Page 4 of Prey

I know he’s right. Kadi just looks at me.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I say, “Look, I’ll work on it okay? I just want this job to be over so we can go about our normal business. I’ll be happy to never have to mess with the witches again.”

Joaquin looks over at Kadi, “Shasta is pretty hot though, huh? Kinda hard to want to forget about her easily.”

Kadi nods and says, “Ethan may have a problem with witches, but I don’t, and I definitely wouldn’t mind getting to know her better. Wanna take a trip over there with me later to keep a watch on things? It may be a little easier to get in since you know her better.”

Joaquin nods and stands, “I’ve got to get a few other things done but I’ll meet you back here in an hour?” he asks, looking at his watch.

“Sounds good to me,” Kadi says, looking at me in defiance.

Oh, so we are gonna play it this way?

Joaquin leaves, then Kadi and I sit in silence for a minute or so before he finally says, “It’s been twenty-seven years, Ethan. You have to let go of this hatred you have for the witches. You won’t even let us patch in any warlocks. We have every other type of supe known to mankind, and even some that aren’t. It’s gotta stop.” He gets up and walks out of the office, slamming the door behind him.

Picking up some papers off my desk, I throw them across the room, then put my head in my hands and stare at the top of my desk.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Kadi doesn’t get pissed off easily. Maybe I do need to get myself under control if it’s become this bad. But I don’t know where to start trying to rid myself of something that has been with me most of my life. I certainly don’t know how to deal with these other feelings I’m having either. I can’t possibly be attracted to someone in the group of people I hate can I?

Chapter three

Death Threats & the Matriarchs

SHASTA

Ugh, there were so many books to put away. I finally got through all but one box and I’m working on that now.Kneeling in front of the bookcase, I reach over to pull the last few books out of the box when my hand touches something that is definitely not a book.

Pulling it out, I see that it’s a medallion with the Mrtyu symbol. What the hell? I didn’t order anything like this. Holding it in my hands, I turn it over to inspect it further. No other symbols or markings of any kind. But the longer I hold it, the more a sense of unease creeps over me. Dropping it, I notice it stops.

Death.

My father came from India, I know that much about him, though he died in a car accident when I was young. You’d think being witches we could avoid things like that happening. While we do live a long time, normal things can still kill us.

I don’t really remember him well, but I do remember being loved by him, and happy. Mom made sure that I knew about that side of my family and heritage. In fact, my name is of Indian origin and means “praised”. It comes from Sanskrit and is associated with the Goddess Shasta Devi.

I learned Sanskrit growing up because I use a lot of spells that my father has in his grimoire, and most of them were passed down through his family for many, many years.

I stand and walk over to the counter and grab a hand towel. Emmett has been gone for a couple hours now. Instead, it’s just me and a couple customers here. Usually around an hour before closing, it’s pretty dead like this.

Using the towel, I pick up the medallion again and walk to the back of the shop to put it in a magic canceling box. Until I can figure out where it came from, I don’t want any of that creepy magic that's coming off of it leaking out.

I lock the box with a spell that only I can undo and cleanse my hands magically before stepping back out into the hall to walk back to the front. I hear the doorbell as I’m coming down the halland make it to the front in time to see one of the lion shifters from earlier walk through the front door with Joaquin, a vamp that comes in regularly.

Geez, maybe I do need to get laid. Or all the hot guys could just quit coming in here and making me think about getting laid. Yeah, we’ll go with that.

I walk over to them and the shifter looks at me with a panty melting smile. Thankfully, Emmett isn’t here to call me out this time, though I realize with utter horror that he can probably smell me himself. Flushing with embarrassment, I tamp down on the hormones and ask how I can help them.

“I’m Kadi, and I’m sure you know Joaquin since he frequents your shop,” he says, reaching his hand out to me.

I hold my hand out to shake it and in a slick ass move, he turns it and lifts it to his mouth placing a kiss on it. Just as his lips touch my skin, we both feel a jolt. Snatching my hand back, I look up at him, eyes wide in shock.

Well shit.

“Mate,” he growls, trying to reach for me.

“Uh, now, just wait a second,” I say, holding out my hands in front of me and taking a step back.

---