Page 8 of Hooked on a Witch
She didn’t move. Her gut trusted him. Why it did made no sense. One too many red flags had gone up since she’d woken up.
“What can I say to convince you I’m not the bad guy here? That Asian fellow had been hired to kidnap you. I want to know why you were meeting someone like that at the bar.”
She should call Eli to pick her up. “I can get another ride.”
“Jesus, Shannon. I don’t know what’ve you gotten yourself into.” He let go of her and stepped away. “Fine. Call for a ride. But I’m not leaving you alone until your ride arrives.”
“I just woke up after being poisoned by a guy who deals in mystical items to find myself in a building filled with similar things. Then there’syouwith whatever kind of magical skills you’ve got. I need to know what you’re up to.”
“You’re the one with thespecial skills.You arrived in the area and now weird stuff’s started happening...”
She crossed her arms. “You’ve got skills too.”
His eyes narrowed. “No, I don’t.”
“Oh, please. Let’s have honesty between us on this. I’ve known about you since the first time we met. Something spooked my parents enough to pull me out junior year and move north. I think it was you and your skills.”
“You’re reading into their decision to move. I think it was you who was spooked after we made out that night.”
She stared at him, getting conflicting aura readings off him. Hallelujah. Her reading skills were back.
“A little kiss isn’t enough to scare me. If I remember correctly, it was you who rushed me off your property and then stayed scarce ever since. Seems to me it was you who ran scared.” She pointed at him. “Your aura screams all kinds of complex magical mojo. It always has.”
“Okay.”
She couldn’t tell if he said it sarcastically or out of agreement. “Okay? You admit to having some sort of magical ability.”
“Why’re you down here, Shannon? Do you have something to do with these murders?”
“Do you really think I’m capable of killing someone?”
“Yes.”
She tried to keep her face blank when his aura swirled viciously with part anger, part determination, and part arousal. “All right. I admit Icouldkill someoneif I really wanted to. I don’t have any desire to attack at random, but you are pushing me...”
Both his eyebrows shot up in challenge.
“What kind of people do you hunt,Merck?”
He dangled a round, black glass attached to a golden chain from his index finger. Its foul energy made her back up a step. “I hunt people who use black magic. Like witches with scrying glasses.”
