Page 307 of Sigils & Spells

Just a couple nights ago they’d found the pixie girl murdered at one of the festival areas off the main drag; and now she’d seen what was written on the dead girl’s bones. A shiver overtook her and Merryn hurried forward. She could hear the din of the crowd from the Psychic Fair up ahead. She could go there or head straight to Broomstix on the chance that her boss, Bridget, would still be there.

A gust of wind brought the scent of wet dog to her nose and, working purely on instinct, Merryn shifted, moving from human to owl form in zero to ten seconds flat. Her great wings spread and she glided upwards, searching the ground below.

Angry red eyes watched as she crested high and perched on a large oak, the two wolves staring at her with hate in their eyes.

One wolf shifted from animal to human form, a leering smile on his too handsome face. “Here, little birdy… why don’t you come down and play?”

Merryn screeched and flapped her wings, her claws itching to gouge a hole in the smug prick’s face.

Just then, a band of costumed humans trudged down the street, their laughter just the distraction she needed to take flight and break away. A few streets over, she shifted back. No sign of the wolves, but she realized they had to be lurking. How foolhardy they were to chance being seen by humans was hardly a question. She knew about the girl Mari. Just a human girl studying at the university in Salem; and then one night, after her shift at the bar she worked at… Pow. Wolf bait. Merryn didn’t plan on sitting still long enough to be their newest chew toy.

The shop windows were dark but Merryn approached, knowing someone would likely be inside. She rattled the door handle and it gave. Pulse beating erratically, Merryn slipped inside locking it behind her. She took a ragged breath and swallowed, the reality of what could have happened spelled out like the pictures in her phone. For a quick, panicked moment, she felt around her back pocket, relieved that the phone had made it with the rest of her clothes when she shifted.

Stupid. Taking a chance like that, but what choice did she have?

Merryn peered out into the waiting night knowing full well the wolves who’d been chasing her were still out there. She turned and walked into the semi-darkness of the shop. Everything appeared to be in order. The wall display of herbs, the crystals and divination in the front window space with a selection of tarot cards. The soft glow from a reading lamp lit the library area, but as she ventured toward the counter she caught a hint of movement in the doorway beyond.

“Hello is there anyone here? Bridget?”

Damien peeked out from behind the curtain, a set of earbuds dangling around his neck. His brows and dark eyes were startling against his fair skin and light hair, and his firm mouth always looked as if he were on the edge of laughter. His muscular frame filled out the black sweater he wore and, as he stood up from the chair to greet her, she got a look at the rest of the package.

Why did he have to be so damned amazing? For a moment she was so distracted, she forgot to be afraid.

“Hey there, hot stuff.”

Just like that her stomach clenched and her breath caught in her throat. The object of her lust stood there, looking cool and collected, while her world was being torn apart.

Holy hell.

Merryn nervously moistened her dry lips and walked toward him.

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