Wicked Soul (Ancient Blood #1)(47)
“Can you do it? Get your vampire to meet with us?”
I sighed and gnawed on my lip as I considered. On one hand, Warin had been very clear on his dislike of witches. But on the other… if Raven’s coven could help us both with the skinwalker situation, maybe they’d also provide a lead as to the whole dead blood-situation.The vampires and witches could avoid a war, and I’d get to live. Win-win.
So long as I was okay with having a curse placed on me.
“Okay. I’ll do it. And then I’ll talk to Warin.” I side-eyed Roy’s large frame. He was keeping an eye on the two customers browsing the shop, as well as the exit. “But, er, I’m not sure the big guy’s gonna be too happy about it. When exactly are we doing this curse? I don’t get much babysitter-free time at the moment.”
Raven shot the burly giant a glance. “It shouldn’t take long. Just play along, okay? I’ll keep him occupied.”
She stretched to look past the woman browsing our crystal selection, catching the eye of the redhead flipping through a thick book on herbs. “Joana will do the spell.”
“Joana?” I whispered as the redheaded customer began to make her way toward us, book in hand.
“My High Priestess,” Raven explained, nodding toward the woman. “She’s the only one in the coven strong enough for something like that. She came in in case you agreed—the sooner we get this done, the better.”
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense,” I said, trying to ignore the cold shiver from the base of my spine. I’d kind of hoped to have a little while to come to terms with the fact that I was gonna get a freakin’ curse placed on me.
“It’s gonna be okay, Liv.” Raven gave my arm a small squeeze. “Joana wants to help you, I promise.”
“Hi, can I get some help with this book?” The redheaded woman stopped in front of the till and held out the book on herbs.
“Sure! What do you want to discuss?” Raven put on an exaggerated smile as she looked at the woman. It might have been because I was feeling on edge myself, but it was hard not to cringe at the sudden change to bubbly service agent in the black-haired girl by my side. Roy was staring at us, and I wondered if Raven’s poor acting skills were bad enough to have him alerted.
“Oh, it’s a matter best discussed privately,” the redhead said. “Would that be possible?”
“Yes, ma’am, Liv here will be happy to take you to one of the back rooms. Isn’t that right, Liv?” Raven turned to me, fake smile still plastered on her face.
“Oh, uh, yes, of course. Come with me…” I glanced at Roy again. He was frowning. When I motioned for the redhead to come with me, he moved from the door toward us in long strides.
“Uh… just go on ahead without me, I’ll be just a second. It’s the first door on the right behind the curtain,” I said to my customer as Roy appeared by my side, his bulk cutting off most of my view of the store.
“You ain’t going anywhere I can’t see you,” he said, voice gruff as he stared after the redhead.
“Don’t be absurd, it’s not like you came along every time I needed a pee yesterday,” I said. “And this is a girly matter, if you catch my drift. I can’t have you hulking over me while I have a period talk with a customer.”
Roy’s frown deepened. “I can’t have you alone with a stranger. Mr. Waldlitch would have my hide.”
“Oh, she’s not a stranger—she comes in several times a week. She’s perfectly harmless,” I assured him, patting his arm with what I hoped was a gentle smile. “I wouldn’t do anything to get either of us in trouble with Warin.”
The giant looked more than reluctant as he shot another look at the beaded curtain the redhead had just disappeared through, but when he glanced down at me again he sighed in defeat. “Fine. You’ve got ten minutes before I come looking for you, got it? And if you need me, scream.”
“I can do that,” I assured him. “Thanks, Roy.”
In my defense, I did feel pretty shitty about lying to the guy I’d only just been all warm and fuzzy about showing concern for my well-being, but I silently promised myself I’d make sure Warin took any and all anger out on me, not my bodyguard.
* * *
“Olivia? I’m Joana.” The redheaded woman had been waiting for me in the small staff break room, perched on the table. She got up and stretched a hand out in greeting, her long skirt flowing gracefully with the movement.
“Just Liv,” I said, awkwardly shaking her hand. It felt weird, but what did I know about proper etiquette when meeting a witch to have a curse placed on you?
“Liv, then.” She offered me a smile, and I was surprised by how friendly she looked. Again, the whole witch-and-curse thing was hard to reconcile with the sweet-looking middle-aged woman in front of me. She looked like your typical Earth hippie, with long, hennaed hair, a flowy maxi-skirt, and sun-lines on her thin face.
“You’re brave for accepting our terms. And Raven tells me you’re new to the supernatural world?”
I bobbed my head in agreement. “Always known about the vampires, of course, but witches and werewolves? That was a surprise.” Understatement of the year.
“We don’t call them werewolves, my dear. They’re skinwalkers. Foul creatures,” she said, and I was kinda pleased by the grimace she pulled. At least I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t think about them without discomfort.