A Ghoulish Midlife (Witching After Forty #1) - Lia Davis Page 0,40

Alfred with Snooze hot on his heels.

Alfred saw our visitor and froze in place, his eyes bouncing from me to Owen.

Owen’s gasp reminded me that he didn’t know about Alfred. Whoops. “You have a ghoul?” he whispered. “I mean of course you would, you’re a necromancer. But I’ve never seen one like this.”

Like what? I so desperately wanted to know about ghouls and if Alfred was average for a ghoul or not. Owen’s statement told me that Alfred was not average. He was more, maybe. “I’m just surprising you left and right today, aren’t I?” I chuckled, then turned to Alfred. “All right, Alfie?”

The ghoul stopped short and if a creature with limited facial movement could look shocked, Alfred looked shocked. He grunted.

Shrugging, I smiled at him. “I can’t have a nickname for you? You’re growing on me.”

He gave a stiff shrug as Snooze jumped up on the back of the chair and jumped for Alfred, reaching for his string with his front claws. Alfred stepped to the side and Snooze landed hard on the ground.

“Ghouls are only that animated when they’re resurrected by an incredibly powerful necromancer. Where did you get this one?”

“He was William’s.”

Owen swung his gaze to me in shock. “I knew William. He wasn’t powerful enough to do this.”

I shrugged. “That’s all I know. His wife said I had to take him, or he’d get unruly.”

Owen nodded. “Unruly is right. This is insane.”

Tell me about it. My life had become insane in the short time I’ve been in town. I just couldn’t wait to see what other insanities were waiting for me.

Chapter Fourteen

“Well, Alfred is neither here nor there. So as far as anyone who is not in this house, he doesn’t exist.” I didn’t need the whole town knowing about my double life. So, I quickly changed the subject back to the mysterious woman. “But the vibe I got off of that woman that kidnapped you was extremely similar to the same feelings I get when I’m around the sheriff.”

Olivia’s jaw dropped. “What are you talking about?”

“At first I thought he was some type of shifter.” I looked at Owen for confirmation. “Different species feel different to you, too, right?”

He nodded and crammed more chips into his mouth. “Oh, yeah for sure.”

Thank goodness it wasn’t just me. “I can feel the difference in a human or a witch. And different witches give off different… vibes. I don't know a better word for it. Maybe energy is a better way to explain it. But, for example, I recognized Owen as a necromancer the moment he walked into the diner the other night.”

Olivia nodded, understanding. “Okay, so if this strange woman is a hunter, then Drew must be as well?”

I nodded. “That’s certainly how it seems.”

Disappointment and worry filled me at that assessment. Why were there hunters in Shipton? Were they working together to take down witches?

Just when you think you found a nice guy, he turns out to be a hunter.

Olivia sat Sammie on his feet and pulled her phone out of her back pocket. “I’ve got to get Sam over here. He might know something about Drew.”

That was a good idea. Sam would give us the deets on the good sheriff while keeping our secrets.

Standing, I motioned to Owen’s empty chip bag. “I’ll make you something more substantial than chips.” I walked into the kitchen and pulled out ingredients for a simple spaghetti. Easy and fast and would feed a bunch of people.

Alfred came in when the doorbell rang and shooed me out. “I don't mind cooking,” I said, glancing at him. “Olivia can let Sam in.”

He shook his head and waved his hand at me. I’d gotten so used to him that I didn’t think twice when he grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the stove.

“Fine.” I laughed and wiped my hands on the dish towel. “Thank you, Alfred.”

He gave me a light push toward the living room.

“Hey, Sam,” I said as I entered the living room. “Dinner will be ready soon.”

Olivia plopped down on the couch beside her husband, but he barely acknowledged my presence. He was staring at Owen, who had moved to one of the chairs across from the couch.

“Tell us about Drew,” Olivia said.

“Who is he?” Sam nodded toward Owen.

“Sorry,” I said. “Introductions. Owen, this is my oldest friend, Sam, and Olivia’s husband. Sam, this is Owen, he’s another Necromancer. But we need to know about Drew.”

Sam didn’t look like he felt much like talking. “Why?”

“I was attacked