Page 23 of His Sold Fated Mate

I could see the discomfort in their faces. Elize reached her hand out, placing it over Troy’s. “It turns you into something you’re not. It twists you upside. Makes you think dark thoughts. We don’t know its full potential yet, but we know it’s where our problems lie.”

Elize looked at Aubrey, her eyes scanning her over. “You smell like something.”

Aubrey blushed. “I do?”

Elize nodded. “Yeah, sweet. I can’t put my finger on it. It’s like… I know you.”

Aubrey’s face went darker, and she shifted in her chair.

“How many men have been affected in your pack?” Troy asked.

I looked back toward him. “A few. But I’m hoping to get a handle on it.”

Troy shook his head. “It’s not that simple. It seems it gets stronger with each pack. More violent. Have you visited the cauldron?”

Aubrey nodded. “Yes, nothing happened. Was something supposed to happen?”

Troy frowned. “You didn’t feel anything?”

“It’s not that simple,” Elize stated, her eyes still looking at Aubrey. “Have you… Do you have magic?”

Aubrey shook her head. “No, I don’t. Or at least, I don’t think so.”

Elize waved a hand. “This smell. I know this smell. I just can’t put my finger on it.”

Elize looked toward Troy. “I should have her visit, Victoria.”

“No,” I snapped. “We aren’t visiting any other witches. We came here to meet with you, and that was it.

Elize frowned. “Troy, I understand your wariness toward witches, but if what I’m smelling is correct, Aubrey could have magic.”

“Wouldn’t we have smelled that?” Troy asked.

Elize shook his head. “No, not when it’s being suppressed.” Elize looked back toward me. “Trust me on this. I know you don’t know me that well, but I would hope you could trust me a little.”

Aubrey looked at me, hopeful, and I couldn’t say no. I reminded myself that this was all for the pack. “Fine.”

Elize smiled. “Great. I know the healing center is open, so we can just walk down. It’s just down the block from here.” Elize popped up, a skip in her step.

Troy hooked Elize’s arms and pulled her toward him. He whispered something in her ear that made her blush. Troy let go, and Elize turned to us. “Come on, I’ll take you. It shouldn’t take long.”

We followed Elize out of City Hall and down the block. I couldn’t help but notice the number of witches that were out blending in with the rest of the pack. I expected the air to feel tense, but it didn’t.

Aubrey elbowed me. “You’re staring.”

I shook my head. “I’m just taking it in.”

“I thought you’d been here before.”

“Klaus hasn’t been here since the convent moved in,” Elize added. “And it took time for the pack to accept them. This didn’t happen overnight. But they have blended in pretty well, I’d say.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, why is it that shifters and witches don’t get along?”

Elize glanced at me before she looked back towards Aubey. “Just a long line of history where they didn’t. I think at this point we’ve all been doing it so long it seems more normal than liking each other.” Elize glanced at Klaus. “Right, Klaus?”

I watched as a little girl walked across the street. You could smell the magic on her. She ran toward a group of shifter children who smiled at her. It was different from how I grew up.

“Right.”