Page 1 of Witch of My Heart

Chapter One

Blithe

I double-checked that my emergency credit card was still in the bottom pocket of my duffle bag and took a deep breath. There weren’t many places out west where cash and card were still king, but I’d grab a cash advance before I left town and keep the card with me just in case.

As for the black leather duffle bag, it held more than its fair share of emergency items. Some cash, an extra pocket knife and athame, a few magic potions and herbal blends just in case. Some protein bars that were high in iron and a few vampyric vitamins that would tide me over in a pinch. I didn’t need blood every day like some vampires who didn’t shift. I enjoyed it every day and my mileage varied according to the sorts of magic I needed to whip out.

My apartment was nearly empty of personal effects except for some clothes that my parents would undoubtedly bag up and take to their place once they figured out that I skipped town for good. Well, mostly for good. I wasn’t sure where my research would take me once things revved up.

“One more time,”my wolf whispered into my thoughts.

The furry asshole was right. One more check for magical paraphernalia wasn’t the worst idea in the world. Morning came early and if I ran late my carrier would be more than a little suspicious. I was playing his errand boy after all. How could I pass up the chance to head out west without setting off anyone’s suspicions.

“Blithe?” Duke’s voice whispered through my front door, raking down my spine.

At least I thought I hadn’t set off anyone’s suspicions. I twisted, fangs starting to bare, before I caught myself. He wasn’t an intruder or a spy.

“Cousin, it’s midnight. I leave at six tomorrow. What are you doing here?” I opened the door and looked up at the overgrown flying wolfman.

Duke was part draconic and in some ways very draconic. His shifting form had grown and changed over the years. Sometimes I swore it still changed. Depending on his mood he might appear more wolfish, draconic, or some mind-busting blend of the two.

“That’s exactly why I’m here,” he said, shouldering past me to glance around my living room.

“I’m not having an orgy,” I rolled my eyes.

“That would be a pleasant surprise,” Duke rolled his eyes and shut the door behind him. “And less suspicious than the nearly empty apartment.”

“Don’t do that. You look like Fred when you do that,” I sighed.

“Well, he is my sire,” Duke shook his head and crossed his arms over his bare chest.

It was a crisp midspring night, but he ran around half-naked more often than not covered in smidges of paint, grease, or the old wolves only knew what.

“Did you come by for a beer?” I asked. “Those I still have in the fridge.”

He narrowed his eyes on me. Any of my siblings or cousins would’ve smelled the lie on me. The scent of my need to sprint into the great unknown clung to my hair and skin. It tickled the back of my neck whenever an idea struck me mid-conversation.

“Uncle Lee wouldn’t have asked you to drive out with Del and Rex if he knew what you were really up to,” Duke said, crossing the room to plop down on the black leather sofa that came with the apartment.

“Good thing you’re not a snitch, huh?” It was my turn to narrow my eyes on him.

His sheer size whispered of his draconic father, but he had my Uncle Blake’s kind eyes. They weren’t too kind now that they were narrowed on me, but of all my cousins or siblings who could’ve figured out my secret and came here tonight, he was the best of them.

“Little cousin,” he tutted his tongue.

“It’s none of their business anyway. It’s not like I’m asking them to get involved,” I leaned back against the wall to stay near my duffle bag. “And last time I checked I was paying my own bills for quite some years.”

“Can’t say I like what I think you’re running off to do either,” he said.

“You don’t have to like it. You just have to keep your big mouth shut.”

“What are they going to say when you don’t come back?” Duke asked. “What am I supposed to tell them?”

“Well, I am coming back. Later than they expect, but I do have plans to return.”

“You’re going to break your carrier’s heart,” he said.

“Only if I die and I have no plans of dying, cousin.”

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