Page 55 of Charming Her Monsters

I must tread carefully here. He’s bonding with her and I will be the enemy if I continue my stance that all witches are guilty simply by their existence.

“I don’t know what to believe anymore.” I shrug and as I say it, I know it’s my truth. “Nothing about her has a clean cut explanation.”

“Nothing inlifehas a clean cut explanation,” Maxum retorts.

“Fair enough.” I grimace and push on. “She represents everything that has ruined me. And then, on top of it, she’s tangled up in Osen’s death, whether or not she’s innocent of any crime.”

“You don’t believe that she hurt him, do you?”

“No, not on purpose. But she might be a weapon that someone controls. Then she…” I can’t even finish my sentence.

“She captured Osen’s soul. I know that must be very upsetting… for you, especially.” Maxum pats me on the shoulder.

I allow the touch because he means well.

“You aren’t freaked out by that?” I ask with more than a bit of irritation.

“Yeah. But only because something like her has never existed before. At least that we know about.”

“Don’t you wonder how a witch can capture a supernatural soul?”

“That’s why I plan to train her to reveal her magic. There’s something different about her, and we all need to know what that is. Jade needs to know, too.”

“She really has no clue?” I rub my hair and pace. I don’t want to hear his answer.

“I haven’t probed her mind deep enough to crack her marbles, but yeah, from what I’ve picked up, she doesn’t have a clue. I can also tell she isn’t trying to block me. She doesn’t even know how to put up mental walls.”

“Well, if she is as innocent as you believe she is, then you should train her. I have a bad feeling all of this is going to get worse before it’s over.”

“Let’s just hope we are on the winning end of it when it’s all done.” Maxum sighs and gazes back at the house.

Even as dense as I am, I feel his longing for her as tangible as an ache in his bones. He wants to claim her, but he knows he can’t—not yet. Maybe not even after we deal with Jade’s situation.

With my keen eyesight, I turn back toward the house and see Jade and Flint staring out after us and holding hands.

Holding hands!

This woman has more natural magic than all of us combined.

17

INTERROGATION

MAXUM

By the time I’ve circled my land and its boundaries several times over, in a fruitless attempt to locate the runaway hamster, the morning sun has quickly become noon.

When I enter the house, Arran is in his wolf form, curled up in the hallway outside Jade’s makeshift office. The door is shut, and he looks about ready to whine.

If I weren’t feeling the same distance created by the simple act, I might tease him. As it is, I want to grumble as well. She’s likely making up for her lost writing days and the quote “never ending amount of promo stuff” she told us she had to do to keep her books selling.

Even if she doesn’t accept my bond, I’d make sure she’d never have to worry about making money with her books. I’ve been around long enough to know writing is her passion so if I were to help her with the money aspect, it would be to hire people to help her with the advertisement so she could focus on writing and engaging with readers in a more pleasurable way.

Maybe she would take my money if I offered it in that context, as an investment? Then, if she is freed up from her constant striving, I might be rewarded with more quality time with her.

“Shift and tell me what’s been going on here,” I demand of Arran.

The wolf lets out a huff of air and drops his head back down on his huge paws. His golden eyes glance at the door, worry and vigilance in equal measure pour out of him.

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