Page 102 of Grim

Entering a witch’s shop used to knock me to my knees, but I knew very well that my friend here was losing her magic far more quickly than she led on. She was dying yet refused to let Locke know. He was too busy taking care of the group as a whole rather than taking care of everyone individually. That was the job of the Luna he didn’t have.

Tajah waved her hand. “Nah, girl. I can still help you. I still have some magic left, but it isn’t as strong as it used to be. What I have planned for you won’t be my doing. It will be all up to you.”

Journey stepped forward to the table. I pulled out the chair for her to sit down.

As Tajah opened the box, several moths flew out of it, and she rummaged through it.

“Here it is!” She coughed again, and Beretta came back to her side. “Beretta, I’m going to peg you to the wall if you don’t stop freaking out.”

Beretta pursed her lips, nodding and stepping away. Again, we all looked at each other. Beretta was hovering over Tajah like Hawke looked at Delilah.

“This is a salve.” Tajah pulled it from the box.

It was in an old Altoids mint tin box, and she opened it to gaze inside. The salve itself was dark, and the potency of the smell filled the room.

“Fuck, that stinks,” I growled, holding my nose. Journey did the same, but no one else in the room seemed bothered by it.

“Oh good, it still works,” she mused. “No one else will smell it unless you are bonded. I see that you have already bitten him, too. That’s more than what I hoped for,” she told Journey. “Now, hold out your finger and get a generous helping of the salve and rub it over your heart.”

Journey looked to me for permission. I smiled and petted her head.

“What will it do to her?” I asked.

Witches, while helpful if they were on your side, still had the cunning of a fae. They liked to watch others suffer. It was some sadistic game they liked to play on unsuspecting receivers of magic.

“It won’t hurt her, but it will force her into a hallucinogenic-like state. She’s going to see things, experience things. They are going to seem real; they might be very real.”

“That makes no sense,” Locke interrupted.

“It perfectly does,” she countered. “It will open her mind for someone, something to enter her. Tell her the information she needs to know. What she’s destined to do.” Tajah shrugged.

“That is really powerful for a supernatural,” Bones interjected. “Is it safe for a human?”

She eyed Journey and smiled. “Yup. Now go on and grab a bit.”

I shook my head. “No, we don’t know what it will do to her! Get someone else to try!”

The witch looked at Journey, and Journey returned the glare. Journey took her finger and scooped it up and smeared it over her heart.

“No, fuck! Don’t!” I went to wipe it away, but Tajah’s hand darted in front of her and grabbed my wrist in midair.

“Don’t touch her, it’s too late. She will be fine. She’s no longer human anyway,” Tajah cackled.

“What!?” we all screamed.

Beretta stood behind Tajah, ready to defend the witch.

“She’s a wolf,” Beretta said. “I could smell the canine on her as soon as she walked through the door. Don’t tell me you really didn’t know?”

Journey panted, her hand reaching up to grab mine. I picked her up from the chair, but before I could take her out the door, she immediately fell limp.

“What happened?!” I roared.

My eyes darkened, my sight set on Tajah. I had trusted her with my mate, and now she was asleep.

“Seems like someone has a hold of her. I can feel the overpowering spirit in the room.” Tajah placed her hand over her chest. “Gods, it’s strong.”

“Not helping,” Locke said.

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