The Most Wanted Witch: Tales of Xest

by Donna Augustine

  He dropped me to the ground, kneeling beside me. “Are you okay?” He moved my scarf away and laid his fingers on the side of my neck. He ripped my glove off next, feeling my wrist.

  “I’m fine. It was just unsettling.” I stared back at the hill, and I’d give it enough respect to call it at least that now.

  “What happened?” he asked, sitting back on his haunches, watching me as if I were going to tumble over.

  “I don’t know. I felt a pulsing of sorts and couldn’t seem to move. I’ve never felt anything like it before.”

  “How do you feel now?” He put his hand my neck again, as if he wasn’t convinced things were okay. “Your magic feels strong.”

  “Fine.” I couldn’t stop looking at that spot. What was there? The only thing I was sure of was that this was the hill.

  “I’m going back over there. Stay here.” He stood, watching me.

  I nodded. There would be no fight on this one.

  He walked back to the spot, and I looked around for a big stick. What if it was like being electrocuted and he got stuck? I’d need something to push him off.

  There was a nice five-foot-long stick not far away. I hurried and got it, then returned fast. I watched, waiting to see what would happen.

  He kept walking back and forth over the area I’d gotten stuck in. He did it another ten times before he canvassed the rest of the mound. By the time he was done, I was huddled in a squat with my branch beside me.

  “Are you planning on hitting me with that?” Hawk asked as he walked back over.

  “For your information, I was going to use it to save you.” I threw it to the side, since the hill hadn’t wanted any part of him.

  “Whatever is there, I can’t feel it.” He sighed as if frustrated he couldn’t get a read on it.

  He looked back at the spot and back to me. Another thing piling up, not making sense, like so much else. It seemed that the more information we got, the less we knew.

  “Either way, we need to get going. There’s a storm coming.”

  I held up my bare hand. “It feels calmer than ever.” The air felt colder, but the constant wind had gone away for maybe the first time since I’d been in Xest.

  “That’s how you know a storm is coming. The calmer the wind, the worse it’ll be.” He looked in the direction we’d come, his eyes narrowing. “This isn’t good.”

  I turned around. “Where’d the door go?”

  Bautere walked across the snow until he was standing beside us. “Heard you were in these parts.”

  “You told Tippi that there was something wrong with this place. I wanted to check it out, and then our door disappeared.” Hawk waved to the place it had been.

  “Magic has been acting weird in this area for a while now.” Bautere raised his head in the air, his nostrils flaring. “You’re not going to be able to get back, not with the storm brewing. You’ll have to stay the night with me.”

  Before we answered, he turned and began walking back in the direction he’d come from. With no options, Hawk and I followed. It was better than getting stuck in a blizzard. Xest’s weather wasn’t kind on a good day. There was no way we’d make it back on a bad one.

  There was a fire, but it barely warmed the area. I bunched the furs around me again, trying to trap every smidge of body heat. It was a losing battle that I’d been fighting for a good hour.

  I had my back to Hawk, who was on the next pile over. He wrapped an arm around my waist and dragged me up against him.

  My instinct to push away lasted a half of a second, maybe even less, because that was how long it took to feel how warm he was. My thoughts soon shifted to how I could maneuver myself closer, without literally draping myself on top of him. I settled for mounding up the furs around me and him, barricading his heat in.

  “Just so you know, this doesn’t mean we’re on good terms,” I said. “I’m only sleeping next to you because it’s cold and it’s a necessity. Same reason I’m talking to you. Only as needed.”

  “Noted,” he said, his eyes remaining closed.

  I maneuvered slightly so that my head was in the crook of his arm. If I was going to sleep next to him out of necessity, it made sense to get as comfortable as possible. He was like being pressed up against a wood stove that was continuously pumping a slow heat.

  “How is it that you’re warm when I’m freezing?” I put my hand on his side because there was no other place for it, and if there was a sudden attack, warm fingers functioned better. Again, it was all about survival.

  “I’m a shifter,” he said, as if that in itself explained it all.

  “And?”

  “I have two different cells trying to occupy the same space at all times, almost warring with each other for dominance. That generates more heat.”

  “Oh.”

  He hummed, not sounding interested at all. I closed my eyes, trying to let sleep come the way he seemed to have managed. Finally warm, the sound of the storm blowing outside, I was snuggled up to a man I hated most days.

  So why couldn’t I stop thinking of sex?

  I closed my eyes, shifting a bit, trying to get comfortable, moving my leg slightly over in my quest to sleep comfortably. I’d never noticed men’s legs before, but he had the kind of thick, muscled thighs that were hard not to notice, especially when you were right up against them.

  Hate him or not, he was a good-looking man. It would be hard to deny that. I was a hot-blooded woman who hadn’t had sex in a long time. Of course I’d be attracted to him.

  I needed to think of something else so my heart slowed and my breathing normalized before he noticed. Although he was probably asleep already, he was so still.

  “Tippi…” His voice was guttural, drowning me in testosterone.

  I tilted my head back so I could see his face. His jaw was tense and his eyes were blazing as they looked at me.

  “Did I wake you? I was just trying to get comfortable.” My voice didn’t sound right. Probably because my heart still hadn’t stopped racing.

  His chest nearly rumbled before he rolled over, taking me with him. He molded himself to my body from his lips, to his chest, to his hips, where his leg found purchase in between mine. For all my big talk, all I could do was arch and moan as his tongue delved into my mouth. Logic was gone, replaced only with need. I gripped his hair, keeping his head close, wrapping my free leg around his.

  He reached down, dipping into the waistline of my pants, skimming over my wetness. He froze, and I arched into his hand. Instead of starting back up, he pulled back his hand.

  “What are you doing?” I sounded flustered by any measure.

  “Sorry to interrupt. Heard about your visit to the hill,” an older female said.

  Hawk tugged down my shirt and then rolled off me.

  The older female, Bautere’s leader, was standing there.

  “You shouldn’t be out in this weather,” Bautere said, walking in from the other room.

  “I’m not out anymore. I’m here, and I had to come.” She waved a paw at him and then turned to us. “I need to know what’s going on. I need to know what is being done. You’ve got some bad sorts around and still no answers?”

  “We’re trying,” Hawk said.

  I was glad he took the lead, as I was still trying to gather myself.

  She stamped her cane. “It’s not enough. You need to get this handled, or all of our existences are at stake.”

  “We’re aware of that,” Hawk said, keeping his calm.

  She turned to Bautere. “I need some of that hot bark brew you make. That’ll warm my old bones as I get all of the details.” She waved him back with an imperial flick of her hand.

  She settled in and didn’t look like she’d be leaving anytime soon.

  27

  Hawk and I walked back into the office the next morning. Musso, Zab, and Bibbi all looked up, scanned us, and nodded.

  “Glad you’re not dead,” Bibbi said.

  “You were with Hawk. I told her
you were fine,” Zab said.

  Gillian ran out of the back room, past me and right to Hawk. “Where have you been? When you didn’t come get me at the shop last night, I was worried sick that something happened.” Her hands fluttered to her chest.

  I drifted away from the little scene, not that Gillian noticed. After all, it wasn’t me that had made her run across the room. Hawk walked into the back room with her nipping at his heels.

  “What happened to you guys?” Bibbi asked.

  “We got stuck in the storm. Had to stay at Bautere’s place.” I kept it short and simple, but my cheeks still burned, as if somehow they’d know something.

  “Oh, well, that’s interesting.” She was getting a sly look about her.

  “It really wasn’t.” It might’ve been, but that had crashed and burned, and I was glad for it.

  I didn’t look toward the back room. I didn’t want to know what was happening there. I’d gotten very close to opening up, giving everything to a man who’d tossed me aside more than once. And why? Because it would’ve felt nice? Maybe better than nice. Maybe amazing.

  But that didn’t matter. Right now, he was talking to Gillian in the other room, calming her worries. Any amazing feelings from last night would’ve been washed away with acid and a steel brush. Instead, my head was on straight as I made my way to my desk, checking over anything pressing. Nope, nothing painful about this.

  The cocoa wasn’t tempting me as I made tea.

  Hawk walked in the back room. He’d been in the office more often than normal today, which made it a little harder to act like nothing had happened between us, but damned if I wouldn’t.

  He walked over and reached for a cup and then the kettle, saying nothing. No one would know, as I stood inches from him, that we’d had our bodies plastered together less than a day ago.

  I stood silently, refusing to give up ground, even if that ground was in the back room. I wasn’t talking, either. I wasn’t sure whose choice that was, his or mine, but I’d taken part ownership at this point.

  He stood beside me, drinking his tea instead of leaving, both of us silent. If someone walked in and looked at us, we would’ve screamed “awkward moment.” Luckily, no one did. Or maybe not so lucky. It seemed people were beginning to give us a wide berth when we were together, except for Gillian. She homed in like a heat-seeking missile when Hawk and I neared each other.

  I took another sip of my tea.

  He drank some of his.

  “I’m going to go talk to Marvin this afternoon. I want to question him about the hill,” he said. “Do you want to come, or would you like to sit this one out?”

  I pulled my gaze away from his lips, as it took me a few moments to respond.

  “Tippi?”

  Marvin would be at the factory. A month ago there wouldn’t have been a hesitation. That was before I’d been overtaken by a horde of people kicking and punching me, trying to stomp my brains out. But there was no way I was sitting this one out.

  “Of course I’m coming. Why would I want to sit that out?” I took another sip of tea, reminding myself that I could handle anything.

  “Be ready in an hour.”

  I glanced out the window at the darkening sky. “You sure you want to leave that late? You might not be back in time to walk your girlfriend home.”

  Well? Would he confirm it or not? Was she his girlfriend, or did she only act like she was? Or did he run around and kiss all the girls, as I was starting to fear?

  His eyes narrowed and then he let out a deep laugh. “See you in an hour.”

  Glad he found the situation so amusing. That did nothing to answer the question, though.

  When Hawk walked into the office a little while later, I was seated at my desk with my best ass-kicking outfit and a warrior braid. Technically it was a French braid, but it made it a lot harder to grab my hair if I had to throw down with someone.

  Hawk paused in front of Zab’s desk. “I need you to walk Gillian after work tonight.”

  Bibbi might not have looked up from her work, but the corners of her mouth definitely went up.

  “Oh, uh, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Zab immediately leaned back in his chair, shaking his head and putting up his hands, as if begging for mercy.

  “It’s fine.” Hawk took a step away.

  “I’m not good with…protection,” Zab continued, his gaze following the retreating Hawk’s back.

  “You’ll be fine,” Hawk said without glancing back. He turned to me. “You ready?”

  I got up from my seat and grabbed my jacket. Bibbi was still smiling wide, and Zab looked like someone had dragged him out in the alley to shoot him.

  “Your girlfriend might be a bit upset with you tonight,” I said as we left the office.

  “Gillian will adapt,” he said, without hesitation.

  Did that mean she was his girlfriend or not? Considering how he was all over me last night, I wouldn’t answer in his place either. Was he the perpetual playboy? Or did Gillian think they were together and he was a cheater? Neither was good. I’d better remember this next time I got all hot and bothered.

  The factory came into view up ahead, filling me with another unsavory feeling. I kept my pace, refusing to slow or show any fear.

  Mertie was on the stoop, smoking a cigarette as we approached. I gave her a single shake of my head. She got the message loud and clear, turning away from us and singling out a Whimsy witch working on the outside of the building.

  “What are you doing? That’s not the way to do that. Do I have to show everyone everything?” She walked toward the Whimsy, leaving her spot by the front door and giving her back to us as she made a show of grabbing the trowel and shoving cement in the line between the stones. “See? That’s how you do it. I’ll do a few more to make sure you really understand.”

  Hawk pushed open the door.

  “Do you have a plan?” I asked.

  “Walk in and ask. If Marvin doesn’t answer, hurt him and ask again.”

  That was it?

  Seemed to be. And here I thought the man couldn’t do simple.

  “Sounds good to me.” It was fairly close to what I would’ve suggested.

  As soon as I was in the building, meaning to or not, I fell a few steps behind Hawk. Taking a couple of deep breaths, I felt for the knife in my pocket and forced myself not to fall too far behind.

  I didn’t remember the factory that well, but it seemed as if we were going the long way to Marvin’s office after a couple of wrong turns.

  “Do you know where you’re going?” He’d been in Marvin’s office before. Had the rooms been reshuffled? Did he know something I didn’t?

  “Yes,” he said.

  But then he slowed down in front of every door, looking for Marvin. Typical man—he didn’t want to admit he was lost.

  “I think we should turn around and go back the other way,” I said, as he kept stopping at every door.

  He glanced back at me. “I know what I’m doing.”

  I’d never been called slow, but I might’ve been a bit duller today. It took three hallways before the truth of what was happening sank in. He was stopping by every room, letting them see us together, to send a message.

  “You don’t need to do this,” I said as we passed another door. “I can handle myself.”

  “I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for them.” His tone was all business.

  “How’s that work?”

  “You’re with me, and they should know better. I don’t feel like killing more people, and I’m sure they don’t feel like getting killed.” His grim reply left no doubt how serious he was.

  Kill more people? Had he already killed some of the ones who’d attacked me? Or was he talking about other deaths? Was that better? I’d probably lost the high ground when I killed Belinda and Raydam. Although that hadn’t been intentional. There might be a little leeway for some judgment left, even if I couldn’t seem to dredge any up.

  Had I recogni
zed any of the faces from the alley? It wasn’t like I’d memorized them that day when they were beating me to a pulp, but still, I didn’t think I’d seen a single one since walking into the factory.

  I was in the process of trying to remember when Hawk kicked open Marvin’s door.

  It might have been unlocked, but it was an effective entry, judging by the startled look on Marvin’s face.

  Marvin got to his feet. “Mertie! Mertie!”

  “She’s not out there.” Hawk walked around his desk and sat him back down with a hand on his shoulder.

  Marvin’s eyes flickered to me as I attempted to close the door, with hinges that weren’t working as well as they had been a few moments ago.

  “What do you want?” Marvin asked, his eyes bouncing back and forth.

  “What’s the hill?” Hawk perched himself on the corner of the desk, leaning over Marvin.

  I walked to the other side, staring down at the warlock.

  “What hill? There are hills all over the place. How am I supposed to answer an idiotic question like that?” His forehead was looking a little moist and his bony hands were gripping the chair like it could save him from drowning.

  I gave his chair a little kick until it was flush against the wall. “Marvin, we’re not leaving until we find out. You either tell us now, or he’ll torture you and then you tell us.” I tilted my head toward Hawk.

  “I think you know what I’m capable of when crossed,” Hawk added calmly.

  “We have a way we do things. A balance here in Xest. A mutual respect,” Marvin said.

  “There was, but that’s over. Xest is going to hell, and I’ve got a feeling you had something to do with it.”

  Hawk’s voice was deep and rough, and somehow reminded me a little of how he’d sounded the other night. There was never a good time to think about that, but this moment was definitely wrong. Very, very wrong.

  I kicked Marvin’s chair again, pulling his attention to me. “We’ve got an angel and a demon breathing down our necks, ready to take over. You think you’re going to get to keep your little labor camp here if they step in? You won’t. And you know why? I’m going to be the first person pointing at this place and telling them to dismantle it stone by stone. If you know something, you better spill it now, because you will be going down with the rest of us if they take over.”