Page 10 of Hand-Fasting and Other Hazards
She instantly liked him.
Something in her stirred, perking up like a cat scenting the air. It wasn’t a conscious reaction, more instinct than intent: You have magic, it hummed, but what kind?
It was always like this with other supernaturals. Her powers stirred, too, eager to root around in his darkness, to get a feel for what lay beneath. But when he gave Lochlan’s shoulder a squeeze and she caught the twitch of his lips out of the corner of her eye, she pushed down the urge.
“You just had to have all the fun without me, didn’t you?” Becket said, taking a seat behind his messy desk.
“We probably have you to thank for this,” Lochlan answered.
“If I’d been there, I wouldn’t have stopped it.” Becket held one hand by his mouth and stage-whispered. “She’s freaking hot, dude.”
Lochlan ran a hand over his face and Nia rolled her eyes.
“Now,” Becket continued, “I don’t usually deal with ruining a lovely couple’s life with divorce–”
“Annulment,” Lochlan cut in, his tone clipped.
Becket waved a dismissive hand. “But I don’t see any reason why I can’t file this and send you on your way.” He glanced over the papers. “Yep, everything’s in place. You sign here, Lochlan. And Nia, there.”
Lochlan signed quickly and slid the papers toward Nia. She found herself hesitating. Yes, she wanted this over with as quickly as possible, but?—
“I just want to say,” she began softly, her fingers brushing the pen, “if there was anyone to be accidentally married to, I couldn’t do better than you.”
Lochlan’s eyes widened as wonder flickered across his face. Caught off guard by the emotion, she quickly turned away. With a steadying breath, she signed her name.
“Now, my turn. Then we can crack open a bottle of bubbly to celebrate,” said Becket.
“It’s nine in the morning,” Nia pointed out.
He shrugged and turned to sign the paper. The pen hovered over the blank line. Nia watched as it continued to hover, then tremble.
“What?” Becket’s eyes flicked between the both of them.
“We didn’t say anything,” Lochlan said, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“Huh, weird.” He shook his head and went to sign again. This time, Becket’s hand began to shake violently. He grabbed his wrist, trying to force the pen to paper, but it wouldn’t budge. The lights began to flicker as Becket shook his head. “I will not submit to you… you…”
Becket began mumbling incoherent words.
Lochlan stood as Nia gripped the arms of her chair.
Becket looked up from the papers, his eyes unfocused and nose bleeding. “Mommy, I would like some cereal,” he said before his face fell to the desk with a painful thump.
“Becket!” Lochlan rushed to his friend and checked his pulse before trying to wake him with light slaps on his face.
Nia’s heart pounded so violently she thought she might pass out. Memories surfaced, flashes of a time she was too young to understand: a man tied to a chair, his body straining, his mind under siege.
Her stomach turned. “That fucking asshole.”
“He didn’t do anything!” Lochlan’s voice was harsh, commanding—and, annoyingly, kind of hot.
“Not him.”
Lochlan’s eyes narrowed. “Who?”
CHAPTER 5
Lochlan
