Page 12 of Resting Witch Face
“We can’t figure out what’s wrong while Danika is doing her best to keep us out of sight from anyone and everyone. Well, keepmeaway. Sissily comes as a plus one always,” I blurted out, my eyes widening when it hit me what I’d done.
“You think trouble is coming your way?” The shifter magic slammed into me like a punch to the gut, and quite a few sharp intakes of breath told me not many in the café were as human as I previously thought. The protective instinct of an alpha was no joke, even if it was a self-appointed duty he gave himself when it came to us.
The cat was out of the bag.
“That’s the thing …” Picking at the sticker on my paper cup so I could avoid his intent gaze, I couldn’t stop the sigh. “We don’t know. Apart from my grandmother’s attitude toward me, we have nothing else to go on. It’s all a guessing game.”
“What does this tell you?” Alex Greywood thumped a fist over his solar plexus. Sissily hummed something under her nose, but I ignored her.
“That I had too many espressos and I might have a heart attack?” My voice raised a pitch, and the comment turned into a question.
The Alpha narrowed his eyes on me dangerously.
Blowing out a breath, I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. Shoulders slumped, I pushed the hum of voices to the back of my mind and focused on my intuition. It was a guide any witch would follow, but mine was barely a whisper from the lack of magic. It was the main reason I never trusted it, but I was willing to humor him. I didn’t expect the stab of fear and the danger alarm to make me rock back on the chair when I did find it. My chair would’ve toppled over if Alex didn’t snatch me by the upper arm to steady me.
“Danger is definitely coming.” With great effort, I pushed the words out through numb lips. Sissily stayed silent, but her face looked paler than it already was.
“This is a good thing, little witch.” The shifter looked proud like I’d just discovered the Americas.
“Maybe to you. I personally would love it if danger stayed away from me, thank you very much. I have no magic, or did you forget that?” I should buy his son some chew toys or something, because if anyone else talked like that to the Alpha, he would be playing dodgeball with their head by now.
I tensed, expecting him to bark at me or something.
Alex threw his head back, and a booming laugh shot out of him.
Sissily and I blinked dumbly at the guffawing shifter.
“A smart predator is a prepared predator, little witch. And you don’t need magic to deal with anything life throws at you. I’ve seen you fight,” Alpha Greywood told me when he was done laughing in my face, reminding me of the time I knocked one of his shifters on his ass after he sniffed me. “You lose your life when danger finds you suddenly and catches you from a blind spot. If you expect it, the chances of survival are great.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“My pack lands are always open if either of you find yourself in a tight spot. Same as my entire pack, if you need a hand.” Lifting off the chair, he twirled it before tucking it in its place. “I’ll let you enjoy your day. When the time comes, you know where to find me.”
We watched him walk to the counter and give his wife a heart-stopping kiss, not giving two shits that the café was packed. A few whistled encouragements made Amber blush and duck her head, but Alex grinned and stomped out of the door with arrogant pride. As far as safety nets go, the little chat with the alpha gave me some sort of peace, at least. Before he sat at our table, I wouldn’t have thought of going to him for help, but now that door was left wide open should we need it.
“At least we have a backup now.” Sissily yawned so wide her jaw popped. “Maybe we should get some sleep. The last thing I need is to fall asleep in the middle of the ritual Saturday night.” Fast calculations told me that was two days from now.
“What ritual?”
“The full moon ritual, little jerk.” She snorted, shaking her head. “I swear, some days I wonder if you live in a separate world from mine. You are oblivious.”
“Excuse me if I had other things to worry about.” I sounded grumpy because I was. “Not like I take part in any of those, so why should I care.” Yet again, I’d tempted fate. Both our phones lit up, buzzing and cluttering across the table.
Snatching mine, brand new and all shiny, I expected a call to apprehend some idiot threatening to endanger the thin thread of peace we had with the humans. Not in a million years did I think I’d read the long essay glaring at me from the screen. Fingers flying, I closed the message and opened it again, hoping I’d imagined things. But the same words stared me in the face accusingly. Alex said if I expect it, the chances of survival are great.
I disagreed with him.
“All members of Gatekeeper’s coven will participate in the full moon ritual scheduled for Saturday night, including the leader of the coven, Danika Byrne, and High priest Shadowblood, along with all family members and apprentices. No exception. Be on time and ready to show your contribution, which you will perform in front of a board of witches, representatives of all covens in America. May Hecate guide your way. Blessed Be.”
A torrent of explicit words exploded from Sissily while I held the iPhone limply in my fingers. Did Danika plan on hiding me Saturday night? Even the thought of that was dumb because there wasn’t a soul that didn’t know who I was and what I was to her.
“Maybe training enforcers to physically fight counts for something.” My attempt to comfort Sissily was weak. “Right?”
“Of course it does,” my friend hissed like it was me trying to downplay my own significance to my coven. “If that’s not enough, I’m sure Greywood would be more than happy to add two witches to his ranks. You heard him.”
“True.” The need to run was making my skin itch. “Let’s go home and get some shut eye. Danika always has a plan, so I’m not too worried,” I lied again, while Sissily dutifully agreed with me, rounding the table and linking her hand through mine.
“It could’ve been much worse,” my friend mumbled as we left the café, waving at Amber on our way out. “I totally expected some demon, or worse, Sasha Airborne cloning a few of her and staging an attack.” My laugh was short and strained.
