Page 31 of Gone Hunting

“Oh, yeah,” the rest of us collectively mumble.

“Why?” Celia presses.

Gemini leans toward Celia, keeping enough distance so as not to crowd her. “Think of hags as the tricksters in the supernatural world,” he explains. “Their tendency toward rebellion and mischief ostracizes them from coven witches, who commit to their craft.”

Liam scratches his head, pulling out what looks like a spider and sniffing it before tossing it aside. “In other words, a little eccentric, like I mentioned the first time.”

“Is she dangerous?” Celia asks.

Liam laughs. “Totally.” He nudges Koda. “Remember that werecougar she turned inside out for stealing her tomatoes?”

Koda’s brows leap up to his hairline. “That was her? I thought it was one of those stories parents tell their kids to warn them away from hags.” He motions to Celia, whose eyes are practically shooting out of her head. “If that was Mimi’s doing, what’s she going to do to something like Celia? Cast a spell so her tongue slithers from her mouth and chokes her to death? Give her bellybutton fangs and make it devour her?”

“Enough,” I say, practically snapping my teeth. “We get the point.”

Gemini is pinching the bridge of his nose so hard, he’s close to cracking the bone. “None of this is helping.”

Koda glowers, insulted. “Mimi is unpredictable on a good day. Murderous on a bad. Fear brings out the crazy in crazies. If Mimi sees Celia as a threat, she’ll feed Celia her eyeballs or worse.”

Celia holds out a hand. “I’m going to stop you right there.”

What little patience I have left reflects in my stance. “Celia, Mimi is a lot of things. But she’s not cruel.”

“She turned some cougar inside out,” Celia reminds me. “What do call that?”

“Vengeance,” Liam says. “He did steal her tomatoes. Are you going to steal her tomatoes?” Liam’s grin lights up the room when Celia shakes her head. “Then what’s the problem?”

I reach for Celia’s hand, scrunching my face tight to prevent the shudder that the skin on skin contact creates. It doesn’t work, and my friends take notice.

Koda’s eyes shift from side to side as if unsure where to look. Gemini edges further away, noting the gentle way I hold her. Liam gives me a “Nice” and offers me a fist bump. I may have to kill them later.

I ignore them, focusing on Celia. “I know you’re hesitant about approaching supernaturals.” My glare trains briefly on Liam. “Not that I blame you. But as much as Mimi isn’t my first choice, she’s powerful and wicked smart. If anyone can figure out how you arrived and how to get you back, it’s her.”

Celia seems torn. “Look. I know you’re trying to help. But . . .”

“But what?” I press, stroking her hand with my thumb when she doesn’t answer.

“I don’t belong here.”

“In Colorado?” Liam asks. “We know that, Celia.”

“I mean as part of your world.” Her eyes glisten with fear. “My sisters and I have spent our entire lives avoiding the mystical community. We don’t want any part of it. Now, you’re asking me to stay and seek a being who may or may not kill me, just because I’m different.”

“She won’t kill you,” I tell her. “I promise.”

“Yeah,” Liam agrees. “She may just slap you around a little bit.” He holds up his hands. “I mean that in a purely magical sense.”

“Liam,” Koda snarls. He knows I’m seconds from losing it. “Stop trying to help.”

“Aric, please,” Celia says. “I know you don’t know me, but if you could just lend me the money to get a bus back to Jersey, I promise I’ll pay you back.” Her expression steels, as if seconds from bolting. “I know very little about magic. What I do know has harmed me and my family beyond repair. I have to get back to them. They need me. Do you understand? I’m the only one who can protect them.”

My hand squeezes hers, trying to soothe her beast and mine. My wolf yelps nervously, urging me to stop her from leaving us. He doesn’t want her to go, and he recognizes the danger she’s in.

I wrestle with what to do. Maybe I should buy a bus ticket. Maybe I should buy two. I can go with her to make sure she gets home safe.

I release her hand when my wolf howls a warning. “Celia, something magical put you here. Sending you back to Jersey will be like sending you back to whatever targeted you.”

“You don’t know that. But say you’re right. If it came after me, it may go after my family.” She stands. “I won’t let anything happen to them.”

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