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For the first time in two weeks, Tillie felt well-rested and once more in control of her own destiny. The future was looking bright again. She had allies.
She still didn’t know anything about who the sandy-haired man was – not even his name – but his air of quiet confidence on the phone the day before had reminded her of who she was.
She was Tillie Holiday, dammit. She was a force of nature, the highest-paid escort in her agency, a skilled seer respected throughout the mage community, and one of the few who had dared to look beyond her own discipline. Granted, she had to admit that was probably because most mages just assumed it couldn’t be done, but still – she thought outside the box.
Tillie held her head high as she walked up the hill. She had discarded the worn jeans and t-shirts she’d been wearing since she’d left St. Louis. Today, she reclaimed her own image, selecting a pair of elegant wide-legged grey linen trousers and a brilliant emerald cashmere sweater. Italian suede ankle boots with just a slight heel adorned her feet.
She’d even taken the time to arrange her pixie cut hair into artful curls that lay just so over one eye. Not bad, considering she’d done it in the bathroom at King Street Station upon disembarking in Seattle just half an hour ago. She glanced at her watch. It was 9:30 – the shop should be open by now.
Tillie paused to listen to a guitar. She smiled and closed her eyes. The busker was wonderful, and he was playing one of her favorite classical pieces – Bach’s Bourée in E Minor.
Tillie inhaled deeply and then opened her eyes abruptly. She didn’t have time to stop and listen to music – she was on a mission. Looking around, she spotted her destination.
She strode forward and opened the door of West Magic.