Page 67 of Enspelled

It’s quiet on Main Street, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t people around with excellent hearing, so I wait until we’re inside my car before turning to him. “That a witch didn’t kill Keane Destin’s pack.”

Bodie studies me in silence for a beat. He’s still wearing his amiable expression, but I know better than to assume that’s all there is to him now. I’ve seen how fast he can move—and kill—and his questions are never stupid.

“From what you told me about witches and wolves, there’s been bad blood between you for decades. Hundreds of years, even, so…” His voice trails off. “What is it?

I turn away from him and gaze out across the street. “It’s existed ever since we discovered this pretty East Coast town and decided to make a home for ourselves here.”

“Who? The witches?”

“And the wolves.”

“At the same time?”

I shoot him a quick smile because, despite my determination to stay distant and professional, Bodie isn’t making it easy. “There weren’t many places that had a lack of opportunities for locals that would make them want to stay, were off the beaten track, and fulfilled all the needs a witch would ever have the way Madden Grove did.”

His gaze settles on the lush forest in the distance. “And I’m guessing the wolves thought so too.”

I nod. “It was the perfect place for the both of us. Only…”

“Neither wanted to share.”

“No,” I agree. “At first, each side did everything they could to drive the other away.”

I feel him turn to me. “Even killing each other?”

“Not at first, but when spells didn’t drive the wolves away and the wolves' intimidation didn’t scare the witches away, then yes. Death followed.”

“A lot?”

“Enough that things were heading toward the destruction of the town if the two sides didn’t find a way to co-exist, since neither were prepared to walk away.”

Bodie is silent, but I feel him thinking and I wait for his response. I could just tell him about the history passed down to every witch and wolf when they’re old enough to understand the world, but I’m discovering that I like to see what this wolf sees with his own eyes.

“No witch and wolf businesses neighbor each other. Or they’re on opposite sides of the road.”

It shouldn’t surprise me Bodie has noticed. That, or he’s using his nose to tell which businesses belong to a witch or a wolf. I nod. “Yes. It’s why the Madden Grove Wood was split in two. A wolf half and a witch half.”

“They cut the town into two?” Bodie glances over at me, his tone incredulous.

I turn to meet his eyes. “Pretty much.”

He cocks his head in thought. “But a decision like that can only ever be a temporary situation. Eventually, one side will want more power or want the other to have less. What makes you think that this isn’t a witch who has had enough and is looking to get rid of wolves—allwolves—once and for all?”

“Because of the stink bombs.”

He blinks at me. “The what?”

“I was looking—”

The hair on the back of my neck stands up, and I halt.

Someone is watching me.

Turning from Bodie, my gaze sweeps the mostly empty streets. And there, standing in front of the destroyed building which was once a beautiful pink and green florist, is Georgia Calla, arms folded across a cream knee-length wrap dress, her hair in a sleek chignon, and her eyes focused on me.

A spark of fire ignites in the very center of her pupils, and I gulp. “We should go.”

“Who’s that?” Bodie asks as I start up the car.

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