Page 12 of Zoe

Duncan smirked. “Was I too close to your mate?”

“What?” Zoe spat out. Then she groaned and let her head drop to the countertop. “If people don’t stop saying that, I’m going to zap somebody,” she moaned.

“Truth hurts,” Duncan said.

Zoe lifted her head and eyed the vampire with a death glare, but the smirk on Duncan’s face was nothing compared to the ashen, shocked look of the shifter. It took Zoe a moment or two to put the pieces together, but when Billy looked at her, she called the bingo card, as everything seemed to fall into place.

“No fricking way,” she said so quietly that only the vampire and beta heard her.

“Congratulations,” Duncan said, full of glee. “It’s a mate!”

CHAPTER SIX

~

Zoe’s mouth was pinched, and her eyes were narrowed as she stared at the beta. Billy stared back.

Maria elbowed her in the back as she leaned in. “Is he serious?” she asked. When Zoe said nothing, she reached out and grabbed the vampire’s arm, yanking him closer. “Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack for a human,” Duncan said with the kind of cocky grin that drew both witches in, but only one witch zapped him – Zoe. “Why does the messenger always get it?” he bit out.

Zoe lowered her chin and eyed him with contempt. “You had better be lying, or you will be dying,” she hissed. “And I do mean that.”

“Hello,” Duncan said, pointing to himself. “The messenger,” he said. “If you’re slightly miffed, take it out on him,” he added, hooking his thumb over his shoulder at the beta.

Zoe snapped her gaze back to Billy, and the man glared back. She turned her death glare back on the vampire. “He’s not saying a bloody word right now,” she hissed with annoyance.

“Me either,” Duncan said, miming zipping his lips and tossing the imaginary key over his shoulder. Then he shrugged and offered her a mock look of sympathy.

“What’s going on?” Heather demanded, and her sudden appearance on the other side of the counter made Zoe jump.

“Zoe’s a mate!” Maria said with a gleeful chuckle.

“Stop that!” Zoe hissed.

“You’re what now?” Heather said and snapped a look at Billy, who looked like he’d seen a ghost and swallowed a ten-day-old kipper – sort of ashen white and green at the same time. “Oh,” she said, raising her eyebrows at the man. “I was just pulling your leg; it seems fate had other ideas.” She couldn’t hide the smirk and didn’t want to.

Then she leaned in and rested her forearms on the counter as she lowered her voice. “Who’s going to tell Eileen?” she whispered.

Billy swallowed hard. He didn’t turn his head, but he snapped a look at Zoe.

“Don’t look at me!” Zoe said, surprised. Then she scowled. “Literally, do not look at me,” she said, flicking a hand at him to shoo him into looking away.

“This is not good,” Billy groaned.

“He speaks,” Duncan said, slapping the beta on the back. “Welcome back, buddy.”

“I can’t…” Billy said, shaking his head. Then he turned on his heels and stalked back the way he’d come.

Eileen walked over to the group, frowning. “What’s wrong with Billy?” she asked, eyeing the group as everyone looked anywhere but at her. “Duncan?”

Duncan shook his head. “Nope,” he said, holding up his hands. “As the messenger, I’ve already been zapped tonight; I’m not going the claws and fangs route – I’m out.” He backed away from the bar, turned on his heels and followed the path of the beta.

Eileen took a long, slow breath and eyed the witches. “Now, who did what to who and why?” she asked.

Heather snorted a chuckle, but Zoe stared a death glare at her, and she pressed her lips together. “I couldn’t say,” she said, holding up her hands.

Maria pressed her forearms against the bar top, pushed up and leaned in. “Zoe is Billy’s mate,” she whispered, then snickered.

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