Page 7 of Alice and Her Shifters (Dirty Paranormal Fairytale Haremlan 2)

“Because, my dubious friend, it’s close to where we need to be,” he said.

I leveled my gaze on him. My patience was running low. “I’m not your friend.”

He rolled his eyes. “The blood forest is unavoidable in our trek, if she manages to die, then so much for the better.”

“Oh goody. By your account, a cursed wood really is exactly where we want her,” I said sarcastically. “When was I going to be let in on this?”

Milo shrugged. “You are now.”

I growled again. “Unbelievable.”

“She couldn’t have gotten very far,” Milo said.

“She’s gotten herself in over her head,” Calvin said. “She’s an innocent girl caught in your trap, much like me and Aidan.”

“Perhaps,” Milo said. “But with luck, we can pry the amulet off her body and be done with this cat and mouse chase. The sooner we get the girl, the sooner you’re free of me.”

I snorted. “Killing some girl was never part of the plan.”

Milo smiled maniacally. “I never said anything about killing her, but I like your thinking.”

I gritted my teeth together and huffed out a sigh. “I’m seriously reconsidering this whole deal of ours. Suddenly losing my head sounds like heaven compared to working with you.”

“Fret not, my not friend,” Milo said as he clapped his hand against my shoulder. “If we hurry, we may catch up to her in time to save her life. I wouldn’t recommend that though. Getting caught up with a woman was what got you into this mess in the first place.”

“I’m starting to regret this deal of ours. I would seriously consider your next words before saying them,” I warned.

He laughed. “For a seasoned warrior, you’re pretty damn sensitive.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Just… get us there. I’m sick of wasting my time with you. The sooner I can satisfy my end of the bargain, the sooner I can be done with you and move on with whatever life I have left.”

He shook his head. “Exactly.”

I glared at him.

“Very well.” He turned toward Aidan. “Work your magic, mad one.”

Aidan’s eyes gleamed in the next to nonexistent light within the alley. He moved his hands in circles directly in front of him. A rush of wind surrounded us.

“Closer,” he murmured.

I had barely heard him. Milo either did or somehow knew exactly what to do. Either way wouldn’t have surprised me. He gripped Aidan’s arm and cast his gaze toward me. It was the impatient look he donned whenever things didn’t go according to his plan—not that he would ever admit to that. I sighed and took a stand on the other side of Aidan. The second my hand gripped his arm, he let out a high-pitched giggle.

I cast a wary glance toward him as black tendrils of smoke lifted from the ground, spinning around us. Once we were sheltered within the smoke, an invisible force tugged on me, and I was damn near ripped from Aidan. The black smoke continued to fill my view and my feet lifted from the ground. Bits of purple and blue lightning flashed before my eyes. I squeezed them closed and wished for the ride to be over with already.

I had nothing against magic. I simply hated being a part of it. More so when it had anything to do with an insane wizard and Cheshire cat.

When my feet touched the ground again, the wind and smoke faded away as a roll of thunder ripped through the air upon our landing.

“Huh,” Aidan mused. “We’ve arrived in three pieces.”

I glared at the man. If it wasn’t Milo trying to be the death of me, it was Aidan. I was sure of that much. I had counted myself lucky we didn’t actually show up in three pieces.

“Where did you find this guy?” I asked Milo.

“I have my sources,” he said and sniffed the air. “Ah. Home.”

I shook my head. “You know what? I really don’t care.”

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