Page 6 of The Forty-Year-Old Virgin Witch

Mrs. Halfpenny’s white eyebrows went nearly to her hairline, and I internally groaned. This would be all over the village before nightfall.

“Do you know my nephew, Aggie?”

What was I supposed to say to that? Luckily I didn’t have to say anything; Luka jumped right in.

“We met when I delivered something she forgot at the pub.”

Mrs. Halfpenny blinked. “You’re working for Davie now?”

“Well, not exactly.” He stuttered.

I enjoyed watching Luka squirm as his face flushed red. That was proof he had manipulated his way into getting my beer! I shot him a smug look, and he growled. A delicious, foreign sensation made its way from the base of my spine up to my neck, then curled around my ears. I wrenched my gaze from his and picked up the handle of my wagon.

“Thank you for the offer, but I really must be going.”

Mrs. Halfpenny grabbed the handle from my hand and pushed a glass of lemonade in it instead.

“Nonsense! Sit here and recover your breath at least. Luka wouldn’t mind giving you company.”

She took my wagon hostage, rolling it all the way to the front porch step before disappearing inside. I clenched the cold glass in my hand, battling the urge to take a sip. For some reason, doing so felt like giving in.

“So, is your aunt like you?” I hissed, in no mood. Luka smiled easily, ignoring my prickly tone.

“No, actually. I’m on assignment for my pack, and she’s the only relative in England. The rest are scattered throughout Slovakia and Hungary—wherever we can find a pack that suits us, really. The ones like us, at any rate.”

I was intrigued despite myself. I didn’t know much about lykos, or about other supernatural creatures in general. My coven had always been close-minded that way, leaving our matriarchs to deal with any outside supernaturals.

“What is your assignment?” I asked, trying to put as much boredom in my voice as I could. To distract myself, I took a sip of lemonade. I grimaced because it was fantastic. Now I was likely to drink the entire glass.

Luka grinned, as if he read my thoughts. “I already told you my assignment.”

My eyes narrowed. “You’re serious. You’re trying to find a … mate?”

He nodded. “Yup. Had mostly given up when I decided to come here. There aren’t any packs around here like there used to be. Mostly I was just gonna visit my aunt.”

“Again … what does any of this have to do with me?”

It was tempting to look into his eyes again, that dizzying kaleidoscope of greens and blues, but I resisted. As much as I wanted to feel that dizzy rush again, I was also afraid of it.

“My pack sent me out to get a mate—kicked me out, actually. I can’t cross back into their forest until I have one.”

He looked genuinely hurt, and something in my heart softened for him. I knew what it was like to be given an ultimatum by those who were supposed to love you unconditionally.

“Your magick in the pub immediately called to me. So here I am.”

I snorted, highly doubting that. I didn’t call out to anyone, and my magick certainly wasn’t strong enough to bring another supernatural to me.

“So … you get a mate and drag her back to live in your forest?”

Luka shrugged, unconcerned with my skeptical tone.

“If you want. Or we can live here. There aren’t any packs around like I said. It could be fun to start a new one.”

My jaw dropped. “You aren’t living here, because I am not your mate!”

Luka reached forward and snatched my empty glass. Our fingers brushed for only an instant, but there it was again, that slight rush of pleasure … an electric tingle that warmed something inside of me I thought I had tamped down forever. Luka shivered slightly, so I knew he felt it too. I dared a glance up and fell into the heat of his gaze. His palm came up to cup the side of my face, and for some reason, I leaned into his touch. The pad of his thumb brushed my lip.

“Not yet.”

I grabbed my wagon and high-tailed it out of there.

---