Page 45 of Hooked on a Witch
“I never said that.” She’d been confused and scared when a guy a year out of high school with far more life experience turned her world upside down. Who knows what she would’ve said to him, but it wouldn’t have been an outright no. From an experienced perspective, she saw her father’s point of view. Merck could’ve probably written the advanced sex playbook back then. That didn’t give her father the right to make decisions for her.
“It’s in the past.” Merck didn’t release her, no hint of forgiveness in his tone or scowl.
Her father reached in as if to yank her away. “Get away from him. He’s sucked you into his bullshit. You don’t even know what he is.”
She flinched away from her father’s grasp. “I know a hell of a lot more about him than you do, apparently.”
Her father straightened with the glower of a warrior mentally browsing weapons to determine which might best smother the enemy. “He hunts witches like you. And kills them.”
“Only bad witches. He hunts the ones who practice dark magic.”
Her father rolled his eyes. “The guy is slick as shit and a criminal. Don’t believe him.”
She glanced at Merck. A flash passed through his gaze. Hurt? Deception? She’d always relied on her father and the Sentry druids. Their whole existence was built around a life vow to protect her. They’d die for her. Her gut trusted both them and Merck. There’d been too many opportunities for Merck to kill her or harm her. He’d saved her, laughed with her, and kissed her. Nothing hurtful.
Her father was being overprotective around a guy he didn’t like for some reason. It wasn’t rational.
Her father signaled. One druid went left and the other right. Her father and Eli headed down the center. Instinct took over. She stepped in front of Merck. “Everyone back off.”
Her father jumped forward and grabbed her arm, yanking her away from Merck. He tucked her close to him. “Leave,” he ordered Merck. “Or I’ll kill you this time.”
“No.” Power poured from Merck. His aura swirled all kinds of vicious. “The last time you spoke for her, I let you intimidate me because I wasn’t thinking clearly. This time, you’re not her best bet. Shannon and I are caught in the middle of something. I’m not sure what yet. I know all about her being a Pleiades descendant. I probably know a lot more about the Greek gods than any of you. You can’t save her from this by keeping her holed up in a room.”
“I will keep her away from people who might kill her. Like you.”
“Brian…” Merck blew out a long sigh. “Think beyond your need to be the helicopter parent. She’s in deep shit.”
“Exactly. You’re no good to her right now, witch hunter.”
Merck cast his eyes heavenward. “The night before last a warlock’s minion drugged Shannon after she, in her desperation brought on by your confinement, tried to purchase an ancient scrying glass. If the warlock hadn’t killed her, then the scrying glass would’ve. I took care of the evil shit, confiscated the glass, and let her sleep off the drug in my office. When I confronted the master warlock, he was willing to risk death in order to get what everyone thinks she has. These guys don’t risk their lives over something that doesn’t promise supreme power. This tells me your muscle and diminutive powers are nothing against the creatures coming after her. Fighting black-magic users is what I do. Shannon’s a big girl. Let her decide who she trusts to help her.”
Brian scowled. “My daughter does not get involved with criminals.”
“You’ve got to let it go. I was a teenager on Halloween. I could’ve used spray paint or something worse on your car, but I didn’t.”
“You and your gang vandalized my car…a dozen cars. I’m sure it was the tip of the iceberg for what you’ve done over the years.”
“It was me and Chad. No gang.”
She wiggled away from her father and waved her hand. “Enough. I have news.” She forced a bright smile.
“What kind of news?” Her father asked.
“Merck has agreed to help me. As he just said, he knows a lot more about black magic and magical items in general than any of us. Quite a resource.” She feared her father would interpret this as a declaration of independence and shift in loyalty, although she hoped not. She moved next to Merck again, nervous about her father’s impending explosion.
Her father’s face tightened. “That’s not happening.”
Eli’s said, “I don’t even know what he is. This is insane.”
Her father pointed at Merck. “He’s sucked you into his bullshit, maybe hexed you or something. Snap out of it.”
Shannon faced Merck. “Between fighting Ericthonians, almost dying, and breakfast, did you hex me?”
Merck pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t do this kind of fucking drama. It’s been a long morning. Way too long. Shannon and I have somewhere to be.”
Eli pierced her with a glare. “You’re not going anywhere with him. I don’t trust him.”
She snorted out a frustrated breath, rolled out of Merck’s tight grasp on her waist, and advanced on Eli. Wind picked up in the trees, and she detected a power flare around her.
