Page 34 of Bewitching Her Monsters

Idly, I wonder if Jade’s presence has calmed his beast. Stranger things have happened. She is unusual.

“Not shifters. It’s a magical creature—a guinea pig. He fancies himself her familiar.”

“A guinea pig familiar?” I blow out a puff of air. “That’s it. I’ve heard everything.”

Arran turns serious. “Something even bigger than Osen is going on here… which in itself is pretty big. By the way, I’m not happy with you. You frightened Jade out of her mind after your date yesterday.” Deep in his throat, a growl rumbles. He really is becoming attached to the magic mortal. “What the hell did you say to her?”

“She was rambling on, claiming she mysteriously guessed all sorts of stuff about us.My flaming red ass. She knew I was a demon, and you were a shifter, and she pretended it was her imagination.”

“She isn’t playing. She believes that’s where the stuff in her books comes from.”

“She actually writes?” I rub my chin, pondering our brunch conversation in a different context. “It doesn’t matter. Get your clothes on and let’s go.”

“No.” He snarls at me. His skin ripples with his monster. “I’m not leaving Osen.”

I cross my arms, highlighting my brawn. He won’t make me cower, not even with his berserker beast. “Did Osen's alleged spirit tell you who killed him?”

“Not yet.”

“Did you ask?”

“I think he was having a hard time possessing her. He didn’t seem to grasp that he was dead. But he might next time. I have to give him at least another night to see if he can remember.”

“Fine. One more night. But if you aren’t out of there after that, I’m dragging you out of her house and melting her brain if it comes to it.”

“Shut the fuck up. You aren’t hurting her.” His beast’s teeth elongate, and fur erupts over his body.

“Oh, yeah?” I step menacingly toward the fence.

We both know a fight between us does not end well. For either of us.

Pulling back his beast and losing the fur, he glowers at me, daring me to lie. “Yeah. Don’t try to hide it, you like her too. My wolf scented it.”

I give Arran a deadly glare that makes him take a step back. “I’ll end her if I have to. Don’t think I’ve gone soft just because I can play nice. She isn’t part of our pack. Understand?” I jab my finger toward the house. “But for some confounding reason, you are pack to me, asshole.”

Arran shakes his head, shifts into his wolf, and barks at the door.

Well then, I guess I’ve been fucking dismissed.

Angrily walking back to the car, I almost rip the passenger door off its hinge and slam it shut after shoving myself in the passenger seat with a huff.

“What’s up with Arran?” Calder asks. “Did he find something?”

“Osen, supposedly,” I grumble.

They both come to attention. Funnily enough, my violent car entrance did not even faze them.

Flint frowns at the house and asks in a low, rumbling voice that sounds almost like granite churning, “How?”

“Arran claims the witch is a medium.” I hold up my hand so I can cut off their arguments. “Yeah, I know. Can’t happen. Arran claims it did. I don’t know if it’s wishful thinking. Or maybe she’s actually psychic and picked up on some memories Arran has of Osen? I don’t fucking know. But I’m allowing him to have another night there to prove me right. That this is a hoax. Then I’m dragging him out of the house. Consequences be damned.”

“We all might be damned.” Calder scowls at the house like it’s offended him personally. A bit of flame simmers in his ice-blue eyes. “My senses are confirming what yours picked up before… things are going to get ugly real soon.”

And if anyone can sense when death is near, it’s a phoenix.

12

GHOSTING

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