“What’s the magic word?” I didn’t have an appetite anyway. Besides, I was eager for Cal and Dylan to go back to their partners to try to defuse the situation. “Immediately?” he tried. I rolled my eyes. “No.” A half-human, half-feral grumble came from the other end of the line. “So?” I coaxed sweetly. “Magic word?” “Abracadabra.” “Try again.” “Alakazam?” “No.” “Hocus-pocus? Open sesame? Daimon? Voilà? Sim sala bim? Fidelio? It largely depends on the period and culture. A little guidance wouldn’t hurt.”
