Page 14 of A Hunter Found
Evangeline made another turn around the tiny tourist shop that sold healing crystals, herbs, and assorted talismans, despite her having seen everything the store had to offer several times over at this point. She’d have to buy something soon or she’d be asked to vacate the premises, and the last thing she needed was to cause a stir that might reach certain ears.
The young girl behind the counter had already asked if she could be of assistance twice. Evangeline had wanted to snort at the offer. She was eons beyond this child in knowledge. Not to mention, she couldn’t sense even a tiny drop of magical blood anywhere in the girl. This was simply a job for her. She probably had no idea of what power lurked within these trinkets in the right hands. The only way she could possibly help someone of Evangeline’s magnitude was if she could offer up Kane Fletcher’s whereabouts. He wasn’t currently in the apartment above this shop where he’d first brought her that night she’d engineered their meeting in the bar and she’d had to hastily abort her plans. He also, as far as she could tell, hadn’t been there for at least twenty-four hours. Where was he? Her so-called spies were proving absolutely worthless. She needed better minions.
The bell above the door rang, announcing another customer’s entry. A wolf shifter if Evangeline’s senses weren’t mistaken. One that obviously knew the clerk as she greeted the girl with a grin and the two exchanged some small talk.
“Is Kane up there?”
Ears perking, Evangeline grabbed up the clear crystal in front of her to bring it to the counter so she could better hear the clerk’s response.
The girl behind the register shook her head, but instead of elaborating, she glanced over the shifter’s shoulder and smiled at Evangeline. “Ready to check out?”
She’d rushed it, been overeager. How very frustrating. If she’d waited a moment more, she may have had her answer. But the fact that this young wolf knew Kane, wanted to find him, well, that was intriguing. Her purchase complete, she waited outside for the shifter to leave. It didn’t take long, and the woebegone expression was telling.
“You know Kane?” Evangeline asked with a sweet smile, falling into step beside the wolf.
The girl stopped, taking in Evangeline from head to toe. Such an expressive face the shifter had, so easy to read the seething jealousy she tried to hide behind a false smile. “How do you know Kane?” the girl bit out between clenched teeth.
Evangeline wanted to throw her head back and laugh. How marvelous. The shifter and Kane had known each other intimately, any fool could see that, and that suited her plans perfectly.
Oh, yes. Evangeline could definitely use this girl. Kane Fletcher might currently be the territory-holding Born of Louisiana, but before that, he’d been a Hunter, a breed that practically reeked from their hero complex and something that couldn’t easily be shrugged off. With this girl, Evangeline could make Kane come to her.
The spell was easy, practically child’s play for someone of Evangeline’s power, and with a wave of her hand in front of the shifter’s eyes, the girl was following like a well-behaved puppy.
“What’s your name, child?”
“Nicky.”
With a grin of sheer wickedness, Evangeline announced, “Well, Nicky. Let’s see if we can find Kane for you.”
Chapter Ten
With the furniture purchased and arrangements made for drop off, Kane had called Edward and told the clerk to contact a few strong backs the man trusted to help arrange Kane’s new home. As predicted, the man had practically gushed about what an honor it was to be entrusted with such a task. Edward was good people, and Kane did trust him, that was the point, and if the clerk thought this was an honor, wait until the man saw his Christmas bonus. Kane almost chuckled as he imagined the man’s face. But hey, in Kane’s opinion, you do right by him and he’d do right by you.
Slipping the phone back into his jacket pocket, he was about to ask if his ladies wanted to join him for a bite to eat when he noticed Sophia staring longingly at something across the street. It was a salon he noted. His dragon wanted a little pampering, did she? He could definitely make that happen.
“You guys were such a help to me today,” he told them. “You deserve something special, and I need to take off for a bit.” He didn’t, but he might as well use the time to go visit Jourdain since the man hadn’t gotten back to him yet about the video footage. Time to beard the lion in his den and hope he didn’t get his brain melted for the trouble. “So why don’t you go have a spa day over there at that salon. My treat.”
“Ooh, mani-pedi,” Jamie said with a grin. “I’m all for it. Morgan? Soph?”
“No need to twist my arm,” Morgan said, while Sophia nodded with such a look of longing that Kane felt his chest nearly burst with pride that he could give her this. After all, money wasn’t exactly an issue for him. Hunter bounties were substantial as the Born wanted their runners back quickly, and Hunters weren’t exactly living large while on the road. Weapons and tech tended to be their only high-ticket items, and if properly taken care of, needed to be replaced only rarely, so his career of well over a century hunting had garnered him substantial wealth.
Offering his credit card to Morgan, he asked, “We’ll all meet up for dinner after?” And then with a grin, “I want to see all those pretty piggies.”
Morgan let out a scoffing sound. “These piggies will be back in their boots, but I’ll let you admire my fingers.”
“Deal. Call me when you’re done.”
With one last look at a smiling Sophia to tide him over until later, he headed off to meet Jourdain.
The leader of the Order of Witches didn’t live in a mansion, or even in one of the wealthier districts though Kane doubted the man was strapped for cash. The buildings in this section were small, almost identical, though some sported gorgeously painted murals interspersed with more common graffiti. But this was why so many of the Born underestimated the witches. While Kane’s kind flaunted their power and wealth visibly, the witches preferred to remain under the radar.
Honestly, Kane would have liked to do the same. While he loved his new house, he would have been just as happy in a smaller place, but as a newly-appointed territory-holding Born, he now had certain expectations to fulfill. His sworn oath may have been overseen by his father and his eldest brother, but eventually, once they got their shit back together after the unexpected death of their leader, the Court of Elders would send an emissary to meet with him. His household, as well as the functionality of his territory, would be scrutinized. In this, he needed to fit the mold.
Giving the door a quick rap, Kane wondered if the women were having fun. He had an image of them sitting side by side in those big chairs that salons had, their feet soaking while they gossiped and sipped champagne. The thought left him smiling as the door opened.
“Mister Fletcher,” Destin Jourdain drawled, his hawk-like features scrutinizing Kane. “I do hope that smile on your face means you’re here to sell me cookies.”
Kane’s smile widened to a grin. “No such luck, though now I’m wishing I did have some. I’d even share.”
