Page 27 of Cage Me

She seems to wait for the woman to reopen her eyes, and when they greet each other, Spencer tilts her head. “What are you?”

“Again, I could ask you the same thing,” the woman says with a chuckle. “I’m Lia. This is my mate, Markus. We were just checking out the area after…”

“Curious about the portal?” Spencer asks, keeping her tone light.

“Something like that,” Lia replies. “The two of you are headed somewhere.”

The way she says the words so confidently has me on edge. “Just out for a walk.”

I don’t mean to snarl, but after all Spencer has said, I don’t know who we can trust here, and the man Markus is too tense for my liking.

“Come any closer and I will tear your head from your shoulders,” he practically growls at me, then turns his attention to Spencer. “Both of you.”

Lia moves and stands in front of her mate, temporarily giving us her back. They seem to be having a silent conversation, and I use that as an opportunity to grab Spencer’s arms. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Hmm, I’m curious,” she tells me before I drag her anywhere. “Let’s hear what she has to say.”

“How do you know she has anything to say?” I ask, keeping my eyes locked on the couple.

Spencer shrugs and watches alongside me. Finally, the unknown woman gives us her attention again. “You’re headed somewhere,” she repeats. “You’ll want to go North, but not too far. Maybe just a couple hours and then wait there before coming back. You’ll need,” she counts on her fingers, “three portal spells. Don’t travel through normal means. You’ll only find more trouble.”

We both open our mouths to speak, but she cuts in with another laugh. “Oh, and Spencer? Try trusting those around you. Not everyone in the world is out to kill you. Once you quit running, you just might find that you’ve attracted all the right people into your life. Not just the wrong ones as you’ve been assuming.”

“Who the hell are you?” Spencer demands, finally with the appropriate amount of suspicion. She steps forward, stance wide and arms loose at her sides.

“Don’t fret. I assure you, I’m a friend,” Lia replies with a wide smile I can almost believe is sincere. “But I know you’re really asking what I am. I’m just another unique shifter who prefers not to be known. Something you’re all too familiar with.”

I expect Spencer to pop off with something rude or defensive, but instead, she surprises me for the second time tonight. Though, Lia’s words have me even more intrigued. What about my mate is so unique that I haven’t figured out yet?

“Thanks for the heads up,” Spencer says. “What are you really looking for? Maybe I can help you find it.”

Lia and Markus share another look, but this time, they’re both grinning. “We’re good on our own,” the latter replies.

They turn and walk away without so much as another glance, giving us their backs as if we’re not a threat.

“Today has been fucking crazy,” Spencer says with a heavy sigh. I almost disagree with her, because I know one day, when I look back on this time, I won’t remember most of this bullshit.

I’ll only remember Spencer.

Chapter 11

SPENCER

I’m beyond ready for bed, but I know my day isn’t even close to over. I need to check on Mom and Peter, then chat with Kasha. Asking her to take care of my family isn’t something I foresaw myself doing, but she’s offered to help enough that it’s time I took her up on the offer.

Between the story Drake shared with me and what Lia, the unknown shifter, just said, I know we need to go after this witch. I can’t exactly say why I trust Lia, but there was something in her eyes that gave my skin goosebumps and instantly put me at ease. As if she was a long-lost friend and could do no harm. Not only me, but my wolf as well.

While normally that would have made me run in the opposite direction, today has been full of things I couldn’t have predicted. I’m trying to accept that sometimes it’s better to just let things happen instead of trying to command them.

I have spent too many months—years, really—keeping everyone at bay because of what I’ve been told. It’s time I stop listening to others and learn how to trust my gut. Not that I think my mother was wrong in warning me about others knowing about my wolf, but I’m starting to see I used her words as a crutch.

That time is over.

“Are you sure you want to take back the rejection?” Drake asks when we’re only a block from Kasha’s, taking me by surprise.

My head whips up toward him. “What? Why do you ask that?”

He shrugs and shoves his hands in his pockets. “You haven’t really said much since we walked away from those shifters. Just wondering if you’re having second thoughts.”

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