Page 2 of Dewitched

“But all the events are free to attend,” interjected a quiet, musical voice.

Turning his head, it took every ounce of self-control he possessed not to jerk back when he found a tall, beautiful woman standing mere inches from him. Dressed in a long-sleeved black dress that hugged her curves, Skye Maddock had traded in her signature golden curls for pin-straight tresses of ebony.

“I like your hair,” he blurted.

Her bright smile didn’t match her otherwise dark appearance, but it did make her seem more approachable.

“Thank you,” she said with a slight shrug. “It seemed appropriate.” Her Barbie blue eyes strayed to the top of his head. “I like what you’ve done with yours as well.”

“Oh, uh…” He dragged his fingers through his short platinum locks self-consciously. “Thanks.”

After the “incident,” he’d felt the need to keep a low profile and avoid drawing attention to himself. So, he’d shaved his neon pink mohawk and allowed his natural white-blond locks to grow back. Since then, he’d kept his hair short, and he’d toned down how he dressed, sticking mostly to jeans and T-shirts.

“Have you decided what you want to do first?”

Honestly, he hadn’t given it much thought. In fact, he didn’t even know what was on the schedule for the festival.

“Not yet. I thought I’d check out my room, then maybe find something to eat.” It had been a fairly short trip from Arizona, but he’d been so nervous that he’d skipped breakfast. “I really can’t thank you enough for inviting me.” He held up the gold card awkwardly. “And this.”

“I assure you, it’s my pleasure.”

She reached out, presumably to touch his arm, but he retreated with an apologetic smile. He didn’t know if the female used magic, but he knew she possessed it in some form. There had even been a rumor a few years ago that a vampire had quite literally lost his mind after consuming a single vial of her blood.

If she found offense in his rejection, she didn’t show it. Instead, she folded her hands together at her waist and smiled.

“I’ll leave you to get settled in, then. Enjoy your stay, and if you need anything, don’t hesitate to let us know.”

Owen thanked her again and watched her disappear through a doorway behind the row of registration desks. Deciding that had been enough socializing for the time being, he pocketed the VIP card and turned back to the receptionist.

“Can you point me toward the right door to get to my cabin?”

Before she could answer, a petite male dressed in the hotel’s uniform appeared at his side.

“I can show you.”

Owen tensed. He couldn’t remember the guy’s name, but he distinctly remembered him. Dark curls, tawny skin, amber eyes, and the face of an angel, the male had been a key player in resolving Owen’s accidental hex.

Damn, he’d really been hoping to avoid that entire group. Especially the scary security guard. Either he had the worst luck in the world, or fate had a twisted sense of humor.

“I’m Arlo. We met back when—”

“I remember.”

A knowing smile tilted one side of his mouth, but he didn’t press the issue. “This way. I’ll show you to your cabin.”

Well, at least he didn’t look pissed. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“No problem. So, how’s college going? Are you majoring in graphic design like you wanted?”

He remembered that? Damn, now Owen felt bad that he had forgotten his name. “Actually, I decided to take a gap year. I need to figure out…stuff.”

Arlo led him past a wide, curving staircase and into a vast hallway filled with music and conversation. The last time he had visited the hotel, it had been closed for the filming of a new drama, and therefore, had been nearly empty. Now, it seemed every manner of Otherling imaginable filled the available space.

Gods, it was overwhelming.

“Yeah, I get that. So, how’s it going with thatstuff?”

“Not great,” he answered honestly.

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