Page 72 of Untraced Magic
His knuckles whitened as he clenched his fist, worry lines settling on his forehead. “I just worry… about you.”
“Well, you shouldn’t. I’ll be fine,” I tried to assure him as I slid the drink over.
“You don’t know that.” He scanned the bar full of schmoozing patrons. “Anyone could be after your magic, Morgan. We can’t let our guard down. Not here, not anywhere.”
***
After my shift, we walked the path home, a chill winding itself around my neck. I gathered my hair closer to my skin to protect me from its harsh breath.
I laced my fingers through Tyler’s. “I’ve never had a guy walk me home before,” I said, playfully swinging our arms between us.
A half grin spread over his face, and he spiraled his free hand in front of him like royalty. “The honor is all mine,” he said with a slight bow.
I looked up at him, a good foot taller than myself. The clouds had parted, and a full moon filtered the sky behind him, leaving his features shadowed. One of the street lanterns flickered down the street ahead of us, and his attention turned to it for a heartbeat, scanning the street ahead.
My spine crawled with caution. “Is someone there?” I asked.
After a long moment, he gave my hand a squeeze. “I don’t think so, but stay close.”
I held his hand tighter, moving into his warmth.
“Never walk home on your own, okay? If you ever need a ride, just call me,” he offered.
I sighed, nodding in agreement. I really needed to get myself a car. Or a bike.
“Thank you, yeah, I get it. It’s insane how fast vampires move; I could never outrun them. I find it hard to comprehend them walking around town, mingling with everyone else. It’s crazy.”
Tyler kept his gaze alert, continuously watching the shadows.
“It is, but that’s life here,” he said, his tone distracted, alert. “Friday’s going to come around before we know it, so let’s at least give you a fighting chance at whatever is headed our way. Reid’s right; self-defense is a good idea.”
We rounded the final corner, and our houses came into view. Relief spread throughout me at the sight of them.
I was sure as shit never walking home alone.
“Our way?” I said, staring up at him with a raised brow.
Tyler nodded. “Yeah, our way. We’re in this together. You don’t have to do this alone.”
I smiled. It was a comfort to know I had Tyler in my corner. He had somehow become a strength I never knew I needed.
We climbed the steps of my creaky front porch, pausing in front of the entrance when Tyler circled his arms around my waist. He pushed a stray hair behind my ears.
“I have something I need to tell you,” he stated, his voice tainted with uncertainty.
I skimmed his forearms with my hands, my head tilting with interest. “And what’s that?”
His lips pressed together as he drew in a breath, releasing it sharply. “There’s this event on Saturday night. As crazy as this might sound… the local wolf pack host the town of Cutters Cove for one night every year at their pack house. It’s for the supernatural only, and… it’s frowned upon if you don’t attend.”
Unease settled in my stomach. That was one supernatural being I had yet to really encounter, save for the guard at the door at the bar. And even then, I didn’t see him in all his wolfy glory.
I raised a brow. “Wolf pack? As in werewolves?”
He paused before answering. “Yes, as in werewolves. They’re a big part of the community. I don’t like the idea of it any more than you do, putting you at risk like this, but the Alpha of the pack likesto know any new supernatural arrivals into town. It’s his way of… ‘keeping in the know’ you could say.”
Holy. Crap.
This was seriously out of my comfort zone. I felt bile rise in my throat at the thought of it, quickly swallowing before it surfaced.
