Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“He is. And powerful.”
“A black cat though? Isn’t that a little cliché?”
Callie smiles, and it’s like the sun is shining down on me. Without killing me, of course. She’s so fucking gorgeous. “Maybe that’s why he picked this form.”
“You called him Mr. Prickle Paws.” I give her a pointed look and try not to laugh. She has a thousand-year-old familiar with a pet-name. It’s so fitting for her, who doesn’t seem like the type of witch—or woman—who follows rules.
“He has very sharp claws. And he likes it. Just like he likes the soft pink blanket at the foot of my bed, don’t you Mr. Prickle Paws?” The cat purrs and rubs against her ankles. I don’t know much about familiars, but I do know they have sworn loyalty to their witches. No matter what, that familiar will guard Callie with its life. Well, that’s assuming they’re alive. I don’t even know what they really are. I heard stories about familiars being terrifying spirits risen from the pits of hell to aid and guide witches in their craft, but never believed it.
Until now. “You have two others?”
“Yes. Pandora and Freya.”
“Witches only have one familiar.” Or at least that’s what I was told. If that’s true, how did Callie come across three?
“Their witches were killed,” she says quietly, inching closer as two teenage girls walk by, laughing and blushing as they look me over. Like I said, I have that effect on women. “And once I handled the you-know-what…”
“They pledged to you.”
“Yes.”
“Now I’m even more curious.”
“Look, I’m going to be frank here,” she starts and takes the plastic bags of food she’s holding off her wrists. She starts walking toward the front of the store. “If you’re trying to get super secret witch info out of me, don’t waste your time. I’m not like the other witches.”
“I know,” I tell her and she stops walking to turn. She looks right into my eyes, and again, it’s like she’s seeing right through me and can see in the dark. I look away.
“Do you have to do that?” she asks.
“Do what?”
“Blink?”
“Oh.” That’s the last thing I thought she’d ask. I don’t realize I do it anymore. “I suppose not. My eyes won’t dry out like humans, but if dirt or dust gets in them, it’s still irritating. And it’s like breathing. Many of us don’t let those habits go. It’s something you don’t even think about.”
“So weird.”
I nudge her with my elbow and smile. “I thought it was interesting yesterday.”
“Interesting…weird…they’re both cool I guess.” She slowly walks to the end of the aisle. The mousy woman is watching us again, with her mouth hanging open. She’s human and I doubt she’s able to sense I’m a vampire. What’s the surprise here? That an attractive man is walking through the store, or that an attractive man is walking through the store with Callie?
The cat trots ahead, distracting the woman.
“Meet me after the store closes tonight?” I ask, not realizing how much I want her to say yes until I ask.
She sets the bags of food down and shakes her head. “I’m not sure I want to. Not after last night.”
“Talk like that and people are going to assume we hooked up. Don’t damage my reputation now. I never disappoint. In fact, I dreamed about you today.” I reach forward and gently tuck her hair over her shoulder. The smell of her shampoo hits me, along with the scent of sunshine on her skin.
Fuck, I want her.
And she wants me too. Her body tenses and she takes in a slow breath, trying to mask what she’s feeling. She knows I can sense it, and she doesn’t want me to know I’m turning her on just from one little touch.
“Did you dream about me?”
“I dreamed I shoved a stake through your heart and then set fire to what was left of your remains.”
“Such a lady,” I shoot back with a grin. “And at least we both had dreams about penetrating the other in one way or another.”
“You’re such a pig,” she retorts.
“You keep saying that, but your body says otherwise.”
She steps back, looking down at the food on the counter. “I do find you attractive,” she admits, surprising me once again. Not about her finding me attractive. I know I am. But what surprised me was her admitting it.
“I thought I disgusted you.”
“Oh, you do.” She picks up something that looks like a roll of rice. “So yeah…I, uh, I have issues.”
“Don’t we all?” I ask and then smile. “Shall I meet you at your place later? I assume you’d like to change into something that shows more skin.”
She puts the food in her mouth, taking her time chewing and swallowing just so she won’t have to answer. She looks over at her blonde friend, maybe hoping she’ll come over and bail her out of answering me. The blonde, Kristy, is ringing up a customer. Once the customer leaves, Kristy leans down and grabs a yellowed piece of paper. Her heart rate increases when she reads whatever the paper says.