Witches for Hire (Odd Jobs #1)(21)
Clive squeezed her shoulder. “Remember the signal if you need our help.”
Edarra nodded. “There’s no magic shielding, so I’ll hear the slightest whisper of trouble.”
As Simone and Rudy walked down the stone path, the guards stepped out of their way without saying a word. The only one who even looked at them was the werewolf holding the door open. He kept his gun held in both hands while his back rested against the doorframe. Past the doorway, a sectional couch spanned half a spacious living room where two wall shelves held books and jars with tiny holes etched on their lids. Something had to be inside them, but Simone didn’t know if it was polite to ask or if she even wanted to. The elders sat apart from each other, so a wide space was left open for Simone and Rudy. Simone moved to sit next to Dennis, the elder she had glimpsed once or twice since joining the pack. He wore a reindeer Christmas sweater that was way too early a reminder of the seasonal hell that would be upon them soon and grinned down at her like a burly uncle.
The second elder, Bethany, pointed at the coffee table. “We have pigs in blankets and cream puffs.” The food rested on a platter with a tea pitcher and a small bowl of lemon slices. “Help yourself.” In a long black pencil skirt and white blouse, she was a more formal hostess dedicated to Southern hospitality.
Plying us with food is a good start, Simone thought as Rudy went after the cream puffs like popcorn. His nonchalant piggery filled Simone with envy. As nervous as she was, she would burp, choke, or accidentally squish the pastry on her leather jacket. “I have reason to believe that Phaedran cheated during his fight, and an energy vamp named Gulley helped him do it. I have also come into information that this same energy vamp is working for another of his kind named Perry Stiles to target Desmond. I don’t know if Phaedran is involved in the latter, but it is cause for concern.”
Dennis stroked his thumb over his bottom lip. “We’ve heard rumors that the fight was suspect. Can you prove it?”
“We can prove the connection between them, but we have no evidence concerning the fight yet.” Digging inside her pocket, Simone withdrew a piece of paper with a photo copied on it from a Facebook group’s archive. The men smiling wide as they propped their rifles next to their knees were a more mixed group than Simone usually saw from end-of-the-world evangelists. Their posts detailing the world’s doom in ten years was based on no credible sources and made her cringe every time she clicked on one of their conspiracies. She tapped Gulley and Phaedran’s faces in the picture. “If you put them in a room together, I or any other witch can prove there was a power exchange between them.”
Dennis held up his hand. “We don’t think adding more magic is a good idea.”
“What do you mean?” Rudy’s fingers crawled like spiders down his leg to scratch as lightly as he could without drawing attention to himself.
“We think a better solution is a rematch,” Bethany said.
“What if Phaedran cheats a second time?” Simone asked.
“Before a rematch, Phaedran and Ethan will be put in isolation for forty-eight hours under our supervision. Earlier today, there was a series of accidents at our construction sites, and there’s evidence of witches behind it. We can’t let this brew into a war between us and Desmond’s followers, so we will forbid Phaedran from having any more contact with Gulley. That will end our pack’s relationship with him and with Perry.”
Propping his hands under his butt, Rudy hoisted himself straighter. “I humbly request the elders witness the second match.”
Bethany’s eyebrow rose, and she exchanged amused looks with the other ancient wolf. “Careful what you ask for. We might decide while watching that being observers no longer suits us.”
“Is that so terrible?”
Dennis kneaded the flakey bread wrapped around the sausage appetizer. “The wolves of your grandparents’ generation thought so, vehemently. Our rule seems to have been romanticized over the years.”
Bethany nodded in agreement. “Sometimes our strong hand was a tad… excessive.”
Simone entwined her fingers with her husband’s. “We understand the risks but still desire your presence.” Rudy’s fingers tightened around hers, signaling that he knew to be quiet and accept what the elders’ answer would be. “What if it won’t stay just a werewolf problem? What will you do if there’s a larger plot in play, and Desmond decides he’s not going to wait for trouble to come to him?” Something bumped the pointed toe of her boot. Simone looked down in time to see a golden brown ball roll under the couch. She followed the path the cream puff came from to an abashed Dennis.
“Sorry ’bout that.” Dennis walked to the edge of the sectional. He dipped two fingers underneath it and pulled up. Simone and Rudy slid against Bethany, who didn’t budge.
When they weren’t touching, Bethany felt as innocuous as a human, but skin to skin engulfed Simone in energy so thick it nearly smothered her. Rudy squeezing her hand brought her back to her senses, while the elders were oblivious. Supernatural folks in general leaked a little bit of magic and energy when they were annoyed, so if this was just a little of Bethany’s power…. Fucking A.
Dennis retrieved the errant dessert and opened his mouth but shut it quickly after seeing Bethany’s disapproving scowl. Sighing, he deposited the treat in the trash. “You wouldn’t have said nothing if we didn’t have guests.”