Page 17 of The Monster's Desire

I never should have helped Nan reinforce the ward in Haven. Not all witches have magic that can create or restore runes and wards. Come to think of it, I should probably be less helpful in general. It would save me a lot of work in the long run.

I follow the instructions Octavia gives over the phone, and we finally disconnect. Since there isn’t a hotel inside the ward, Octavia made arrangements with the North Falls town council to ensure I’ll have a place to stay while I’m working.

I’m not supposed to meet with them until tomorrow, but I purposely arrived a day early. Getting the lay of the land is important when you have no clue what you’re walking into.

The only hotel within a reasonable distance of the early morning meeting leaves a lot to be desired. Then again, beggars can’t be choosers and all that. There are three items left in the vending machine when I check.

This place clearly doesn’t have room service.

I sigh, heading back to my suite to grab my purse and keys.

I drive for what seems like forever in my quest to find sustenance. It’s proof my life is on a steady decline when the only place I find before running out of gas...is a gas station that boasts a full deli.

The phrase jack-of-all-trades, king of none, comes to mind, but the sparsely populated area doesn’t lend itself to being picky.

Yeah, I’m seeing a pattern here.

I warily eye the building before deciding that packaged snacks will have to do. It’s better than nothing, and my stomach is starting to eat itself.

I climb out, clicking the lock on the door, and pump myself up to head in.

I’m meandering toward the building when a giant of a man in only a pair of low-slung dark jeans comes around the corner as I’m approaching the door.

He’s a beast of muscles and tall as hell. His blond hair is long and shaggy. It’s wild around his shoulders as he pauses mid-step.

Yeah, he’s barefoot.

That’s not weird or anything, since he walked out of the freaking woods...

How would a human handle this situation?

A human woman would likely gawk and make sexy eyes at the incredibly handsome mountain of a man. He has broad shoulders with a trim waist. Damn, those jeans hug his ass and thighs like they were made for his climb-worthy frame.

His nostrils flare as he breathes in my scent.

I take a step back at the look on his face.Come on. There’s nothing to see here. Just a not-quite-fertility witch trying to get sugary snacks to keep herself from starving.

A woman and her child approach from their parked vehicle, and the beastly man opens the door for them.

He follows them inside and...

Lets the door close violentlyrightin my freaking face.

Awesome.

At least it’s better to recognize he got looks rather than personality. Knowing that upfront is helpful.

It’s never a good thing to get your hopes up, only to have them demolished later. Not that I should be getting my hopes up in general. This is a quick job, and then I’ll be heading back to Haven.

The deli actually does smell delicious as I finally make it inside. I follow the scent of freshly baked bread back to the counter.

A smiling older woman greets me when I stop to study the sign.

I disregard the big guy, who is chugging a bottle of water, and instead peruse the options on the board. The plastic of his bottle crinkles as he devours every single drop of liquid. It’s kind of obnoxious, but I’m hungry enough that I ignore him in favor of sustenance.

Placing my order goes smoothly enough.

I wander up and down the aisles, grabbing armfuls of candy, chips, snack cakes, and anything else that looks good. I shove a few bottled drinks in between my elbow and my side and take my ridiculous amount of saturated fat to the counter with exactly zero shame.

---