Page 19 of A Witch-ish Guide to Protectors and Pendulums

“It’s not possible,” he grumbled to Luc, who followed him.

“You sure it’s her?”

Connor directed a “Please” glare at the man.

“Right.” Luc laughed. “I’m not sure if you’re the luckiest or unluckiest SOB in the world.”

“Pity me,” Connor said.

Luc folded his arms over his rather large chest. “She’s hot. How bad can it be?”

“Yeah, she’s gorgeous,” he said and I stood a little taller. “But then she speaks,” he finished and I deflated, accidentally letting out a smallharrumphof annoyance.

Both men whipped their heads in my direction. Connor looked to the ceiling for apparent deliverance. “Please tell meno,” he said to no one. Then when I thought he was going to grab for me, he fooled me by stepping on my foot. We all watchedhis boot hover above the ground. Or well, that was what it had to look like to them. I saw my shoe trapped under his massive boot. Connor had seriously large feet, although completely proportional to his size. I should’ve kept vigilant. But his foot was trapping my foot… and then, out of nowhere, he grabbed my arms.

“Show yourself,” he barked.

“Didn’t you use the wards?” Luc asked.

“Of course I did. She couldn’t get the door open.”

As there was nowhere for me to run, I whispered, “Let them see me now.” But then because I was me, I tacked on, “But give it some flair.” And just like that, I shimmered into view. Yes, a full-on shimmer. It was so cool if I did say so myself. Every eye landed on me. Not just Connor’s. Not just Luc’s. There were unloquacious gasps and shouts of, “What the?—”

A couple of the men gave long, slow whistles. I stood straighter and smiled in the direction of the whistlers.

“Do that again, and I’ll rip your throat out, Egyn,” Connor threatened.

There were snickers from the others before Luc asked bizarrely, “How’d you do it?” At first, I thought he was asking Connor how he did it, as input up with me, and I waited for Connor to give a snarky answer. Then I realized he’d actually been talking to me.

I shrugged. “Don’t know.”

“I gave him witch wards,” Luc said.

“I’m not a witch,” I replied.

“Clearly,” he chuckled.

“This isn’t funny,” Connor bit out.

“Oh, no—it is,” Luc answered. “But I also gave him demon wards, too.”

“You thought I was a demon?” I asked, aghast.

“Truthfully, I don’t know what you are. It’s been ambiguous from the first time Connor here”—Luc patted Connor on the back—“got a good look at you.”

“Leave it to the universe to stick me with an unrecognizable thing,” Connor said.

Thing?Thing?

Instead of screeching in his ear and kneeing him in the gonads, I turned to Luc. “Is there a vet nearby? I want to get him debarked.”

Connor, predictably, growled at me, baring his teeth.

“Oh, no!” I gasped. “Old Yeller’s got the hydrophoby.”

Luc threw his head back, laughing. It was a sexy, melodic laugh. I liked it. I bet it got him alotof booty. “If you don’t want her,” he said to my other half and I was wholly unsure if Connor would agree that Luc should have taken me, or if Luc was taking his life in his hands.

Connor spun, stepping in front of me just like last night. “Back off,” he said, and then he turned back to me, “What are you doing here?”

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