Not Your Ex's Hexes (Supernatural Singles, #2)(96)

Damian nodded, and in another blink, they were off, Olive and Julius following closely behind. Rose got behind Damian on his bike—ball gown be damned—and Julius called for his car from the valet. In less than a few minutes, they were all speeding back to Mari’s, ignoring things called traffic laws.

While Rose worried about Jasper and what they’d find when they arrived at the sanctuary, she also couldn’t take her mind off what had happened back at Guastavino’s.

The ex.

The ex who’d hexed Damian.

The very reason why Damian had spent the last eighteen years believing happily ever afters couldn’t be in his future.

If not for Jasper, she’d be back at that gala giving that witch a personal lesson about magical responsibility and how it was never in anyone’s best interest to hex someone in matters of the heart. And to think she’d almost agreed to become a partner at Sparks of Hope.

It wasn’t as if she had any other offers on the table, and a she-demon talon to the torso was pretty damning evidence that maybe Hunting wasn’t for her despite the fun she’d had and the asses she’d kicked.

Rose stewed on the back of Damian’s motorcycle, furious over Damian’s and her stolen futures, until they arrived at the sanctuary. The second she stepped into the barn, all her focus shifted to the frightened horse kicking the crap out of his stall.

Relief washed over Miguel’s face as they rushed into the barn. “Thank God. I just pulled out the tranq gun … just in case.”

“How is he?” Damian worriedly scanned the horse from a distance.

“No better. No worse.”

Rose eased closer to the stall. “Hey, boy … what’s going on, huh?”

Damian snatched her arm before she reached the latch. “Let’s make sure he’s responding to you before you get too close.”

Jasper huffed, blowing out a heavy breath that moved Rose’s hair off her face. It almost looked as if he rolled his eyes, and Rose giggled.

“He’s fine.” She held out a sugar cube—his favorite. He nervously pranced closer, and after lapping it up, sniffed and continued to lick her fingers before pushing his nose into her palm for rubs. “You’re trying to tell us something. Aren’t you, boy?”

“Yeah. That he’d like to kick us in the head,” Damian muttered.

Jasper huffed again.

“Stay back. All of you.” Rose shot everyone a warning look as she reached for the latch. “He’ll stay calm as long as he doesn’t feel cornered by a crowd.”

All eyes were on her as she carefully stepped into the stall. Damian shifted so he stood right on the other side, free to leap over at a moment’s notice. She shot him a warning look as he took the tranq gun from Miguel’s hand.

“You won’t be needing that,” she told him.

“And I’m keeping it handy in case we do.” He stared her down, silently daring her to disagree.

It was Rose’s turn to roll her eyes.

Jasper fidgeted, flinching when she laid a gentle hand on his neck. “It’s okay, boy … we’re going to help you.”

He shifted on his feet as she coasted her palms over his rust-colored coat, slowly relaxing as she called on her Magic a small portion at a time so she didn’t startle him. Jasper’s anxiety—and pain—landed on her chest like an anvil.

“He’s hurt…” Rose mumbled quietly.

Damian stepped closer to the gate. “Can you pin down where?”

Up his torso and around his flank, she performed her own magical MRI … and then she ran her fingers down his back left leg …

He whinnied loudly, pawing at the hay-covered floor.

“It’s in his back hoof,” she announced.

Damian cursed. “An infection. That makes sense. If something had been wrong with the muscles or tendons, he’d show swelling and other signs of discomfort. With a hoof, there’s not much to see. Do you think you can keep him calm long enough for me to check it out and treat it?”

“Sure.” She rubbed the horse’s nose before dropping a kiss onto his white diamond. “You’ll be a good boy, won’t you? You want someone to help you. You just don’t know how to ask.”

She snuck Damian a pointed look.

Those exact words could be used on someone other than Jasper, and Damian realized it, too, because with a grunt he said, “Let me grab some supplies,” and disappeared into the treatment room.



* * *



With Jasper’s standoffish personality, neither Damian nor Miguel would’ve found the damn foot abscess until it had spread into his leg, and maybe even his joints. Now with it drained and cleaned, and wrapped up as best as could be managed, Jasper acted like a whole new horse, even playfully swinging his head around to nip the back of Damian’s shirt as he secured the last inch of gauze.

He wished he could enjoy the happy mood shift, but the more he tried, the more his mood plummeted. He disappeared into his office to try and get his head on straight after seeing Callie for the first time in years, but instead, the second witch occupying his mind sat on the edge of his desk.

As if remembering the last time they’d been in this same position, Damian’s cock twitched in his pants. But neither his cock—nor his growing feelings for Rose—would distract him this time.