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ChapterTwenty-Six
The witch usheredus inside the charming store tucked between two ancient buildings on a side street in historic Savannah. Her long fingers grabbed the sign on the door and flipped it over to display the closed side. She flicked the lock and then waved her hand to engage another one on top out of her reach.
My muscles tensed at Alia’s casual display of powers. Magic still made me antsy even though a huge spell coursed through my veins after becoming a full raven.
A collection of crystals dangled from one wall, and more shined on shelves near the windows where sunlight streamed in, creating a rainbow of colors across the floor. A massive display of candles took up nearly half the left side of the room. On the other side, a table with layers of jewel-toned fabric held a neatly stacked deck of Tarot cards, more candles, and several crystals. The sign above readMadam Aliamata’s Psychic Realm. Two palm or tarot readings for the price of one.
I choked back a snicker.
“Humans really love that shit, especially the tourists.” Her soft voice echoed right over my shoulder as she stood barely an inch away.
“I guess they’re just looking for some answers.” It would have been nice to know that my life would take a major turn off a soaring cliff during my first mission as a raven.
Alia shrugged her delicate shoulder, her complexion like smooth, dark silk. She looked to be in her early twenties, but those bottomless black eyes held way too much age and wisdom for a young witch. “Most of them are in it for the fun.” She wiggled her fingers and made a ghostly sound. “They even prefer a little scare.”
“My life was scary enough as a human,” I muttered.
She studied me from head to toe. “Definitely not human anymore.” She angled toward Fane who leaned against a lavender wall with his usual surly expression. “Are you to blame for this?”
I gave him my best glare. “Yes.”
“No.” He pushed off the wall and strode forward. “She got herself in this situation, and I was forced to step in to save her.”
“Oh, please. You only saved me so the amulet wouldn’t be destroyed. Don’t pretend to be some hero. You bit me against my will, asshole. I would have rather died.”
Alia chuckled. “I thought you found a lover you couldn’t live without.” She flicked her ebony dreads over her shoulder, her gold and blue silk jacket billowing behind her as she moved. “I’m a hopeless romantic.”
“Fane is just hopeless,” I said.
He flipped me off as a snarl pulled his lips apart, baring his teeth.
“This way.” The witch motioned toward a doorway with long, colorful beads sectioning off the back of the shop. As she passed Fane, her mouth tilted into a sultry smile. “Good to know you’re still on the market.” Her fingers skimmed down his arm.
My spine snapped straight, and a monster roared in my chest. Fane glanced in my direction as if he’d felt the flickers of anger brewing inside of me. His face remained blank, but a spark of fire lit his gaze.
I shook my head and stormed after Alia, whipping the beads aside with a little more zeal than necessary. Fane trailed behind, his body heat spilling over my back as a dark, dangerous chuckle glided across my nape.
Every time I was with this guy, females fawned all over him. Ziva, Gerri, and now Alia. I was surprised no one had come by his family’s house to bring a monsoon of drool upon us.
After traveling through a narrow hallway, Alia led us into a candlelit room. Shelves packed with jars and glass bottles lined one of the violet walls. I could only imagine what kind of witchy items filled those containers. A collection of candles, crystals, vials of strange liquids, and trinkets spread over the fireplace mantel as an altar to a mystic goddess.
“Take a seat, Tatum.” Alia pointed to a circle drawn in chalk on the hardwoods in the middle of the room.
Frost crawled over my skin as I reluctantly folded onto the floor within the circle, my jeans straining over my knees. The hunter-green t-shirt hugged my curves a little more than it had two years ago, so I kept tugging at the hem, but it only pulled the neckline down to reveal more cleavage.
The whispers of magic drifting in the air made me uneasy.“Are you sure you can trust this witch?”I asked Fane through our mental link.“What if she wants the amulet for herself, or what if she tells someone?”
“I trust her enough. And she won’t tell anyone unless she wants me to spill her secrets to her enemies.”
Perfect. He was blackmailing her. That never went wrong.
“What exactly are you going to do?” I asked Alia. Fane barely spoke on the ride here, and when he did, he only provided vague answers.
“I’m going to attempt to connect with this amulet to see what kind of options we have to remove it.” Alia gathered ingredients from the shelves. “You’ll be fine. My magic is very smooth and gentle.” She gave Fane another playful look. “Isn’t it?”
The omelet Nora made this morning wanted to make another appearance. Alia looked at Fane like she longed to crack him open and suck out his bone marrow—after he pleasured her.
“Yes, Alia, you’re very talented.” The slight tilt to Fane’s mouth only lasted a second, but it was enough to make me roll my eyes.
