Page 12 of Magic's Rise

Sensing trouble, I move to close the door. “Never heard of her.”

“Rowe,” Owen admonishes, catching the door before it closes. “The man made the walk up here, we might at well?—”

His words cut off in a growl as his focus lands on the stranger, and shadows boil from his skin, his werewolf curse surging to the surface.

His eyes flash red as coals, and he shoves me behind him. “Rowe, go upstairs and get Ros’s gun.”

A REQUEST FOR…ADVENTURE?

Shocked, I stand frozen at Owen’s back. Get Ros’s gun? Do I finally get to shoot someone?

“Whoa, there.” Levi holds up large, callused hands. “There’s been a misunderstanding.”

Oh, wait, I don’t need a gun anymore. I can summon the forces of lightning. Or, I did one time by accident. But this stranger doesn’t know I’ve failed every attempt since my confrontation with Bryant.

As I whip out my wand from my arm holster, the lightning-touched wood buzzes against my skin like I just licked a battery. I point the glass tip toward the man. “State your business or it’s zaps for you!”

“Rowe…” A warning note fills Owen’s voice, and his werewolf tries to smother me in shadows.

“Stop that!” I blow at the black smoke and wave my wand around. “Keep your curse to yourself. I’m trying to defend our house from…”

I eye the tight hold Levi has on the hat in his hands and the way he hunches his shoulders to appear smaller. On closer inspection, his clothes are well-worn but clean, while the scruff that lines his jaw looks less like a style choice and more like he’s been pressed for time. Dark bags under his eyes speak to long travel with little rest.

Aside from his size, he seems about as threatening as a puppy.

Confused, I turn to Owen. “Why are we declaring war when it’s still weeks away from the full moon?”

“He’s a werewolf, Rowe,” Owen grits out between clenched teeth.

“And I’m a redhead.” Unsure what his deal is, but sure that Levi is no threat, I tuck my wand away. “What’s that got to do with the price of pie at Nesse’s Diner?”

Owen’s brows sweep together as he drags his eyes away from the stranger to stare down at me. “What? That makes no sense.”

“Neither does all this growling.” I pat the black tendrils dancing on his arm, trying to shove them back inside his body. “Time to sleep, wolfy.”

“Your reaction is understandable.” Levi holds up his hands, his hat waving from one fist. “Territorialism is hard to overcome, but with time, you’ll learn to control it.”

“Excuse me?” Owen whips back toward Levi, the shadows bursting forth once more. “I’m the Alpha around here.”

“Not my Alpha, kid.” Red flickers in Levi’s eyes, there and gone in a blink. “Don’t make this a pissing contest when I just came to ask for help.”

My mouth drops open in surprise, and I shove in front of Owen. “You can control your curse outside of the full moon.”

“I can.” He pats his chest. “Far better than your friend here can.”

“Mate.” Owen’s hands clench into fists, and the shadows slowly withdraw back into his body. “She’s my mate, not my friend.”

“And I mean her no harm.” Levi’s focus shifts to me. “You’re Rowe Wendall?”

Oh, yeah, that’s why we’re anti-Levi. “Nope, no clue who that is.”

No good has ever come from someone asking for the Wendall witch.

“Come on, sparky.” Tris comes up from behind me to gawk at the tall man. “Let the cowboy in so he can speak his piece.”

My elbow bounces off his stomach. “Whose side are you on?”

“Yours, my pudding pop.” He slings an arm around my shoulders. “But this smells like adventure.”

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