Page 10 of Payback is a Witch

“Did I feel what?” lips parted she mumbled the question.

“The obsidian.” Speaking slowly like to a simpleton I exaggerated the word. “The reason why we are here? Hugging it?”

Instead of catching up, she darted her gaze sideways over my shoulder and right at whoever was standing there silently like some creep. I wanted to turn and see, as well but if I was going to sell the story I had to be committed to it. Otherwise we were doomed. I was a horrible actress.

Sissily snorted.

I really wanted to slap her so she would snap out of it.

“I too would like to know if she felt it.” Ace spoke from behind me, laughter evident in his tone. “More importantly I’d like to know if you felt it, Hazel.” I spun around to glower at him so fast I almost tripped. “The vibration, I mean.”

Sissily chortled like a fend.

“You’ll feel it alright if you come closer you snitch.” Hissing at him I pulled my hand back and chucked my shoes at his head. He ducked the fucker. “Why are you here? To get more information to go tell your Alpha? Go. Shoo. He might give you a bone if you are a good boy.”

“You’re such a bitch.” Sissily muttered under her breath shaking her head and giving Ace a pitying glance.

“It’s one of her charms, Sissily. Don’t be too upset with her.” Grinning from ear to ear, the shifter told her, unperturbed by my jab.

“He could’ve said something instead of letting me make a fool out of myself and lurking there without a word.” If I sounded defensive, it was because I was. I was still salty that he called Alex and told him about the squeamish that morning.

“I wanted to see what happens next.” Ace shrugged unapologetically and shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “It was quite impressive, really. You should audition sometimes. You might become a star for the humans.”

“If you laugh I’ll zap you.” I pointed at Sissily who was about to do just that. “And you…”

“Hey, hey, I come in peace.” The moment my finger pointed in his direction, Ace raised both hands palms up in surrender. “Alex seems very unhappy about something that was said, which is why he told them he had some urgent pack business to attend to and left. He told me to find you, and not let you out of my sight.” Determination shone in his irises and chills skirted up my spine when his wolf peeked at me through them. “Something is off about this whole visit, Hazel. Like it or not you are stuck with me until Alpha says you are free.”

Self-preservation was a new hobby of mine so forgetting all jabs and tormenting of the shifter I hugged my middle and leaned back on the wall. Both of them fully expected me to argue about having a bodyguard with me twenty-four seven but I was no longer the dumb Hazel from a few weeks ago. I learned my lesson the hard way. This Hazel was the obedient one.

Well, obedient-ish.

Let’s not get too far.

“Did he say why?” Sissily immediately shuffled up to me and wrapped an arm over my shoulders. “Should we stay here or leave, you think?” her palm started rubbing my shoulder and I appreciated the support and the warmth it created over my chilled skin.

Ace shook his head, and cautiously turned to check behind him and down the hallway to make sure we were the only ones here. “The only he said was, trust no one and the only way you are separated from Hazel better be by removing your dead carcass from her.”

“That sounds ominous.” I visibly shivered. “Maybe we should leave and come back tomorrow. I mean I already told Danika why I was here. If she agrees to my plan she knows my number.”

“We go back to pack lands.” Ace agreed too happily, the relief evident on his face.

“Actually, I haven’t felt like a normal person since this crazy shit show started. I think we should go have a good cup of coffee and some pastries.” I waved a hand to stop the shifter’s protests. “Amber will be there. Plus, that café is as good as pack lands, don’t you think?”

“It’s too much of a risk.” He started and lo and behold Sissily decided to come to my rescue.

“She was sick earlier and her stomach is empty right now. Plus, she’ll be less of a pain in the ass if we feed her and load her with caffeine.”

“I told you not to gulp that whisky down like that.” Ace lectured so I narrowed my eyes on him.

“Okay, dad. I’ll sip it slower next time.” The crooked grin he gave me used to flip flop my stomach but I was still woozy to react. “Scratch that. Me and Mr. Whisky are taking a break. It’s not me, it’s him.”

“I bet it is.” Sissily snickered so I bumped her with my shoulder.

“Okay, okay.” Ace took a step backward sounding defeated. “You two win. Let’s take you for a coffee and some food. Let Amber deal with your spoiled asses. Bloody witches. Never happy with anything you want to do.”

“Keep taking and I’ll turn you into a frog.” Sissily threatened with a huge smile. Ever since they stuck me in a room at Alex’s house these two became as thick as thieves.

“I’ll willingly sacrifice myself if Hazel kisses me after it.”

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