it’d be the end of me.”
“What?” She blinked at him. “Why?”
“What do you think would happen if Killer knew? Fifteen pounds fighting a hundred fifty isn’t good odds.”
“You can’t shift at all?”
“Not during the day.”
“That’s some hex.” Sophia shook her head. “And at night?”
“After sunset, it’s like the hex is gone. I can shift, man or wolf. But if a challenge comes during the day…I must get this hex off me.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry. Aunt Linda said she’s searching for a reversal and should be back soon.”
“You don’t understand.” He shook his head. “Soon isn’t good enough.”
“Why?”
“The old alpha’s cadre hates me. They’re trying to shove me out.”
“There are more like Killer?” She goggled.
“Yes. Five anti-alphas, each more tricky and treacherous than the other. It’s not a matter of if they find out—it’s when. I need to get rid of this hex yesterday.” He spread his hands in a gesture of appeal. “Please help me contact Linda.”
He had such strong, capable hands. They’d feel marvelous spread over her skin, urging her to ride faster…damn. Lust was eating her brains.
“Noah.” She used his name to signal she knew this was serious. “I hurt for you, but I simply have no idea where Auntie is.” She shook her head. “She’ll be back when she’s ready.”
His jaw clenched visibly, as if she’d hit him. “But—”
“I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do.” And if she stayed one more moment she’d lick that clenching jaw then rip his shirt from his body and lick all his muscles until they rippled under her tongue. “I have to go.”
She grabbed her case…just as a shaft of moonlight sheared through the crystal dream-catcher hanging in the window. A rainbow of colors dotted the walls—and a blue beam speared her in the eye.
A wolf and a Blue…
The prophecy. The Key. Her cousin Daniel. Have you fallen in love…?
No. Get away . Urgency propelled her. She raced past Noah and fled downstairs.
A strong dread drove her out the front door and onto the sidewalk. The empty sidewalk—and emptier street. She stopped, bewildered.
Her car was missing.
Chapter Nine
A stone rattled across the street, as if it had been kicked into the concrete gutter.
Sophia’s head jerked up.
A man sauntered off the curb toward her, hood darkening his face. “Hello, Sophia.”
She knew that voice.
Shock numbed her. Her guts shredded, her brain threw run, run, run, and acid poured into her veins as her heart started pumping overtime, but she stood frozen.
Last time she’d seen him, four years ago, he’d worn a pale gold robe and a snooty attitude. Now he had on jeans, leather shoes and a hoodie, but the snooty attitude was the same. She managed a breath.
“Rodolphe.” She was proud of how normal she sounded. “Don’t suppose you know anything about my missing car?”
“Yes, actually. I’m afraid I have to keep you in this backwater burg a little longer. The fun’s just starting.”
She didn’t like that. Didn’t like that he looked younger than he had four years ago, and flush with power. What was he doing here, and why now? “What do you mean?”
“My dear little witch.” He smirked. “You’ll see.”
My dear little witch. It scraped along her nerves like a wire brush. He’d always called her that. She’d thought it was an endearment. Gullible twit that she was .
He caught her wince. His face split in his white, even smile. She’d thought it attractive once. Now she saw the gloating, the smug.
The door shut behind her. Noah had padded out. Hopefully he hadn’t heard Rodolphe calling her a witch.
But Noah’s strong body at her back eased some of the tension in her spine and gave her the courage to fight back. “Rodolphe—are you an ass, or do you just play one on TV? I could care less about your clumsy threats. Where’s my car?”
Rodolphe’s smile quavered. “Around the corner. I
“What?” She blinked at him. “Why?”
“What do you think would happen if Killer knew? Fifteen pounds fighting a hundred fifty isn’t good odds.”
“You can’t shift at all?”
“Not during the day.”
“That’s some hex.” Sophia shook her head. “And at night?”
“After sunset, it’s like the hex is gone. I can shift, man or wolf. But if a challenge comes during the day…I must get this hex off me.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry. Aunt Linda said she’s searching for a reversal and should be back soon.”
“You don’t understand.” He shook his head. “Soon isn’t good enough.”
“Why?”
“The old alpha’s cadre hates me. They’re trying to shove me out.”
“There are more like Killer?” She goggled.
“Yes. Five anti-alphas, each more tricky and treacherous than the other. It’s not a matter of if they find out—it’s when. I need to get rid of this hex yesterday.” He spread his hands in a gesture of appeal. “Please help me contact Linda.”
He had such strong, capable hands. They’d feel marvelous spread over her skin, urging her to ride faster…damn. Lust was eating her brains.
“Noah.” She used his name to signal she knew this was serious. “I hurt for you, but I simply have no idea where Auntie is.” She shook her head. “She’ll be back when she’s ready.”
His jaw clenched visibly, as if she’d hit him. “But—”
“I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do.” And if she stayed one more moment she’d lick that clenching jaw then rip his shirt from his body and lick all his muscles until they rippled under her tongue. “I have to go.”
She grabbed her case…just as a shaft of moonlight sheared through the crystal dream-catcher hanging in the window. A rainbow of colors dotted the walls—and a blue beam speared her in the eye.
A wolf and a Blue…
The prophecy. The Key. Her cousin Daniel. Have you fallen in love…?
No. Get away . Urgency propelled her. She raced past Noah and fled downstairs.
A strong dread drove her out the front door and onto the sidewalk. The empty sidewalk—and emptier street. She stopped, bewildered.
Her car was missing.
Chapter Nine
A stone rattled across the street, as if it had been kicked into the concrete gutter.
Sophia’s head jerked up.
A man sauntered off the curb toward her, hood darkening his face. “Hello, Sophia.”
She knew that voice.
Shock numbed her. Her guts shredded, her brain threw run, run, run, and acid poured into her veins as her heart started pumping overtime, but she stood frozen.
Last time she’d seen him, four years ago, he’d worn a pale gold robe and a snooty attitude. Now he had on jeans, leather shoes and a hoodie, but the snooty attitude was the same. She managed a breath.
“Rodolphe.” She was proud of how normal she sounded. “Don’t suppose you know anything about my missing car?”
“Yes, actually. I’m afraid I have to keep you in this backwater burg a little longer. The fun’s just starting.”
She didn’t like that. Didn’t like that he looked younger than he had four years ago, and flush with power. What was he doing here, and why now? “What do you mean?”
“My dear little witch.” He smirked. “You’ll see.”
My dear little witch. It scraped along her nerves like a wire brush. He’d always called her that. She’d thought it was an endearment. Gullible twit that she was .
He caught her wince. His face split in his white, even smile. She’d thought it attractive once. Now she saw the gloating, the smug.
The door shut behind her. Noah had padded out. Hopefully he hadn’t heard Rodolphe calling her a witch.
But Noah’s strong body at her back eased some of the tension in her spine and gave her the courage to fight back. “Rodolphe—are you an ass, or do you just play one on TV? I could care less about your clumsy threats. Where’s my car?”
Rodolphe’s smile quavered. “Around the corner. I
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