*SPOILERS**SPOILERS**SPOILERS**SPOILERS**SPOILERS**SPOILERS**SPOILERS*

CHAPTER ONE

I massaged the pineapple-and-coconut-scented shampoo through my hair, enjoying the steaming hot water pounding against my shoulder blades. That morning’s baking session had felt longer than normal. Every year, the holiday craze felt as though it hit earlier and earlier, then lasted longer and longer. Usually, business in the bakery was quiet through the end of December and into the new year, with just a slight bump around New Year’s Eve. But it was three weeks into January already, and I’d had to bake extra Hug in a Cup — a buttercream-topped dark-chocolate cake — and Lift in a Cup — a delicate white cake with coffee buttercream — when we’d sold out an hour after opening.

I’d also had to explain why I didn’t have a pumpkin-spiced, latte-flavored cupcake to fourteen different people throughout the day. At the end of January. And by people, I meant thirtysomethings on their way to midweek brunch, sipping from their personalized Starbucks mugs and —

A formal summons from the treasure keeper interrupted my thoughts when it materialized before me with a puff of smoky dragon magic. I squeaked at the appearance of a golden envelope in the steamy air, flinching harshly enough that the sudsy curls I’d piled on top of my head toppled down into my face. I might be half-witch/half-dragon, but shampoo in my eyes still stung.

“Son of a freaking hell.” I spun away, evading the envelope as I lifted my eyes and face to the showerhead. The summons remained suspended behind me, patiently waiting for me to pluck it out of the air. It was the fourth such missive I’d received in the last three months, and I still couldn’t figure out how they were getting through the magical blood wards on my apartment.

And speaking of brunch, I had dim sum with Warner on my mind, and was therefore in no way interested in ‘freeing the magic of Shailaja, daughter of the mountain,’ which had been the gist of the last three missives from the treasure keeper. The summons that had appeared two weeks ago had actually been signed ‘By order of the Guardian Council.’ A year or so ago, that single sentence would have had me quaking in my boots. But I knew there was no way the Guardian Council had gathered over anything as mundane as a rogue dragon — even one who’d been a bad girl over five hundred years ago, and who’d wound up with her magic locked away because of it.

You had to drag a greater demon into the dragon nexus to rouse all nine guardians at once. Trust me, I knew.

The simple remembrance of all that power gathered in one room still made my bones ache. The combined might of the guardians had obliterated every taste, sound, and sight, overwhelming my dowser senses and scrambling my brain.

Shailaja was beneath their combined notice. Whether she was the treasure keeper’s new pet or not.

TO BE CONTINUED …

– DOWSER 6 PREORDER NOW AVAILABLE –

Release date: May 5, 2016

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