Page 29 of Magic Pussy

Luke wanted to laugh but wouldn't have liked to make her uncomfortable. He also very much wanted to throw her over his shoulder and do things that had nothing to do with cleansing all over again. Fuck, she was perfection from the tip of her toes to her long, thick hair.

They'd met at a clearing in the bayou, around a campfire. As Michelle had told Rain, there were a dozen shifters present, stationed all around the ceremonial ground.

Curious, Luke stepped toward the closest one. A wolf, if he wasn't mistaken.

"Hi, there."

The male, a tall, bulky submissive who didn't seem like he took any sort of shit from anyone, measured him with his gaze.

"Hi."

"So, I hear you guys rent out some of your territory to the witches?"

The wolf shrugged. "They pay well, and it's only once a month. Besides, they also ward the bayou as part of the deal."

Luke nodded his understanding. Having a huge clan like that protecting their borders was very valuable.

"And you?" the wolf asked him. "You're not from here."

And needless to say, shifters were wary of foreigners.

Luke tilted his head toward Rain. "I'm part of her best friend's pride. I came here to make sure she's safe." Lowering his voice, Luke asked, "Is she?"

If Rain and Charles had been right, whatever maleficent spirit had taken NOLA, it had no presence in the bayou. Maybe he could trust the wolf.

The guy stiffened.

"What makes you think she wouldn't be?"

"Things. Many things."

"Maybe you should listen to your instincts and take her out of here while you can."

The words had almost been whispered.

"I wish I could. But she would fight me tooth and nail. Her family—"

"I know who she is. Better than you. I grew up here. I went to school with Rain White."

Oh, interesting.

The wolf glanced toward the witches, who'd started humming slowly around the fire. He gestured Luke to follow him and stepped further away.

"Do you know why Nola has so many witches?"

Luke nodded. "I heard. Something about one of the original White witch sisters settling here."

"Yes. And do you know why they settled here?"

He frowned, pretty sure Rain had mentioned it, but he hadn't paid attention to the details of the story.

"Because there's a portal and it amplifies the magic around it. Being close to it is a form of power, of sorts."

Luke frowned. "A portal to where?"

The wolf shrugged. "Who knows. What we do know is, it is closed, by old magic, older than Schuyler White's, and far, far more powerful. Whatever sealed it wasn't human. And the source of power behind it isn't, either." He paused. "I've only been near it once. Most sups avoid it. But it feels..." The words failed him for a time. "Evil. Evil and seductive. Appealing. Like there's a little voice that tells me to step closer and open it."

"Jackson?"

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