Page 9 of Pitch a Witch
“You still think I’m pretty.” His suggestive but low tone was meant for my ears only, and it sent my heart galloping into overtime.
Demons.
I needed to kill demons before I did something stupid like rush back and kiss the daylights out of the infuriating man.
There was definitely something wrong with me.
6
“Just an FYI, I’m not very good at playing defense.”
My announcement was met with snorting and chuckles from all three of them.
“I can’t see what’s so funny about what I said.”
“It’s been eight days, Miss. Byrne. We haven’t forgotten you in that time.” River, ever the helpful, decided to enlighten me. “We know you too well to think there is anything but teeth and claws for anyone other than Sissily.”
The woman in question ducked her head guiltily, but I tugged the arm she had looped around mine and pulled her closer. “Damn straight. You better remember that, Blackman, before you lose an eye.”
“Don’t listen to him, girl. He’s trying to prey on our guilt and insecurities to further his agenda,” I mumbled to my friend from the corner of my mouth, purposely loud enough for River to hear. “He can smell it, like a piranha, and he’ll chomp on a limb when we least expect it.”
My smack-talk had the desired effect, and Sissily smiled warily at me. She had a good point when she said we had a lot to talk about, but we had to deal with whoever was attacking the coven first. Which brought me to another question.
“You think they were scouting the coven in case I showed up?” My question was aimed at Ace, and a deep line formed between his heavy brows. “Or they followed us from pack lands to the city?”
Clustered, we moved as fast as we could without making a run for it toward the part of the coven building that had been demolished when I made my magical debut in a blaze of destruction-filled glory. Having the hallways empty at night was unheard of, yet the smooth obsidian, along with the black pillar candles, were the only things present apart from us. Cracks in the walls spread toward what was left of the glass dome, another reminder that I was nothing but a thorn in Danika’s side.
“I was careful when we left pack lands,” the beta grumbled while daring Blondie to say otherwise with a scowl aimed in his direction. “Two patrols followed us until we reached the highway in case we came across trouble.” His piercing gaze swung to me. “There are no guarantees that they didn’t, however. I could’ve alerted them when I called out after you, too.”
A frown puckered my forehead at what he said. I had forgotten that he roared my name after I left him waiting in the dressing rooms. At the time, all I’d wanted was to find Sissily so I could apologize for anything she wanted until she didn’t hate me anymore, and I hadn’t even considered any consequences that might follow because of my actions. Although I was far from the only Hazel in Cleveland, how many shifters from the Greywood pack would be shouting for one while they hid me on their pack lands?
My thoughts were cut off when two witches bounded down the hallway, wide-eyed and with an urgency that had my heartbeat spiking. Recognizing one of them, I snatched his arm when he neared me, almost dislocating my shoulder in the process. The poor guy blinked at me like he didn’t see us blocking his way until that very moment.
“We have to go to the front entrance.” Panting, he tugged on his arm so I would free him.
I tightened my hold.
“What’s going on out there, Dean?” The fact that I knew his name disturbed him more than whatever was attacking us. Go figure.
“Umm … Hazel … you’re here,” he stammered until his moss-green gaze darted to the rest of my group and zeroed-in on Blondie. “River, thank the Goddess. There are three groups of demons gathering to attack. Two are on the side that’s still wide open due to the demolished walls, and we couldn’t set wards to protect it.” His trembling finger pointed in the direction we were going. “One is coming from the other side. They can use your help over there. Josh and I should be enough to hold them back on our end.”
Josh, as I now knew him, bobbed his head and raised a thirteen-inch dark wooden wand like a crooked finger in front of him. A wicked smile curled his lips when all of us took a step back, eyeing the magic conductor like it would bite us. Witches had many ways to aim their magic, mostly by using themselves as a conductor for their power. It took a toll on the body, but it was a matter of ego and pride not to use objects like the wand I stared at warily.
Arrogance aside, a witch would pack more of a punch if they used something like Josh intended to use, and proudly at that. By channeling through the wand, he would be able to last longer in a fight since it’d preserve his energy, especially if he charged it before using it. Which the wood obviously was judging by the prickle I felt on my skin.
The pentagram tattoo on my forefinger thrummed in anticipation.
“Put that away, Stormblood,” River barked, and Josh sheepishly lowered the wand. “Go, and don’t play heroes. If you need help, call someone.”
Hearing his last name, I cocked my head to look at the witch better. I knew Sissily had other family members in the coven, but I’d never personally met them. Josh must be one of the cousins she didn’t like hanging around. One glance at my best friend confirmed my suspicions.
Sissily did not look impressed.
“Will do.” Dean wiggled out of my grasp and tugged poor Josh with him. “May Hecate lend you strength.”
“Let’s go.” Blondie didn’t wait to see them go. “If they left protection of the entrance to those two, things are pretty bad on the other side.”
“Josh is an arrogant dumbass, but he is not bad with magic.” Sissily hiccupped, and I cut her a sharp glance.
