Bait N' Witch (Brimstone Inc. #3) - Abigail Owen Page 0,41

am I going to show my face? Grey will know something’s horribly wrong. Granted, he wasn’t feeling too hot himself. Performing that memory spell on one creature as powerful as a demigod had to be taxing. On four powerful persons should’ve knocked him on his ass. She should know; she’d just done something similar.

A snuffling sound at her back door had her whirling to see the shadow of a massive figure outside. Now what?

Witch? The low rumbling word came from the creature on the other side. An animal had come to her in a human dwelling?

Slowly and haltingly, she stumbled to the door. Opening it, she gasped to find a massive grizzly bear standing on the tiny patio, shaded by the porch above, close enough to smell his hot breath, feel the warmth of his massive body. It was oddly tempting to snuggle into his thick brown fur, despite the trepidation pumping her sluggish blood through her at a slightly faster rate. Would he feel soft or coarse against her skin?

You need help, the bear said.

How did you know?

We can sense you. You need help.

Did the bear even know what he offered? Rowan bit her lip. She’d never drawn energy from an animal before, but a creature as massive as this, filled with raw natural power… Could he help?

Reaching out a hand, she placed it against his shoulder. Soft. He’s so soft.

Through sheer force of will, she drew the energy from him, from his life force. She had to be careful not to draw so much she left him vulnerable, just enough, thank the fates, to help her. Her body remained exhausted, but at least she was functioning.

Reluctant to break the connection, she slowly drew her hand back. “Thank you.”

Danger comes this way. You should run.

Fear again spiked inside her, the taste of it acrid in her mouth, although that might be the vomit from earlier. “What danger?”

I don’t know. I’ve heard only whispers.

“Who would know?”

The birds who can fly highest.

A falcon or an eagle perhaps. She had to find out after this was over. She couldn’t stay safe if she didn’t know what she had to protect herself from. “Again, I thank you.”

The bear bowed his giant head, then turned and lumbered away, blending into the night, a large shadow climbing the hill and finally disappearing into the trees.

“Rowan?” Grey’s voice again drifted down the stairs.

Thankfully, he hadn’t come down to find out what the holdup was. Quickly, she shut her back door. “Coming!”

Getting up the stairs when her legs resembled limp noodles more than bone and blood took concentrated effort, but she made it. And entered a full kitchen.

“Here she is,” Grey said, as he stepped to her side. “I’d like to introduce you to the woman who keeps my home running like clockwork. This is Rowan McAuliffe.”

As he raised a shaking hand to her back, she gave him a closer look. Wrecked. The man was wrecked. “You need sugar.”

Rather than respond, he tipped his head toward his guests.

Taking the hint, she turned to them, smile fixed. “Lovely to meet you.”

She received smiles in return, though confused ones, and caught Castor’s questioning glance, taking in Rowan’s appearance, and the way Leia dug her elbow into his side.

Which reminded her. Rowan put a self-conscious hand to her hair. “Sorry about the strange look. Normally I’m a redhead, but magic practice went a bit…awry.” She rolled her eyes for effect.

“The pink skin is surprisingly lovely,” Tala said. “But the eyes are a bit…”

“Off-putting?” Rowan grinned. “Sorry about that. Hopefully, it doesn’t ruin your dinner.”

“Not at all,” Leia said, with a pointed look at Castor and Marrok. The wolf shifter smiled kindly, saying nothing, while the demigod sent his wife a frown, earning him a shake of her head.

“I’ll call the girls down,” Grey said.

Rowan still didn’t like the pallor in his face. “I’ll call them.” But first she went to the drawer that held the candy and pulled out two chocolate bars.

One she stuffed in her pocket, the other she shoved in his hands. “Eat it.”

Then she headed upstairs to get the girls, stuffing her face with the other chocolate bar. The girls eagerly abandoned their homework and followed her down the stairs. She walked into the kitchen, where she was happy to note Grey’s returning color.

“By the gods!”

At Castor’s exclamation, every person in the room turned to face him.

“Cas?” Leia asked.

The demigod’s blue eyes blazed with a terrifying light as he rounded on Greyson. “You didn’t tell me your