Page 11 of Siren's Gift

I couldn’t believe she was turning twenty-one already. Her actual birthday wasn’t until the following weekend, but she wanted to hit up the bar scene for when she was officiallytwenty-one. Not that an age limit had ever stopped her from getting into a bar, but then she would be legally of age. Somehow, that meant something to her and her friends. I didn’t get it.

Tomorrow would be the house party.

Marissa headed for the kitchen with a spring in her step, her worries forgotten in the blink of an eye. "You hungry? I’m making ramen."

I longed for her ability to brush off concerns so easily. I hadn’t eaten since lunch, but the thought of eating right now made me nauseous. "Nah, I’m good. Too tired to eat. I’m just going to bed."

"Suit yourself."

As the sounds of Marissa rummaging around the kitchen drifted into the living room, I pulled out my phone and shot a quick message to Calvin:Can I borrow your car tomorrow?

His reply was nearly instantaneous:Go for it.

I smiled at his generosity once again, even though my heart ached for what I had planned.

It was the only way.

CHAPTER 7

Dominic

Patience was a virtue, and one I had been exceptionally good at for most of my life.

Until now.

Noises from the coffee shop surrounded me as I waited for the informant to arrive. It was risky to meet like this, so out in the open, but the owner of this branch of The Morning Grind diner was a friend of mine and a talented witch—Jade Bullard. On short notice, she’d whipped up a potion that altered my appearance and scent so that no one would be the wiser.

I was just some random guy having an afternoon coffee with a friend.

And that friend had better show up soon. I glanced at my watch. I’d been waiting almost fifteen minutes now, which might not have been that long realistically, but I wasn’t used to waiting for anyone. Usually, people tripped over themselves to make a good impression with a Sato or to stay in our good graces.

There was a first time for everything.

Jade stopped by my table and dropped off a double espresso. It was the third I’d ordered, but if I got the right intel today, I would need the caffeine boost to keep me up all night.

"Working hard or hardly working?" she asked.

As usual, the owner wore ripped black jeans and a faded dark hoodie tied around her waist. A white sleeveless crop top displayed tattoos covering her entire left arm, and her blonde hair was streaked with red and slicked up into a short mohawk.

Her looks always garnered plenty of glances, but it was her friendly smile that always drew the most attention. That, and the multiple nose piercings that sparkled in the light.

Although most of her family was now deceased, the Bullards had been renowned in the Gifted community for crafting high-quality potions. Jade was also well known for her high-quality coffee.

A camouflaging potionanda half dozen shots of perfectly brewed espresso?

It was turning out to be my lucky day.

Despite the tension tightening my shoulders, I smiled. "Right now, I’m hardly working. But I appreciate your help. And your discretion."

Her green eyes twinkled with mischief. "You know I love a good mystery. I’ll be conjuring up some epic soap opera story to explain…" she waved a hand at my disguised face, "this."

I chuckled. "I can’t wait to hear it."

The door opened and Scott—the security guard I’d met in the warehouse—ducked inside. His eyes darted around the shop.

Jade glanced his way. "That your guy?"

"That’s him."

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