Page 4 of Ivy and the Deathstalkers

We laugh as we make our way down the hall to her study. We don’t get girl time often, so we always take advantage when we’re in the same place. She closes the door behind me and flicks her fingers, sealing the room. Being besties with a badass witch has its perks. Scarlet and Kira being my favorite examples. I neverwould have thought inanimate objects would have personalities, but a drunken spell from one of our girl nights brought my bike to life. Ok, she’s not fullyalive, but she’s definitely a sentient being now. When I gave in and bought my car, Blair insisted on casting the same spell on her. Thus Kira was born. And Scar never lets her forget that she’s been around longer.

“How was your trip?” Blair asks as she gracefully sits on the opposite side of the settee.

“You know what I love most about my job?”

“Getting paid for something you’d do for free?” She offers.

“Well, I do love that,” I chuckle. “But that’s not what I’m referring to. Getting to kill people who don't deserve to live while traveling the world. There’s so much to see,” I sigh.

“Next time you travel for a job, I’m coming with. I could use a vacation.”

“If you want to travel so bad, just plan the trip and we’ll find someone in the vicinity to kill.” I shrug. “There’re bad guys everywhere. No need to wait for a job.”

“Oh! Let’s do it! Where do you want to go?” She bounces in her seat as she smiles from ear to ear.

“You plan the trip and I’ll find us a job when we get there. You know I don’t like making decisions… Unless they’re about killing or fucking.”

“That’s true.” She laughs before jumping up and running to her desk.

Now that she has the idea in her head, she’s not going to let me leave until everything’s planned. While she’s typing away, fixated on researching the perfect place to travel to, I take the time to rest. Delvin turning back into an asshole may have jerked my brain from orgasm bliss, but my body is still feeling it. I need rest and recuperation after that sex marathon.

An hour later, I’m woken by Blair’s squeal. I blink my eyes open and find her standing in front of me bouncing on her toesand holding a stack of paper. I arc a brow at her while barely keeping my eyes open.

“Sorry. I’m too excited. I couldn’t let you sleep any longer.” She shoves the papers in my face while proceeding to tell me all about the trip she planned for us.

By the time I get to Kira, the parking lot is empty. The staff cleared out quickly and the supervisor stopped to let Blair know everything was put back to rights and they were leaving. When I open my door I pause when I see a folded black piece of paper in my seat.

What the fuck is this? And how did it get here?

It looks like a harmless piece of paper but something tells me it’s much more. I carefully pick it up, get in and close then lock the doors. I look around the parking lot but there’s no one around. Slowly, I open the paper and drop my jaw once I start reading the vibrant red lettering.

I’m being recruited.

Chapter 4

Ivy

The Femme Fatale Freakshow?

They’re actually real? And they wantme? Holy shit. I mean, obviously, theyshouldwant me. I’m awesome. But doIwant them? I’ve been doing just fine on my own since my parents died. I’m my own boss. I make my own hours. Pick my own assignments. It’s a pretty cushy job.

On the other hand… It’s possible the guild may have more resources than I do. Maybe I could get something more out of my membership. Maybe I could put the guild to work for me. Maybe I’ll finally be able to find out who killed my parents.

The drive home is silent as I consider my options. Normally after a hit, I tell Kira how it went. But tonight, my mind is a million miles away. Kira seems to understand something momentous is happening.

We pull into my driveway and the garage door opens as we approach. As Kira slows to a stop in her parking spot, I blink, coming back to the present. I don’t even remember the drive.

Letter still in hand, I climb out and head towards the door at the back of the garage on autopilot. My mind may be churningwith thoughts of the guild, but my body remembers I have to feed my babies before I can do anything else.

I open the door to my shop and flip on the lights. I like to keep my work out of my home, so I designed a workshop where I can research my targets. It’s also where I keep my collection of venomous pets. Most people stay far away from my babies, but I feel most at home when I’m surrounded by other deadly venomous creatures. It makes me feel not so alone in this cruel world.

My first stop is the commercial-size refrigerator, to get a dozen frozen snacks, one for each of my babies.

“Hello, Frank,” I say as I drop a frozen rat the size of my hand into his enclosure. Frank’s a six foot black mamba, and a real asshole when he doesn’t get fed first.

He snaps the rat out of the air and swallows it whole. Shaking my head, I chuckle as I move on to the next enclosure. One by one, I feed my snakes until I reach the last enclosure. Kelly is my most venomous, an inland taipan, and also the shyest. She may be able to kill 100 people with one dose of her venom, but she’s the sweetest girl and loves to cuddle with me.

After feeding my spiders, I take Kelly with me and lock up the shop. Kelly is like my therapy snake. Just holding her calms me. After a night with her, I’m certain I’ll know what to do with this whole guild thing.

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