Page 40 of Handcuffs and Hexes

“So you mean like Sethy boy here?”

I glared at Sybil. She knew I hated that nickname.

“Nah, Seth’s okay. But his egoismassive.”

“That’s not the only thing that’s massive,” I blurted out. I couldn't help it; they made it too easy.

Used to dealing with me, the two just rolled their eyes and started back toward our vehicles.

“I expect both of you at the meeting with the head office reps.” Then Nina was stepping into her EA logoed SUV.

I was glad to be leaving The Breach. I couldn't wait to be back home. I was just strapping myself into the driver’s seat when I got the message.

Hazel and Liam were in trouble!

Chapter 19

Hazel

LiamandIhurriedthrough the park as I ordered myself not to look too closely at the shadows that followed us. My heart was pounding in my chest, and the knowledge that I had no way to fight these things made me feel completely helpless.

It was after lunch when we’d heard the ice cream truck and decided that we both needed a snack; the demon had a notorious sweet tooth. With our cones in hand, we’d gone for a walk in thenearby park. It was such a gorgeous day, and we were both sick of being inside.

I was glad to have some fresh air, though I wished Seth was here with us. He was called out to a meeting at EA headquarters downtown. Liam had pouted in the cutest way, and Seth had promised he’d take us out for another afternoon on the lake when he returned.

Liam and I had done the full loop around the park when I started getting that feeling again, the same one that had woken me up the other night in the spare bedroom.

“Liam?” My hand went instinctive to my firearm, only to realize I wasn’t armed. I reached for him instead. “Something feels off.”

“I feel it. Get close to me.”

I did, and Liam fished the world’s tiniest can out from his man purse—yes, he totally carried one if he didn't plan on dematerializing—and opened it. A plume of magic expanded to surround us.

“What was that?” I asked.

“It hides us from whoever is seeking you. But if it gets too close, it’ll still be able to find you. And it doesn’t last long.”

Liam sent a message out to Seth, letting him know that Samuel was up to his hijinks, and then we were off, making our way back to the loft.

The walk back to the building felt like an eternity. Shadowy forms seemed to come out of everywhere and nowhere, all of them looking for me. Except they didn’t know where I was. I wasn’t sure if this was because of the canned spell or because they didn’t know exactly who to look for, maybe a bit of both.

“It’s Samuel,” Liam explained as we waited impatiently at the lights. The shadow people were scary, but so was being run over by a car. “I think he doesn’t have a lock on you yet. That’s a good thing. We can’t let those things touch you.”

“I don’t plan to let them. Now if this light would fucking change!”

I hated feeling so useless. I knew that even if I had my weapons, chances were it wouldn’t work on these things.

Suddenly, the shadow of the bush nearby grew, changing and morphing into the shape of a man. It staggered toward us. My hand tightened on Liam’s bicep, even as the lights changed. We crossed the road, heading straight for the front door of Seth’s building.

What I saw had my blood running cold.

A half-dozen or so of the shadow things milled at the front door. A woman who was just stepping out of the building screamed, and one of the shades reached for her, lifting her off her feet with its translucent arms. And of course, lucky me, the canned spell chose this exact moment to fizzle out. Six phantom heads turned toward me.

Oh fuck!

“Change of plans,” Liam yelled.

It was the only warning I got before he picked me up and ran. But despite his inhuman speed, the shades kept appearing, springing forth from every shadow around us, blocking us in.

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