by Renee George
“My dad was never a part of that,” I said defensively. “When he found out about my mom, he put a stop to her.”
“Kent’s always been good at worming his way out of consequences. He should have rotted in Salem. I might have let you live if he had.”
“Haze?” I heard Ford shout.
Pierce dug the blade in deeper. I felt the warm trickle of blood run down my skin. “Don’t,” the grieving warlock said. “Just don’t.”
My father started yelling next. Soon there were several voices including Tizzy’s, Lily’s, and Tanya’s.”
“You won’t get away with this. You might not end up in Salem, but Ford will never let you live.”
“I’m okay with that,” Pierce said. I saw Toby out of the corner of my eye. Had Pierce incapacitated him before? I gave a brief shake of my head and mouthed the words, “Get help.”
Toby nodded. I had a brief moment of relief, until I noticed he wasn’t crawling away. “Go,” I mouthed.
Toby smiled and shook his head. He put his finger to his lips. Was he going to get all heroic on me? Goddess, he was going to get us both killed.
“Why aren’t you back in the crowd Tobias? You can’t claim innocence if they catch you here?”
“I need to know that Kent suffers for his part in Lida’s death,” Toby said quietly. He met my gaze. You see, she was the love of my life.” He held up his bare hand. “And because of your parents, I’ll never know what a future with her would have been like.”
He had the Walther PK380. Shit. I was well and truly fucked.
A roar of warrior rage thundered over the lake. Pierce, Toby, and I all looked up to see a giant brown bear towering over the wall.
Oh, boy. Ford found me.
Chapter Nine
“Aiyeeeeeeeeeee!” I heard the high-pitched scream as my flying squirrel swooped in and landed on Toby Rosen’s head. She poked her claws into every orifice his face had. A werecougar landed on Toby’s body, her massive paws pounded him. An explosion brought all fighting to a halt, and I heard Sassy, say, “Get your ass back on over here sister, and do your job.”
Nita Baylor hollered, “Five minutes. Get to chanting, Sandy, before I’ll pummel your ass.”
Pierce made a huge mistake and pulled the knife away from my neck to defend himself against the mauling bear. But it was my dad, who made me the most freaking proud, when he said, “Don’t kill him. He’s suffered enough.”
When Pierce lay down his weapon, Toby shouted, “NO!” He whipped knocked Tizzy away, and even with Lily clamping her powerful teeth down on his shoulder, he managed to aim the gun at my dad.
A fireball the size of a watermelon exploded Toby’s head. We all stared in horror for about two seconds. I scrambled to my feet. I expected to see the Sassy where the fireball had originated, but no, it as Tanya Fireball Gellar. Her normally well-styled hair was in strings around her face, and she was sweating enough for a football team at homecoming.
She let out a squawking sob and rant to my dad. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him over and over. “No one messes with my guy,” she finally said. “No one.”
Respect. She’d killed her own uncle to save my dad. Huh. The bitch really loved him. And hey, the thought didn’t make me gag.
“One minute!” Nita shouted. “Ford and Hazel, get over here now.”
My bear Shifter, who was now back in human form, and completely naked, picked my up in his arms and ran to the dock, where a very befuddled and stressed high priestess incanted the chant in high speed. My dad threw the magic shawl over me and tied it back behind Ford’s neck.
This was happening. Oh my Goddess. My skin tingled and my heart threatening to burst from my chest at any second. Tanya had her hands on my neck where Pierce had cut me, healing me. Wow, maybe I’d died and this was what witch heaven felt like. I must have been judged worthy, because I was getting everything I ever wanted. When did shit like that happen.
Ford kept brushing my hair back, kissing my face, my neck. His arms tightened around me. “So scared,” I heard him muttered. “I can’t. I can’t… Never lose you, baby.”
Goddess, he must have been out of his mind with worry. “I’m here,” I told him. “Safe in your arms. Where I’m meant to be. Always.”
“Ten seconds!”
Sandy sped her chant up even more, sweat dripping down her forehead. Or maybe it was water. After all, she had jumped in the lake. This was a woman with strong sense of self-preservation.
“Four, three, two, one!” the crowd roared.
And that’s when it happened. I swear light from the moon shattered something inside my body, and for a brief moment, I felt the swarm of Ford’s love cradling my entire being. I felt elated. I felt whole. I ran my fingers through his thick, chocolate brown hair, drank in his gorgeous blue eyes, and said, “Now, you can’t get rid of me, hot stuff.”
“You’ve thwarted my plan, vixen.” He smiled. “I love you, Hazel Kinsey.”
“Hazel Baylor,” I corrected him. He kissed me then, long, languid, and sensual. Full of love and lust and a promise of hot sweaty, monkey sexy. I felt his pool noodle rise to the occasion.
“Goddess in a furry thong, I’m going blind,” Tizzy exclaimed. “Put your bear necessity away for the love of nuts.”
I heard Lily laugh with joy. Ford and I joined in. We made it. We beat the odds. For once, Paradise didn’t fail.
**The End**
About the Author
Renee George is a USA Today Bestselling author of cozy mysteries, paranormal romance, erotic romance, contemporary romance, and romantic comedies that highlight varying themes. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, man-child son, two sweet dogs, and a senile cat.
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