The Prof Croft Series: Books 0-4 (Prof Croft Box Sets Book 1) Brad Magnarella (ink book reader txt) 📖

head toward Caroline, “the honor’s all mine.” He clapped my shoulder and broke into hearty laughter that put me at immediate ease.

“Behave yourself,” Caroline told the mayor, frowning in disapproval. “Everson’s a colleague.”

“Oh, yeah? Over at Midtown College?” Like a switch had been flipped, Budge went from being a barroom pal to a sober uncle, his large brown eyes turning soft with interest. As Caroline fell into conversation with the mayor’s wife, the mayor edged closer to me. “What do you teach?”

“Ancient mythology and lore,” I replied.

“Yeah? I’ve got a small collection of the Greek myths.”

I raised my eyebrows. That was farther than I got with most laypeople on the topic.

“I devoured those stories as a kid,” he went on. “All those heroes and creatures. But the human condition’s in there too, isn’t it? The good, the bad, the absurd.” He gave a sad laugh as he peered around. “I should know. I live it every day.”

Even though he was a political personality and no doubt working me for a vote, I caught myself nodding sympathetically. Stuck between the developers, debt-collectors, mob bosses, vampire bankers, and six million mostly-struggling New Yorkers, I would never want the man’s job.

“Oh, hey.” Budge perked up. “I haven’t introduced you to my better half.” He placed his arm around his wife and, without asking, pulled her from her conversation with Caroline. “Penny? This is Everson Croft. He’s an expert in mythology over at Midtown College.”

I noticed that he’d upgraded me to expert. This guy was good.

Penny’s handshake was soft, almost apologetic. Indeed, with her pretty, pale features and quiet voice, she seemed Budge’s polar opposite. I found my sympathies shifting to her.

“Pleased to meet you,” she said.

“Oh, and he and Caroline are tying the knot,” the mayor added with a prankish grin. He flinched when Caroline swatted his shoulder. “Hey, I can foresee these things!” he protested.

“Do you have any advice for us?” I asked, giving him a conspiratorial wink.

The mayor straightened and cleared his throat as though he were about to deliver an important speech, then relaxed with a smile. “It’s pretty simple, kids. Know when to agree, when to disagree, and when to agree to disagree.” He looked over at his wife. “Isn’t that right, honey?”

She gave a forbearing smile. “Whatever you say, Budge.”

The mayor laughed and hugged her to his side. “That works too.”

“Well, if you’ll excuse us.” Caroline took my arm. “My fiancé and I have a wedding to plan.”

That got the mayor slapping a thigh. “Hey, we expect an invite!” he called after us.

The men and women who had been waiting for an audience with the mayor shoved into our wake.

“He’s fun,” I said.

“Yeah, until he’s not,” Caroline replied thinly.

I waited for her to explain, but we had arrived at a spiral staircase that she seemed determined to climb. Two twists later, and we were on the gallery level. A comma formed between Caroline’s eyebrows as she scanned the sea of guests below, probably looking for the man who had been tracking her. I followed her gaze, but couldn’t spot him.

We continued along the gallery, passed through a set of glass doors that opened onto a balcony, and stepped outside. A cool breeze ruffled Caroline’s gown. I removed my tuxedo jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

“You’re a gentleman,” she said.

“I try,” I answered.

“You are trying, aren’t you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, for starters, you’re getting to your classes on time. I can’t remember the last time I had to cover for you. You’ve been attending all of the faculty meetings. You’ve upgraded your wardrobe. You even smell nicer.” A small smile played at the corners of her lips. “If I didn’t know better, Everson, I’d say you were trying to impress someone.”

I felt my face flush. “Or trying to keep Snodgrass off my back.”

She made a skeptical sound. “Well, I’m impressed, anyway.”

Impressed enough to accept what I’m about to tell you?

We were leaning our elbows on the east-facing rail, taking in the dark expanse of Central Park. From our high vantage, its dangerous wilds and moonlit reservoir held a certain romance.

Now was the time to make my bold confession about wizarding, about what I felt for her. My heart slammed harder as I opened my mouth. But when I turned, Caroline’s brows were bent in distraction.

“Is, ah, everything all right?” I asked.

“Hm? Oh, fine.” She was holding my jacket closed at her neck. “These kinds of events tend to overwhelm me. It might not look it, but I prefer observation to participation. Probably why I’m a researcher.”

Nice try. But you’re trying to bullshit a bullshitter.

“Are you sure that’s all it is?”

“Yes, Everson.”

Despite our flirtatious banter of only moments before—and that we still had the balcony to ourselves—a formality had grown between us, hardening the air. And I knew it had everything to do with the man she’d spotted inside. I turned so my body was facing hers.

“If you ever need help with anything,” I said, “you only have to ask.”

She gave a ghost of a smile. “I know, Everson. Thank you.”

All right, that went nowhere.

I was debating whether to ask her pointblank about the mystery man, when I realized we were no longer alone. Someone was standing just outside the glass doors, about ten feet behind us.

“Caroline?” a voice said.

I turned to find tall, dark blond and handsome stepping toward us. He moved with the purpose and elegance of young royalty, but there was something else going on with him. Something I hadn’t picked up in the crowded reception hall. The man’s aura. He wasn’t human, but a full-blooded faerie.

3

New York’s fae were among the oldest families in the city. Lords of great wealth, they operated on the periphery, their motives alien. They also wielded magic, including glamours to appear human. That made me feel a little better about the man’s divine looks, but if that magic was a threat to Caroline…

I moved in front of her, my grip tightening around my cane.

“It’s all right.” Caroline rubbed my