Page 2 of Handcuffs and Hexes

“I got you,” said a familiar, masculine, and sultry voice.

Seth! Of all the EA enforcers they’d send, why did they have to sendhim?For someone who only worked part-time for the agency, it was becoming awfully suspicious that we kept being sent to the same calls.

He’d left his usually unique clothing at home in favor of a proper EA uniform that made his shoulders look extra broad. He hadn’t taken out his piercings though, and his platinum-blond hair was still spiked up. That was one difference between the police and the EA: with all the unique people working there, they had a tendency to accept and embrace a range of cultures and other visible differences.

I was pressed to him, so close I could smell him. Leather and cologne. Ugh! Why did I like that when I absolutely despised the guy?

He grinned, showing a set of pearly whites that had just a little too much point to the canines. He wasn’t a vampire or a shifter or anything like that though. He was a human. A wizard.

It was hard to believe that this Spike from theBuffy the Vampire Slayerlookalike had once been a wizard on the WEC, the Wizard Elder Council. Most of those old geezers would faint at the sight of him.

He was still grinning when he placed me carefully onto the solid ground next to Mike.

“Thanks,” I said, my feet still wobbly. I wasn’t sure if it was because I’d come so close to falling in or if it was from his nearness.

Seth grinned at the other officers present. “Officers.”

“Seth. We meet again. Are you sure you’re not stalking us?” Mike asked lightheartedly, completely oblivious to the way my heart was beating a mile a minute.

“Nah. I’m just here to keep you guys out of trouble.”

Tommy rolled his eyes. I suspected the mouthy wizard rubbed the older cop the wrong way too. Mike didn’t mind him, but I was still pissed that he’d stolen our cruiser to help solve another crime. I still couldn’t believe he’d gotten away with it. Well, at least the EA had paid for a brand-new vehicle, one with all the modern luxuries, like a working AC. But still!

It was hard enough working with the EA, which had such different rules and regulations. This guy made it a nightmarewith the amount of paperwork we had to fill out after. He was the type to ask for forgiveness instead of permission.

And then there was the fact that he was a shameless flirt. And not just with women either. The guy had many types. The worst part of it was that he was totallymytype. I mean, I’d never dated anyone like him before, but damn, did I dig his style! Even though I’d never admit it.

“Ah, come on, Tommy. I know you miss me.”

“Like I miss a kidney stone.”

“He’s about as annoying,” I agreed under my breath.

Eugene cleared his throat. “Does that mean we can go? We were supposed to stay until the EA arrives.”

“Nope. They are assembling a proper team to check this thing out. I’m just here to monitor it until they get here.”

“Any clue what this is?” I asked, doing my best to pretend that he wasn’t affecting me.

“Tastes like a portal to me. If I had to guess, one-way.”

Taste? The guy was weird. And one-way? I guess I should be a little more grateful he’d stopped me from falling in.

“Thanks for pulling me back.”

“Anytime, Sweetcheeks.” He winked, and I was back to wanting to simultaneously punch him in the face and climb him like a tree.

This wasn’t healthy.

The sudden arrival of an SUV, something that shouldn’t be happening because we’d blocked the roads the next intersection back to prevent anyone from turning in, had all of our attention. This was not a police or EA vehicle.

“Sir,” Mike called as a passenger stepped out. “The road is clo—”

He didn’t finish his sentence because it was clear that this guy hadn’t come here by accident. He had that same look to him as that first dude Tommy and Eugene had just brought back to the station. The driver stepped out, and he was no better.

“Shit,” Tommy muttered, echoing my own thoughts.

“Magic users,” Seth said, eyeing the men. “Garden variety. Nothing I can’t handle.”

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