Hidden Mortality by Maggie Mundy Page A

him in as much as possible but he would drive her insane sometimes scratching to get out. He never went beyond the garden at the front of the house now, which was good.
    Later, Cara lay in bed unable to sleep. Shona had badgered but she wouldn’t do any more spells. It seemed wrong to use the magic just for entertainment. Maybe she would wake up in the morning and be in a straitjacket somewhere, because her mind certainly couldn’t calm down.
    She turned on her bedside light and fumbled around on her bedside table until she found the shamrock necklace. She put it on and lay down. The pendant felt cool between her thumb and forefinger. Touching the pendant made her think about Seth and her dreams. He was one thing she hadn’t shared with her cousin, no matter how much wine they drank.
    Two weeks and no nightmares or strange things happening. It was good. Maybe life really was returning to normal, whatever that was. It had obviously just been one of those times when things were out of kilter. She wanted to believe strange things instead of the sensible ones, just because the sensible ones were unpleasant. Okay she had accepted her witch side, but that didn’t mean she had to do spells all the time. She also didn’t want to accept chopped up bodies and her involvement with them.
    What was more amazing was Daniel even liked Matcher. They had a rather heated discussion on snakebite piercings, and the eyebrow ring had to come out. Matcher agreed. He didn’t even complain. Cara still wondered how he was going to see what he was serving with hair covering half of his face.
    There were going to be eight guests for the dinner party at her mother’s apartment. For once, Cara was going to be allowed to choose what she wanted to serve. When Matcher walked out of the bathroom at her place that night, she almost didn’t recognize him. His long fringe was gelled back and she could see both of his lovely brown eyes.
    “My goodness, you scrub up good.” She hugged him. “It won’t be too bad today, I promise. This isn’t a meal with too much detail. We rely more on the taste to bowl them over. Oh, and by the way, don’t, believe Daniel. My parents only turn into dragons at midnight.” Cara laughed and hoped Matcher didn’t pick up on the fact she thought they were dragons already.
    “You know Cara, Daniel and Jeff have the most combined aura’s I’ve ever seen. I like him. I like them both. They’re a bizarre match though, a bit like you choosing me as a waiter.” He shook his head at her.
    She wanted to ask him something she had wondered since she met him. “If you look in the mirror, can you see your own aura? I’d be interested to know what it shows.”
    “Can’t see a thing.” He shrugged.
    Her mother was the elegant and knowledgeable hostess to her friends and somewhat dubious acquaintances as she always was. The meal was perfect and suitably extravagant for her parents who were all about impressions. Sometimes Cara wondered if she had been adopted.
    The starter was smoked Irish salmon mixed with swirls of cream cheese flavored with chives and dill served on thin slices of toasted soda bread. The main was one Daniel excelled at, Guinness and honey glazed duck accompanied by parsnip, potato and mint fritters covered with goat cheese, plus spiced kale and honeyed carrots. Now, the guests would be tucking into the best apple and rhubarb pie and rich Irish cream they had ever tasted.
    Peeking through the dining room door, Cara viewed them at the table. Mother, Father, and next to them were their long-time friends, Carol and John Churchill.
    Seated by them was the other partner in her dad’s law firm, Doug. He wasn’t there with his wife tonight as expected. The older woman he had brought with him was called Tarin. She didn’t speak much English, but held herself with such dignity.
    Doug was obviously mesmerized by Tarin. Cara reckoned the woman was going to eat him up for breakfast. Talk about going from the frying