Page 30 of Warrior Witch

No one had been happy to let Harlow roam the woods alone, but what could we do? She wasn’t the type to let someone tell her what to do, and none of us were the type to manhandle someone into obeying. Except maybe Bruin. But there had been something off about him since he explored the catacombs with her yesterday. He’d been lying on his bed, glaring at the ceiling ever since we got back today. Hadn’t spoken a word to anyone. I couldn’t tell if he was plotting something, or just pissed he’d finally let Harlow out of sight. Possibly both.

Lindsay continued to pace between the bedroom window, the open door to the other room, and the main door leading outside, constantly checking the peephole for any signs of the missing lightning witch. Addie followed him with her eyes from where she’d curled up in the armchair, concern lacing her young features. Every few seconds, she’d check her phone—an early iPhone model, by the looks of it, with more scratches than Harlow’s car.

Grabbing my trusty backpack from beside the bed, I rummaged around until I pulled out a beat-up deck of cards. “Anybody up for a game?”

Addie’s eyes lit up, and she bounced over to sit at the end of my bed. “Ooh, yes!”

“Bad idea,” Lindsay commented from beside the window, smirking at Addie. “She’s a grifter. Harlow taught her a few years back and now flat-out refuses to play her.”

“I can’t help that I have trustworthy eyes and very little remorse, Lins.”

“Eh, I might give you a run for your money, kiddo.” I grinned as I started shuffling the worn cards. “How do you think I’ve afforded to stay on the road so long?”

She scoffed. “Bullshit. You don’t even look that old.”

I chuckled. “Thank you. But I’ve been traveling with my research since the day I graduated college, so it’s been a few years.”

“Oh, don’t be shy,” Bruin taunted from his bed. “Share with the class.”

“I will if you join us for a few games,” I offered, holding up the cards like an olive branch.

We’d left him untied since yesterday, which was probably for the best. The way my mind wandered when he was around was dangerous, especially when he was tangled in my vines. I’d said they have a mind of their own, which is only mostly true. I don’t have to be actively in control of them all the time. But when I’m not concentrating, their actions reflect on my mind. And my attractions. I really hope they didn’t try anything with Bruin. I’d at least like to trust someone before groping them with plants.

Bruin raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the invitation.

Unable to resist the challenge of his attitude, I stepped over to his bed and whispered in his ear, low enough to prevent the others from overhearing, “Be a good boy now, and stop brooding. Harlow will be back soon for you to antagonize her. Play with us until then.”

His jaw ticked, as I imagine he scanned through the many ways he could kill me for that. But I had to take the risk. There was something so enticing about him, I wanted to know more. And I think he did, too.

“Fine.” He growled. “You’re on.”

“Yes! Haha!” Addie cackled. “Looks like mama’s gonna have a shiny new bike by the end of the night!”

He stood with a dramatic sigh, probably to distract her from the redness creeping up his neck. “Keep dreaming, kid. Hope you’ve won enough from your friends to pay me off by the time I’m through with you.”

Lindsay snorted. “Destroy him, Addie.”

Not if I destroy him another way first.

We sat in a small circle on my bed, and I dealt out the cards for a five-card draw. While Lindsay gave Addie a quick pep talk about how to take everything Bruin had and leave him with nothing but his underwear and tears, I looked over at the biker. He was intriguing. Not my usual type at all when it came to men, but his fierce attitude drew me in, much like Harlow’s. I couldn’t say if I wanted to tame it or let it consume me.

While I checked my cards, I told him, “I’m twenty-seven, by the way.”

He didn’t look up from his cards, but his posture softened a little. “So you’ve been traveling for what… five years? Not bad.”

As Lindsay predicted, Addie quickly dominated each round. Seriously, the girl was something else. She could pass a lie detector test as easily as ordering a coffee. No wonder she had Harlow and Lindsay wrapped around her little finger.

“Jesus, kid.” Bruin mourned another defeat. “If I ever need someone to lie on the stand for me, I’m calling you first.”

She smiled sweetly as she retrieved another fifty dollars and added it to her winnings. “I know I’m a good liar, but trust I’m telling the truth when I say this: If you do anything to hurt Harlow, you’ll want to keep me very far away from government officials.”

He watched her suspiciously, and I could swear I saw the faintest glimmers of respect and a smidge of fear in his dark eyes. “Noted.”

Bruin was smart to be careful around Addie. Magic or not, she could be a lot of trouble for him if he planned to carry out his threats. If anything happened to Harlow, Lindsay would need help keeping her from going after him, and I’d be the first volunteer.

“She was so freaked out earlier. It’s weird seeing her like that.” Addie frowned, deep in thought, before she looked up at me. “Do you think that girl in the drawing is really one of Harlow’s ancestors? Is that why she was called here?”

“Maybe, yeah,” I answered, thinking of the books Lindsay found. “A lot of spells in the grimoires were storm related, and it’s hard to deny that resemblance, even in a painting. Does Harlow know anything about her family history?”

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