by Lyla Oweds
After a long moment, my mother broke their look first, sighing. “I’ll get some sheets,” she said, turning her attention to William. “You can stay the weekend. But you need to make things right with your mate. I’m kicking you out on Sunday. You have a family and a career. You cannot idle around here.”
I blinked at her, surprised. My mother’s outspokenness rivaled my own, and I’d expected a lecture from her. After all, William wouldn’t listen to me. But for her to brush past this?
Was there something I was missing?
“Um…” Where did she expect him to sleep? Surely not my office. I had confidential items in there! “Where—”
“He can sleep on the couch,” my father cut in, brushing past us. “Don’t want him getting too comfortable,” he muttered under his breath.
I glanced after Father, but he was already gone. By the time I’d gotten off the floor, Mother was hovering around William, prepping pillows and blankets for my brother’s unexpected stay.
There were departments that worked the weekend shifts. However, my group wasn’t assigned to essential cases, so they didn’t require that we come in. And with William still camping out at the house, and my parents fussing over him, there was little for me to do at home.
I didn’t have many friends within the confines of our pack. And I didn’t want to stay around the house, watching my mother make another pie for my brother. So the next best option was one that I’d heard of before, but had never partaken in privately.
A trip to a nightclub.
I’d overheard—though not within my team—coworker’s discussions of their after-hours adventures. Yet, I’d never been invited to go along. Of course, that was likely because the other officers felt awkward around me. It was both a curse and a gift when people took one look at your face and assumed you were angry.
Tonight, I’d change their misperception of me. I could be friendly and personable, if I had to be. Going to the diner with Gregory had opened my eyes to how little I knew outside of studying. From now on, things would be different.
I was social Gloria. Friendly Gloria.
Maybe I’d finally get laid. If I didn’t have a mate, then what was I waiting around for? I’d even stashed a condom in my clutch, just in case.
I’d gotten to the front door of my parent’s home, ready to begin my mission. Who was to say that I couldn’t have a good time every once in a while? This was a modern time, there was no rule against me drinking with the boys.
“Gloria, what in the heavens are you wearing?” My mother stood at the living room entrance, her hands over her mouth as her eyes held me in place. “You can’t be planning on leaving the house in that?”
One of my black pumps was on, and I’d been balancing, putting on the other. But as she stared at me, I slowly lowered my foot to the carpet and straightened to my full height. Slowly removing my hand from the entryway table, I prayed she’d not ask questions. “What are you talking about, Mother?” I asked, touching the soft, red fabric of my A-line skirt. “It’s a modest length.”
“Your shoulders!” She pointed dramatically to the top part of my gown, where my bare shoulders were on full display.
“Mother.” I sighed. “We’re shifters. It’s only skin. You’ve raised me with the impression that the human body wasn’t—”
“But you’re not going out to shift!” she accused, crossing the space between us and snatching my purse from my hands. “You despise the pack runs. But you are up to something. So help me, Gloria Protean, if you hit another nice young man, then I—”
“Gloria’s going out?” My father and William peeked around the doorway. William, who had spoken, frowned as his gaze took in my appearance. I had on full makeup, hairdo perfect, a dress prime for dancing… or other activities.
His mouth thinned, and his eyes glittered knowingly. “You have a date?”
I opened my mouth to respond.
“Of course she doesn’t have a date.” Father frowned at William. “The pack isn’t hosting any socials today.”
“I wasn’t talking about anyone in the pack or one of our allies.” William glanced at my parents. “I’m saying that she is going to meet an outsider. It’s a little late to be expecting the mate bond to appear now. She’s already met all the eligible bachelors in the area.”
My parents went silent a moment, glancing at each other before my mother spoke again. This time with a note of interest in her voice. “Gloria, are you going on a date?” The hope in her voice was almost painful.
“No!” I protested. “I’m going to dinner. I heard my coworkers talking about this place yesterday, so I wanted to see what the fuss is about.”
“You’re going out to socialize with peers?” My father stepped into the hallway now, his tone rife with disbelief. “I thought you didn’t have time for that ‘nonsense,’ as you’ve called it. Are you going to bond with your teammates?”
Well, that wasn’t exactly what I said. I was merely going to observe the others. To find someone who might pose an interesting challenge. Maybe have my first kiss… or more.
But not socialize, per say.
However, he also sounded eager. And years of concerned questions flashed through my mind. He’d always been the more reserved of my parents, and he worried I hadn’t had many friends.
But besides Lucy, I hadn’t needed anyone.
It was a shame that she’d followed her mate to an entirely different county. By now, she probably had three children and lived in happily-married mated bliss. Though I wouldn’t know. We’d stopped communicating after she left.
Yet I couldn’t correct him either. My heart twisted in guilt. Father hadn’t been this interested in my life in ages. And my chest tightened at the barely concealed happiness in his gaze.
“I may see a few people there…” I admitted, glancing away. It wasn’t a lie, but I’d been hoping to remain unnoticed until I had completed my plan.
So I might see my coworkers. Perhaps even my team. But as far as I knew, Gregory practiced his analysis of people over the weekend, likely on children. He did like to ruin dreams, after all.
And Michael?
Lord only knew what he got up to these days. When we were in college, I had caught him running around campus, naked under a black, hooded cape and covered in blood.
It was an experience I would prefer not to know more about.
But I wasn’t intending to go out to see either of them.
“How wonderful!” My mother clapped her hands, the negativity gone from her face as excitement took over. “And you’ll be certain to mind your manners. Please don’t accost anyone. It would be terribly embarrassing if your Father and I need to come bail you out of prison at two in the morning.”
“Oh stop worrying, Elizabeth.” My father moved to mother’s side, wrapping his hand around her waist. “Gloria has more sense than that. She’d never put herself in a position where she’d be imprisoned.”
My face flooded with heat—I never told them the circumstances of my employment. “O-o-of course not.” Forcing the words out, I frowned toward the floor. “I wouldn’t even think of it.”
“I’d be more concerned she’s going on a date and lying to you,” William repeated, frowning as he glanced at me. “You’ve just been getting up in my business, and yet you’ve said not one word to her about this.”
Father chuckled, waving his hand in the air. “That’s not going to happen.”
My mother elbowed him, glaring at him as she stepped away. A second later, she was in front of me, straightening the collar of my top. “Gloria, if you’ve a chance to find a suitor, take it—”
“Mother!” William gasped, wide eyes on her.
At the same time, my father frowned. “Elizabeth…”
“It’s for her own good,” my mother continued, ignoring the men. “She’s running out of time. It’ll be a good opportunity for her to find some romance.”
My heart was racing. From embarrassment or horror that we were talki
ng about this, I wasn’t sure. My mother had always been pushy, of course. But never before had she discussed this in front of my father and brother. “Mom…”
“That’s enough.” I’d never heard my father’s voice so stern, and my mother’s briefly concerned expression closed. She dropped her hand from my neck.
“Just have fun…” she muttered, no longer looking me in the eye as she held out my purse back toward me.
Tentatively, I took it. Why had the topic of my mate caused her to change her views? “Thanks…”
Chapter Nine
I swirled my glass. The bottom lightly rested on the counter. The liquid touched close to the rim but never enough to spill. Sighing, I set the glass back to rights.
This was boring.
I’d been here for some time now, and no one had come to talk to me. But then again, I hadn’t made the move to be social either. Some coworkers sat across the bar, but considering I was new to the office, maybe no one recognized me. And the only one who I recalled by sight was the man I’d punched my first non-official day.
So I’d already burned that bridge.
Not that I wanted to be friends with such a stuck-up jerk anyway.
But I hadn’t spoken to anyone outside of my team yet, so I wasn’t sure how to make the first move. Besides, he and the group he was with seemed to be having a grand time their little corner. It would be terrible of me to interrupt.
When I’d arrived, I vaguely scented Gregory. But upon perusal, he wasn’t in the area now. So I may have just missed him.
Thank goodness. I didn’t want to run into him right now, not when I was wearing my little red dress. He’d probably take one look at me and know what my plans had been when I first left the house this evening. He did have that sort of unnerving stare that saw right through me.
But now what? I was supposed to be looking for a man with potential. I might have been an old maid, but I wasn’t dead. And I’d already taken the first step toward independence and womanhood, securing a semi-permanent job for myself.
It was time for step two.
But why, when I closed my eyes, did Gregory’s face come to mind at a moment like this?
Well, he was pretty. Though not as pretty as his brother. And his scent was mossy—in a good way. Actually, it was quite calming. Maybe he was still around?
My thoughts were drifting into dangerous territory when laugher pulled at my attention.
It was what’s-his-jerkface and his lackeys, still across the room. Smirking and pointing toward the singer who’d just entered the stage. Not just them, in fact. Most of the room’s attention focused on the newly arrived witch.
Her sensuous red lips were curled into a smile, and her melodious voice drifted through the room.
A captivation spell, but those who stared at her didn’t seem to mind. Magic seemed to mingle in the air with the cigarette smoke, giving the room a hazy vibe.
The club would surely turn a profit for the night.
But the effect of her spell was lost on me, since I was one of only a few women scattered throughout the crowd.
A brunette seated at a small table in the middle of the room, smacked her partner’s shoulder. And I was just about to witness something interesting, when the lazy scent of the air changed.
A group of four who’d been at a round table nearby approached me. Their intentions focused on me, as if the woman on stage wasn’t even continuing to weave magic.
“Hello there, cutie.” A strong-looking witch with black hair winked at me. The three shifters didn’t speak as he stepped forward, sliding onto the stool beside me with a smirk. Instead, they stood behind us. Crossing their arms in silence as they scowled at the room.
This setup was too convenient. Even if I could count on help from my coworkers across the bar, it wouldn’t happen with the show going on up front.
I felt myself narrowing my eyes at the witch. His scent was irritatingly familiar, yet I couldn’t place it. “What do you want?”
The grin faded from his expression, and his brow furrowed. “You’re quite the bitch, aren’t you?”
I pressed my lips, trying to ignore the prickling sensation that ran down my spine. “I’m a wolf.”
He frowned. “That’s not what I meant.” His gaze flickered to the other men, whose scowling seemed to intensify. The barkeeper had disappeared.
I wasn’t certain, but I suspected that more than police officers frequented this club.
“Then I’ll cut to the chase.” He snatched my shot glass from my hands. And before I could even protest, he’d already downed my liquor. After he slammed the cup onto the table, he turned his attention back toward me. “You’re a nuisance.”
My heart skipped a beat as my breath caught. I knew he was bad, of course. But to have someone say something so rude, so bluntly… “Excuse me?”
Already I felt the familiar stirrings of my anger. Yet there was only one thing that kept me from being truly offended. I literally had no idea what this man might have been referring to.
There were many things I’d done that could be deemed offensive. I was wearing red. Some people had a bias against red clothing on women with red hair. But these guys didn’t seem like the fashion police type. Then there was my employment status. I was also on my way to being a spinster.
Or maybe he didn’t like wolves.
After all, his little shifter friends were dogs. It hadn’t escaped my notice that one directly behind me was growling under his breath.
Everyone knew that dogs were domesticated posers who wished they were wolves. I didn’t blame them. If I were born in such a form, I’d have hated me, too.
“You know what I’m talking about!” he snapped. “You interfered with our professional dealings! Because of you, our mark escaped. Petra described you: crazy red hair, thin, big boobs, and a stuck-up expression. I saw you leaving the precinct on Friday, so I know it’s you.”
Oh. I sighed in annoyance. All this was a continuation of that incident.
At least the man in question wasn’t hanging around anywhere nearby now; that much worked in my favor. If I never saw another shikigami the rest of my life, it’d be too soon.
But these guys? Even though it was three dogs and one witch against little ol’ me, I could take them. There was no threat, and no need to potentially shift.
Besides, who was this guy fooling? I rested my chin on my hand as I watched him. “If that’s what you consider to be a professional dealing, then it’s no wonder you’re only a small-town gangster. You’re too idiotic to amount to more with your life.”
Fury spiked in the air, and he glowered at me. His hand gripped my shoulder in a threatening hold. “Why you little—”
“What is going on here?” Gregory’s icy tones cut through the tension.
A second later, one of the shifters was pushed aside as Gregory forced his way to our group. He moved next to me, and his focus zeroed in on the other man’s hand on my shoulder. His gaze narrowed. “So you’ve graduated from alleyway mishaps to accosting officers now, Mr. Thomas?”
“This woman isn’t a real officer. It’s obvious she’s one of your charity cases.” The man—Mr. Thomas—frowned as his grip tightened on my arm. It was enough to leave a bruise later. But that was nothing, and it was easy to mask any discomfort. “But no matter who she is, she is an enemy of my organization now. I have orders.”
“I don’t care about your orders. You also have an agreement with us,” Gregory replied smoothly, pinching the bridge of his nose as he shut his eyes.
The witch sucked in a breath, and that was all the warning for what happened next.
Gregory’s eyes snapped open. Shining green focused in on Mr. Thomas, and the atmosphere changed.
One second the air had been tight with magic and growls. The next, that spell of the room had been broken.
An instant later, Gregory snatched the witch’s hand. Causing him to release my shoulder. And his eyes narrowed on Mr. Thomas’ face.
; It was unnerving. A heady power radiated from Gregory, and a fury swirled in his gaze. However, his voice was deceptively calm. “You’re overstepping.”
With those words, Gregory released Mr. Thomas’ hand.
In response, Mr. Thomas gasped and folded over as he hugged himself. He began to make a high-pitched keening noise. He’d grown pale, and his breathing labored. As if his life threatened to flee with every passing second.
His fists clenched against his chest, and his attention remained on Gregory. “You highborn bastard,” he wheezed.
“That’s not even close to the truth,” Gregory responded, raising an eyebrow. “I know exactly who my parents are.”
I blinked at the display in front of me, and I wondered… Should I intervene?
But this was fascinating. I’d never seen a fae in action before.
In the cycle, we all had our natural enemies. It was the only way to keep balance in our world. Onmyoji were a shifter’s natural enemy. Their practice of contracting with a shifter’s worst nightmare—the shikigami—kept balance. In return, the onmyoji were weak against necromancers. Necromancers against witches. And witches were controlled by fae.
But I couldn’t even see what Gregory was doing.
There were no flashing lights and no strain in his expression. His grip was steady as his hand closed over my arm. But when his skin touched mine, a current of electricity rushed through me, jarring my senses. His touch was the only physical indication that he was even up to anything at all.
But what was he actually up to?
It had to be something. Because Mr. Thomas fell to the ground, gasping for breath, as he continued to watch Gregory. Panic began to lace his expression.
“What are you doing?” he wheezed, turning his attention toward his dogs. “Will you do something?”
My hackles raised in response. I moved to physically put myself between the other shifters and Gregory. I had to stop them—if they were stupid enough to challenge him.
But I didn’t think they were. Even though shifters controlled fae, Gregory was far out of their league. And they knew it.
