Page 2 of Mortal Curse (Shadow Shifter)

Margo stared down at the man, in the leather jacket and cowboy hat, stirring his food. “Did you take Kenny’s Jell-O?”

The man shook his head, but remained silent.

Margo put her hands on her hips. “Did anyone see this man take Kenny’s Jell-O?”

Several patrons gave a quick shake of their heads. Margo looked at Kenny. “Did you see him eat it, Kenny?”

Kenny’s hands fisted at his sides. “I didn’t see him take it, but I was sitting right in front of him. One moment I had it, and the next, it disappeared.”

Margo stepped up to Kenny. “Go to another table or find another place to sleep tonight.”

The shelter, with its buffet-style, basic food and evening floor mats for sleeping arrangements, didn’t seem like much to give up, but it was a four-star hotel for the residents of Graydon County shelter.

Kenny bit back his retort and nodded. “Sorry, Margo. It won’t happen again.”

He grabbed his tray and went to the far corner of the room.

Margo touched Dannika’s arm. “I’m going to follow up with Kenny.” She pointed at the man at the table. “Get his information. If he plans to spend the night, he needs to fill out a form.”

Dannika sat on a chair opposite the man in black leather, clasping her hands on the table. “Are you new to Graydon County? Are you just passing through, or do you plan to stay in town for a little while?”

The man swirled the spoon in his soup.

Dannika had assumed he didn’t like the minestrone, as he hadn’t taken a single bite, but thoughts on how to improve Margo’s recipe evaporated when his gaze met hers.

Her heart skipped several beats. Air froze in her lungs while attempting to remain quiet. His black eyes had no distinction between the pupil and the iris, but that wasn’t the part that turned her blood to ice. His obsidian eyes flickered with red flames.

When she whimpered, he reached out to trace a finger over her hand. The cool fingers sent prickles of fear racing through her body. “It’s nice to meet you, Dannika.”

She sucked in a breath as his eyes turned from solid black to glowing red. He placed a pair of aviator glasses over the crimson orbs. His pale skin darkened to a healthy hue.

She pulled her hands under the table. Was this another hallucination? Had she finally cracked?

“Who are you?”

He smiled with unnaturally long incisors. “That’s the wrong question.”

She pointed at his teeth. “You aren’t the first person to augment their teeth. Vampire dentures are pretty common around here.”

His tongue curled over a pointed tooth. “I’m not a vampire. But the question isn’t what I am—it’s what you are?”

She twisted her fingers. “What am I?”

His eyes flickered red. “It’s a spring moon, Dannika. Why don’t we find out?”

“Margo!” she shouted, pushing back her chair.

Margo hustled over. “Is this guy causing trouble?”

Sweat beaded Dannika’s brow. She nodded, unable to form words.

Margo pointed at the door. “Out. Now. Harassing the staff is strictly prohibited.”

The man in black leather stood. He tipped his hat to Dannika, then left without another word.

Dannika rocked back and forth in her chair before Margo approached. Goosebumps formed on her skin, making her tighten her arms around her body.Were the hallucinations getting worse? Had the whispered voices turned to physical manifestations? Were her imaginary monsters real?She was so focused on her internal struggle she didn’t realize Margo shook her.

“Dannika, honey. You need to snap out of it.”

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