me. Did I say that out loud?"

Vanessa tsked. I told you that we were working hard. Tonight is exactly what you need.

What’s tonight?

She huffed and crossed her arms at me. I told you about this last week. Cirque de la Mer is in town, and we are invited to the post–dress rehearsal party? You promised to go?

I narrowed my eyes at her. I remember you talking about it, but I don’t remember anything about promising to go.

I asked you if you were free tonight, and you said nothing was on the calendar, then I told you about the party. Everyone is going to be there. Vin and Tiffany—

Wait, I interrupted. Are you trying to talk me into this or out of it?

Tiffany has been much, much nicer recently. She was the one that got us invited. All of us, even Samantha and Mac.

Samantha screwed up her face. Gee, I’m glad that I was able to make the same cut as Mac.

Vanessa turned to face her. Tiffany doesn’t know that Mac is a dragon.

I interrupted before Vanessa could put her foot in her mouth more. And she won’t ever know. I am thrilled that you guys are getting along, but I don’t trust her.

No, of course not. But you should try to at least get along with her. She’s been trying really hard to fit in, and it would be so nice if we could just all hang out together.

I turned away and muttered, Right, ’cause I’m the problem. Frustration balled in my throat, and I felt like I was about to choke on it.

After a half-dozen awkward seconds of silence, Vanessa huffed. Fine, you don’t have to talk to her tonight.

Right, ’cause I’m not going. I want to stay home.

You need to go out. Have fun! Relax. Dance and talk to people. Stay up until sunrise!

That’s the opposite of relaxing. I snorted with an eye roll.

We both turned to Samantha in unison, putting her in the position of the tiebreaker, a situation she was not a fan of but was happening more often to her. She sighed.

Vanessa has been training really hard and deserves a night out. That’s relaxing for her but not for you, Ella. You guys are great friends and balance each other out, but I think you need different things to recharge you.

We all silently thought that over. Then the silence was broken by my ringing phone. I stepped into the living room to see Bear’s name on the screen.

Hey, Bear. What’s up? My heart rate had already picked up a few beats in anticipation. He didn’t call unless it was urgent, as he preferred to text for most communications. Actually, he’d send multiple texts until I replied, because all forms of technology were a bit dodgy for mages, and he didn’t want to risk missing me.

Ella, can you come downtown and do a quick reading? It’s not a big rush, so if you are busy tonight, then let me know a better time. I could hear a muffled conversation in the background, and I guessed that he was with the clients at the moment.

No, it’s fine. Text me over the address, and I will head out in a few minutes.

We hung up, and I turned back to the kitchen to find Vanessa already glaring at me. So you are too worn out to hang out with me, your closest friend, but you have the energy to go work.

I held up my hands in defeat. Samantha is right. We need different things. You two go out and have fun. Stay out as late as you want and sleep in tomorrow. I’ll do this one quick job then come home and enjoy an empty loft. I can put on a favorite movie. Fix that laundry and do a few chores around the house and go to bed early. Then tomorrow we can plan some stuff that we both will enjoy. Okay?

She was slightly mollified but still wasn’t convinced. Working and doing chores would be more enjoyable than going out?

Having this place quiet and clean will be a relief. And work won’t take very long, and you know I need the gold for the remodel. I smiled at her. Go. Have fun. I’ll rest up and feel a million times better tomorrow.

Fine. She turned on her heels to face Samantha. I’ll finish my makeup, and we can head out.

After she disappeared, Samantha looked at me. I tried to stay relaxed, but when she turned that searching stare on me, I always felt a tingle go down my spine, not necessarily a bad feeling but not terribly comforting either. Please turn off your mind-reading stare, Sam. Are you sure that you aren’t a seer?

One hundred percent sure. I didn’t pass the test for predicting the future. I can just see what should be obvious to anyone paying attention.

I feel like I have been insulted. I huffed.

I called to Mac, and once he and Patagonia were pressed in on either side of me, I worked the spell to disguise his dragon form under a golden retriever exterior. His proportions were slightly off from a typical dog, and he had grown slightly since I created the spell, but so far, he still was quite a convincing canine. Then I worked a similar spell to make Patagonia seem cat-sized.

I slipped on Mac’s harness and shouted a goodbye to Sam as I headed out the door. I had a garage but