Page 11 of The Forty-Year-Old Virgin Witch

Five

AGGIE

Luka didn’t try following me home from Mrs. Halfpenny’s, which I was grateful for. The irony of having a werewolf trailing after me like a lost puppy wasn’t lost on me, but it was concerning.

The entire reason I even chose this dumpy little village was because there hadn’t been any supernaturals living here. Or so I’d thought.

I slammed my front door a little harder than necessary, turning the lock and reinforcing the wards. Since my hand had fully healed, I'd pushed more power than was probably healthy into the protections around my property. Yet it couldn’t be helped.

When I’d first moved here, I’d taken myself out for a week setting them up, but it was crucial my coven didn’t find me. If they did, they’d force me through the inheritance ritual, and then—

I took a deep breath and pushed those thoughts away. They weren’t helpful or relevant. My coven did not know where I was, and as long as I got rid of the vampyre and the lykos—werewolf—it would stay that way.

Suddenly exhausted, I slumped to the floor. Damon jumped down from a chair, meowing in reprimand.

“Yeah, I know. What else was I supposed to do, stay for tea?”

He presented me with his backside, and I blew a strand of hair out of my eyes. It was always the same argument: Damon thought I should stand up to the coven and claim my full powers. Then I wouldn’t have to nearly drain myself for something as basic as a ward against other supernaturals.

Damn vampyre. Damn wolf. And what did they want from me anyway? Luka was blunt about his intentions, but that didn’t mean I believed him. Who wanted a 40-year-old witch who lived like a hermit? And I certainly wasn’t friend material for a who-knows-how-old vampyre. The entire situation was beyond bizarre.

No, I had to get to the bottom of why there were suddenly not just one, but two supernatural beings lurking around my cottage. Two could lead to more, and more could lead to my coven sniffing out my whereabouts. I had to get rid of both men.

Even if both of them are incredibly hot.

I shook my head. There’s your problem!You’re so sexually repressed you’d grin at a wet sock!

An amused snort escaped me, even as Damon glared disapprovingly. It wasn’t my fault Luka had been so gentle when he held my hand, or that his rough skin felt good against mine….

I turned the wolf plushie that Luka had given me over in my hands. My fear lessened as I looked at it, and once again I wondered if perhaps I was being a bit dramatic about everything. Its green marble eyes stared back at me, and with a sigh I sat it on the top shelf above my sink.

“You like presents then?”

I counted it as progress that I only flinched mildly. I took a deep breath, trying to pull my last reserves of energy around me into a confident air.

“Who doesn’t like presents?” I challenged. Karl’s brow furrowed in thought, and I rolled my eyes. He was crouched at my kitchen window, looking at least a little bashful.

“What about presents of food?”

I had barely managed to keep from glancing at my near-empty refrigerator, but Karl was there in a flash, casually climbing down from the window to peruse the contents. He sniffed in disapproval.

“You’re a worse busybody than Damon,” I remarked.

One manicured eyebrow shot up, and he shared a look with my familiar. Since when were they best buds?

“Probably when we agreed your safety is our greatest concern.”

I took a step away from him, unnerved. “So, you’re an Elder then? My mother—that is, I heard only the oldest and strongest vampyres read minds.”

Karl huffed and closed my fridge. “Hardly. You wear your emotions on your sleeve, and when you don’t, Damon is happy to oblige me.” His imperious gaze flitted about my apartment, and I felt my ire rise in response. Who was he to judge how I lived?

“Wait. Damon is sharing thoughts with you?”

That wasn’t supposed to happen.

“It’s good I’m here. Let’s go get some lunch.”

Karl bustled around my tiny cottage like we’d been roommates our whole lives, gathering up my satchel and nosily peering inside. Damon hopped onto his shoulder and settled in the bag. Apparently even my cat was hungry. My stomach chose that moment to rumble loudly, and both my familiar and Karl shot me a knowing, satisfied look. I crossed my arms over my chest.

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