Page 68 of Witch Unexpected
A shadow cut across the light, and my instinct was to run, but I stood my ground and carried on walking toward it.
A man stepped out to intercept me. “Snooping is not an attractive trait,” he said.
He was tall and wiry, and the designer spectacles perched on his nose coupled with the gray pants and dark sweater he was wearing gave him a sophisticated air. Not the mental picture I’d have coupled with the tone I’d just heard.
“Snooping?” I frowned. “Is that what they call walking past a room now?”
He arched a brow. “You were listening to our conversation.”
I stepped closer, allowing a conspiratorial air to bleed into my expression. “Little tip. Next time you want to have a private conversation, close the door.”
His mouth twitched. “Noted.”
“Cora!” Anna stood framed in the doorway.
A quick glance over her shoulder, and I’d deduced the room was an office or study.
“Were you looking for me?” She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes, and her hands were clasped so tight her knuckles were white.
She was scared.
I hadn’t been looking for her, but there was no way I was leaving her alone with this douche. “Yeah, actually. I was hoping to have a quick chat.” I flicked a glance toward the spectacled guy. “Now. Because it’s urgent.”
He inclined his head. “It seems like our conversation needs to be cut short.” He smirked at Anna. “But I’ll be back. Soon.”
He stepped out of the light and vanished.
What the mother fucking hell?
Anna pulled me into the room and slammed the door closed. “Oh, god.” She pressed her hand to her heart. “Okay. It’s okay.”
“What was that about? No, forget that. What the hell is he?”
She looked at me sharply, mouth popping open as if she’d forgotten I was there.
“Anna?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing for you to worry about. What did you want to talk to me about?”
I wanted to push, but I doubted she’d want to confide her private business with me, someone she barely knew.
“Nothing, actually. I just figured you might want an excuse to get rid of the douche.”
This time her smile was warm and real. “Thank you. I appreciate it. But I can handle Dimitri, as unpleasant as he may be.”
“Okay.” I held up my hands. “I’ll leave you to it.” I reached for the door handle then recalled the actual reason I’d wound up here. “You know, there is something you can do for me.”
“What is it?”
“Show me to the east wing?”
She chuckled softly. “Of course.”
* * *
Jasper wasn’tin my room. I called for him, and he didn’t appear. Before the amulet, I’d call, and he’d be there, but I hadn’t tried summoning him since I’d started wearing the damn thing. Who knew, maybe he was just too weak to manifest? Maybe he was here but unable to make his presence known.
I switched on my othersight and scanned the room, not that it would help. Jasper was a breed unto himself. He could probably hide from me if he wanted to, but I didn’t think he was hiding now.
