Page 18 of Spellbound & Speechless
Aspen is the next to speak. “Do you think these corrupt witches could have killed our mother? It was supposed to be demons, but…” Her voice wavers.
“Demons give the corrupt witches their powers,” I say. “A particular demon. This could be connected.”
Not every witch who works with a demon is corrupt. Some demons are good-doing, or at least neutral. They have their own moral code, after all. Angels do, too, but they tend to keep to themselves. There is an exception—one demon who corrupts his witches in exchange for power.
“Which demon?” Ozan asks.
“We don’t say his name,” I say. “Especially not in a room full of witches. Don’t want to risk summoning him, yeah?”
“That’s a superstition. It’s not that easy to summon a demon,” Ozan says.
He probably knows more than I do, but I’m still not risking it. My mother taught me better.
Juniper watches me through narrowed eyes. “How doyou know so much about them, and how are we supposed to believe you’re not working with them?”
I hold my hands up. “I’m a werewolf. They have as much to steal from me as they do you.”
“Shapeshifting.” Ozan nods. “And moon magic.”
“That’s right. They steal our wolf forms.” And we can’t exist without our wolf. A witch without her magic can live like a human, but I am one with my wolf. “You know about moon magic?”
“My goddess has some dominion over the moon. Hecate.”
“Mother of wolves, yes. I know of her.”
The potion that helps wolves with our transformation is said to draw upon the goddess Hecate. I know nothing about the spell, just that it keeps me from going haywire on full moons.
“What are we supposed to do?” From what I know from observing Juniper, she’s usually calm and collected. Little seems to get to her, but it does now. The scent of sour desperation clings to her dark clothes.
“I wish I had more answers,” I say, “but I’m still studying these witches. For now, up your security and wait. If they attack again, we capture them and ask our questions.”
“Sounds easier said than done,” the redhead witch—Rowan, I think—says. “Unless you have any plans for capturing them.”
“It’s the same as any other witch.” I smile, hoping they don’t take my words as a threat. “You’re easy to bind in place, at least for a while.”
“Why should we trust him?” Juniper asks.
Aspen finally looks at me. “Because he’s the only one with answers.”
“I’m willing to give more than answers,” I say. “Studying these witches and whatever they’re after is… well, my life's purpose. It’s what brought me here.”
“You knew they were in Starbrook?” Rowan crosses her arms.
“I had a feeling. I’m a tracker—or my wolf is.” I speak to Juniper. She’s the one in charge. “That’s beside the point. You need more security, and I’m offering it.”
“We accept!” Aspen exclaims.
I have a feeling she doesn’t have the right to hire me. As cute as Aspen is, I keep my attention glued to Juniper.
“We can’t pay you much,” Juniper says.
“I don’t care. If I can get my hands on the corrupt witch… that’s all the pay I want.”
After years of chasing the corrupt witch, her ugly face is seared in my mind like a deep scar. Permanent. I’ll never forget the face of the one who killed my father… and I know she’s coming back. This time, I’ll kill her before she can lay a hand on anyone else.
The witch didn’t makemuch of a mess in the bar, but they’re stuck cleaning up the usual Saturday night debauchery. I linger in case the corrupt one comes back.
Aspen zips around the room, carrying glasses and plates back to the kitchen. I glance at her now and then but otherwise don’t pay her any mind, much to my wolf’s displeasure.
