Page 26 of Bewitching Her Monsters

No shit.

I trot over to the window to see if Maxum is outside, but I don’t see him. But I get an eerie feeling that someone is watching us.

I slowly back away from the window.

“Oh, my god. Is he out there?” She crawls over to the window and peeks out. “You feel it too, don’t you? Like someone’s eyes are on you?” She glances back and forth down the streets. “I don’t see Maxum, if that’s even his real name. Or his friends in that old car.”

Hmm. Interesting that she noticed Calder and Flint.

I study Jade while she searches for whoever is after her.

With every interaction, I become more convinced she doesn’t know what is going on. If she’s acting, she is outstanding—even fooling my senses.

I can smell fear in her. Sure, it could be that Maxum scared the pants off her. He could frighten almost anyone he sets his mind to scare.

Jade mumbles to herself. “I’m pretty sure you aren’t even his friend’s dog. But why would he come here? Could he be that weirded out that I was admiring him and his sexy friends?”

She really thinks I’m sexy?

After another few minutes, she gives up searching for the source of the eyes on her. Instead of getting up off the floor, she turns and leans against the wall. Her hands cover her face. “What was I thinking? I should have never gone with some random guy. Geezus, the red flags were flying. I should have known he only wanted to be an asshole. I mean, come on…” She looks at me, her eyes filled with hurt. “That hot, young treat? Andme? Sure, I knew it wasn’t going anywhere, but…” She sighs, picks herself up, and closes the curtains to the big picture window facing the road.

She thinks Maxum is young? I have news for you, sweetheart.

One more tally in the she-doesn’t-have-a-clue column.

Jade frantically rushes around her house, checking the window locks and closing all the blinds.

“I guess I should call animal control and see if anyone has asked about you.”

Jade pulls her phone out of her bag and curses. “Why does this thing need charging? Great, I need a new phone too.”

Agitated, she pulls a taser and a can of mace out of her purse.

Part of me approves she was prepared for her date with Maxum.

But I’m stopped short when she draws out a small gun.

She tucks the weapon into her pants’ waistband at the back.

Well, now… what makes her feel like she needs a gun for protection?

She doesn’t live in a dangerous neighborhood. My mind flashes to the Witch Council, then Rob. It’s also a wickedly smart weapon for a weak-powered witch to use against most supes.

The witch plugs in her phone and paces the living room. Mumbling to herself about always getting herself in trouble, saying this is why she’s a homebody, and people aren’t worth the pain.

I get it. My heart softens toward her just a little.

Jade shivers and glances at me. “I hear animals can be sensitive to spirits. Can you see anything? Because I swear, it’s not just you witnessing me lose my mind.”

I lie down and attempt to look innocent because, no, I can’t feel spirits. Maybe if I could, I would talk to Osen, and I’d find out how one of my best friends died.

Her phone dings, and she races over to use it. She calls the pound, but no one has been looking for a huge-ass wolf. Big surprise.

After a disconcerted frown, she sets the phone down, checks on her critters, and sulkily sits in her office. She stares at the computer screen for a long beat.

“That’s weird,” she mumbles. “I didn’t think I had that file open on here.”

Whoops. I fucked up Spy Craft 101: leave things as you found them.

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