Page 40 of Bait N' Witch

A window behind Grey slammed open as a gust of wind assailed the house. She wasn’t sure who was more shocked by that window bursting open, her or Grey. Then, again, she knew what had caused it, and he didn’t. Unfortunately, the small interruption didn’t stop him from accessing their memories.

One by one, Leia, Marrok, Castor, and Tala each submitted to having Grey in their heads. They each tried to keep from showing her so he wouldn’t recognize her. However, Greyson Masters was one of the most powerful mages she’d encountered and had moved past their blocks and attempts with ease, seeing exactly what he needed to see.

Rowan, panicked and unable to think of a better way, drew on every single ounce of energy available to her in the spirit realm—an unusual amount. His house must be a portal for many dead. She even drew from the four powerful people before her as much as she could, separated from them by the veil of death.

In each memory involving her, she changed the shape of her face, the shade of her eyes. She couldn’t do much more and only prayed her actions had been enough. Finally, Grey had finished. With the last miniscule bit of energy she possessed, Rowan drifted outside and pushed herself back into the world of the living, a sensation akin to rubbing sandpaper over her skin.

A close thing. Getting out of the spirit realm after draining herself altering those memories in real time had been like moving through hot tar, leaving her so exhausted she almost didn’t have enough fight in her to do it.

But she made it out.

Mental note to only use that trick to observe next time. No magic within magic.

Then, with stumbling, plodding steps, she’d snuck around the house to the basement entrance.

Now the reflection staring back at her in the bathroom mirror with her mismatched eyes showed a woman with skin a sickly shade of gray, lips pinched and pale, and a dew of perspiration across her brow. For the second time in as many minutes, her stomach heaved, and she pitched over the toilet. Not that she had anything left to empty.

Dry heaving sucked more than vomiting.

A soft touch pressed up against her, and she lifted her head to find Nefti there to comfort. Only, as often happened around the cat, that strange shivery cold passed through her. Almost like an impetus to get her ass moving.

Right. She needed to finish getting dinner ready for Greyson’s guests—four people who could give her away with a simple wrong comment or look.

Forcing herself to move, she leaned over the sink, splashing cool water on her skin. What she really needed right now was sugar. Lots of it. She gave her pitiful reflection a grimace. She’d fix it, but, unfortunately, if she used more magic, she’d pass out. Nothing she could do now. As things stood, she was barely standing anyway.

“Rowan?” Grey’s voice drifted down the stairs. “Are you down there?”

She cracked the door. “Yes,” she croaked. Then she cleared her throat, took a deep breath, and tried again. “Yes.”

“I thought I heard you come in with the girls. Our meeting is over.”

“I’ll be right up,” she called back.

How am I going to show my face? Grey will know something’s horribly wrong. Granted, he wasn’t feeling too hot himself. Performing that memory spell on one creature as powerful as a demigod had to be taxing. On four powerful persons should’ve knocked him on his ass. She should know; she’d just done something similar.

A snuffling sound at her back door had her whirling to see the shadow of a massive figure outside. Now what?

Witch? The low rumbling word came from the creature on the other side. An animal had come to her in a human dwelling?

Slowly and haltingly, she stumbled to the door. Opening it, she gasped to find a massive grizzly bear standing on the tiny patio, shaded by the porch above, close enough to smell his hot breath, feel the warmth of his massive body. It was oddly tempting to snuggle into his thick brown fur, despite the trepidation pumping her sluggish blood through her at a slightly faster rate. Would he feel soft or coarse against her skin?

You need help, the bear said.

How did you know?

We can sense you. You need help.

Did the bear even know what he offered? Rowan bit her lip. She’d never drawn energy from an animal before, but a creature as massive as this, filled with raw natural power… Could he help?

Reaching out a hand, she placed it against his shoulder. Soft. He’s so soft.

Through sheer force of will, she drew the energy from him, from his life force. She had to be careful not to draw so much she left him vulnerable, just enough, thank the fates, to help her. Her body remained exhausted, but at least she was functioning.

Reluctant to break the connection, she slowly drew her hand back. “Thank you.”

Danger comes this way. You should run.

Fear again spiked inside her, the taste of it acrid in her mouth, although that might be the vomit from earlier. “What danger?”

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